Text by Luis Fernando Ribeiro and Leandro Abrantes
To stage a real car rollover for a music video; to feature legendary musicians such as Mike Portnoy , James LaBrie , Russell Allen , Michael Kiske , Aquiles Priester , and Mike Orlando in his lineups, compositions, videos, or shows; to invite a 13-year-old cellist to record a live CD; to put illusionists and zombie dancers on the Rock in Rio stage, in addition to his own mother, Maria Odete , one of the great names in Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) and a confessed heroine of her son, to sing Tears For Fears.
Thiago Bianchi 's trajectory leading his band Noturnall is endless and presents us with a restless musician and producer willing to break some paradigms within a musical genre where a portion of the fans refuse to accept changes in style, but another portion yearns for novelty.
While touring Russia in 2019 alongside the American band Disturbed , Norturnall once again demonstrated its pioneering spirit, releasing its CD and DVD Made in Russia , the first live recording by a Brazilian band on Russian soil. Recorded during their stops in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, the project benefited from the support of a large team of professionals working behind the scenes to achieve the frenetic visual quality and crystal-clear sound presented here.
Performing for the first time with their current lineup, after only one rehearsal before the tour, the musicians' experience is remarkable and undeniable. They immediately demonstrate a strong rapport, with absolute mastery of their instruments, the stage, and the audience, who responded warmly to all the songs and interventions of the band. The lineup includes the experienced guitarist Mike Orlando , with his astonishing technique and speed, who, among others, has played alongside Zakk Wylde , was a member of the band Adrenaline Mob , and was among the ten finalists of the "Guitar Superstar" contest by the American magazine Guitar Player.
Completing the team are the skilled Henrique Pucci (Project46) , one of the leading drummers currently active in the country, who brought his hardcore experience to enrich and streamline the Noturnall drum sound , and the excellent Saulo Castillo (Xakol) , who went from a tireless fan and follower to a member of the band, with his unique and powerful bass tone. Finally, the aforementioned frontman and leader of the band, Thiago Bianchi , is responsible for both the vocals – going with absolute naturalness from very high notes to guttural screams, proving himself to be one of the leading Brazilian vocalists of his generation – and for taking the lead in all the excellent production of the material.
The constant lineup changes that Noturnall went through could have erased its history with unrecognizable traces of each distinct member who passed through the band, but Thiago Bianchi knew how to absorb the characteristics of each musician and always led his team in a way that enriched their sound with all this experience. Breaking away from the pattern of most Brazilian bands, which take Sepultura and Angra as a kind of beacon dictating their behavior and sound, Noturnall knew how to forge its own path through a very unique style, becoming a reference in what it does and not just another band rehashing the leftovers of a formula that has already been exhaustively explored by its brilliant predecessors.
Despite having only six songs, Made in Russia provides enough time for the band to unleash all their visceral energy on stage and explore their entire discography, playing at least one song from each album, as well as presenting some new material.
After a brief introduction, the entire band takes the stage to the sound of the opening track from their first album, "No Turn At All," driven by Henrique Pucci's thunderous drumming Mike Orlando 's powerful riffs , and Saulo Castilho's growling bass. Thiago Bianchi then takes the stage, making the audience pulse and exploring various nuances of his vocal range, displaying commitment and experience, showing himself completely at ease in front of a large and unprecedented audience.
The highly anticipated “Scream! For!! Me!!!” comes right off the bat to an instant reaction and recognition from the audience, who get very excited and sing its chorus at the top of their lungs, making it the most popular song of the show and probably of the band's career, largely due to the aforementioned music video featuring a car crash and a duel between drummers Henrique Pucci and Mike Portnoy. It's almost impossible to keep up with Mike's hands, such is the speed of his notes and picking, but the rhythm section of Henrique and Saulo doesn't let the aggression and heaviness drop even when the guitarist is soloing, making this one of the great moments of the show.
The unusual mix of Racionais MC's with Noturnall's heaviness in "Fight the System" proves to be a bold choice both in the studio and in front of an audience that doesn't understand a word of Portuguese, yet still has its message conveyed through a powerful sound and interpretation by the musicians, with its beautiful and melodious chorus, keeping the energy of the performance high.
There's no time to breathe, the setlist is short, and the audience's energy can't cool down. "Wake Up!" bursts onto the scene, perfectly fulfilling this role, going from a psychotic fury to an absolutely beautiful melody, with the musicians showcasing all their skill and interacting with the audience throughout, eliciting a warm response, much to the band's satisfaction. They have a blast on stage, overflowing with charisma and experience. The very special participation of the graceful pole dancer Larissa brings an atmosphere that is both angelic and devilish to the stage, showing once again that the band isn't afraid to innovate.
The brand new “Cosmic Redemption” ranges from absolutely melodic and virtuoso moments to more direct and exciting ones, showcasing the band's versatility and Thiago's confidence in conducting his audience, who scream and raise their arms at his command, even venturing a few words in Russian. The song, which is expected to be the title track of the band's next album, creates great expectations about the direction Noturnall will take and when they will grace us with this release, in addition to delighting longtime fans with a sound reminiscent of the albums where Thiago Bianchi was at the helm of Shaman.
The now-classic “Nocturnal Human Side,” from their first album, closes the show in an apotheotic way, brimming with the band's clear pleasure at performing so far from home and for such a receptive audience. Thiago Bianchi, equipped with a smartphone, transmits this profusion of feelings live directly to the band's social media, recording for posterity all the energy of an honest, mature band ready to continue climbing the ladder towards the top tier of world heavy metal.
