Opus V is a new name in Brazilian progressive metal – and one you'll be hearing soon, in case you haven't already seen the silver logo announcing the band as an opening act for major international acts touring Brazil, from Sons of Apollo to Symphony X.
Although co-founded by keyboardist Dio Lima 11 years ago, when the compositions that would form the album Universe of Truths emerged, it took almost a decade for the project to take shape and release its first album in 2020.
It was in January 2021, however, that Opus V solidified its current lineup: in addition to Dio, the band began a new phase of independence with the arrival of Lucas Araujo (guitar) and Miguel Muniz (drums) in January of last year, to join Tiago Moreira (bass) and Paulo H. Lima (vocalist), selected through a reality show-style audition process conducted by the band.
Due to the pandemic, Opus V's stage debut only happened this year – opening for Angra at Espaço Leste in São Paulo . Despite delays throughout the evening, the group took the stage at 8:45 PM to begin an intense set, driven by Paulo's powerful vocals and charisma, and received a great reception from the audience.
The apparent shyness of guitarist Lucas, who exchanged glances with his bandmates on stage and didn't interact much with the audience, didn't prevent the well-executed solos, but was explained when we discovered that this was, after all, the band's first show, a surprising piece of information considering the overall quality of the performance, which showed a group ready to reach new horizons.
READ ALSO: Angra overcomes delays and technical difficulties in intense 'Rebirth' show in São Paulo
With the band on the road, the new single "A New Empire Rise" released, and more news on the way, Wikimetal spoke with Dio Lima about this debut, the band's influences, and creative process.
WM: We met the band through their opening show for Angra at Espaço Leste, it was a surprise to learn it was your first. What was it like debuting as an opening act for such an important band in Brazilian metal?
DL: It was surreal! Precisely for those two reasons: having the opportunity to showcase our work to a large audience and being on the same stage as one of our musical references, on this iconic 20th-anniversary tour of the Rebirth album.
WM: And was it very tiring for you to do double duty, since he's also on tour with Angra?
DL: I won't lie, it was one of the most intense tours I've ever had. As officially reported by Angra, the show at Espaço Leste was delayed due to the more than 20 hours of travel the team had to do on the Vila Velha/São Paulo route. On that particular day, I went ahead and flew back with the musicians because I was worried we wouldn't have time to organize the soundcheck for OPUS V, but in the end everything worked out and we managed to deliver both shows to the audience, who were understanding and gave us the energy we needed at that moment.
WM: Even though you only recently debuted on stage, you're already confirmed as the opening act for Myrath, Symphony X, and other big bands. What do you hope to show by having the chance to reach these new audiences?
DL: All these bands are part of the niche we're in, which is progressive metal. By opening for these bands, we have the opportunity to play for their target audience, giving us the chance to showcase all the virtuosity and complexity that are part of the style, thus increasing our chances of gaining new fans and followers of our work.
WM: Opus V features musicians at different stages of their careers and lives, especially considering that drummer Miguel is only 16 years old! Does having musicians of different ages and musical backgrounds bring new elements to your sound?
DL: Absolutely! It's something I enjoy exploring, and they always bring me something new to incorporate. Miguel, despite his young age, has the same influences as us, thanks to his father who introduced him to drummers like Mike Portnoy and Joey Jordison, and he's also a prodigy on the instrument, adapting quickly to all kinds of compositions.
WM: We noticed the diverse influences of the musicians in Opus V, ranging from Japanese music to jazz and Slipknot, encompassing various subgenres along the way. How does this influence the band's work as a whole?
DL: In our new single “A New Empire Rise” this is very evident, because we had the opportunity to create something from scratch and the whole process was very natural, so with each part I composed I left moments to give voice to this musical diversity, I especially remember Lucas' solo, where I just commented, “Do something really crazy with those songs you play” (laughs) and he delivered something that I didn't even need a second option for.
WM: And the single “A New Empire Rise” talks about the emergence of a new empire after the exposure of the ego and hypocrisy of something or someone. What was the inspiration for the track?
DL: The music and lyrics were composed at a time when we needed to decide on a direction: stick with our old habits or move on to something new. This caused trauma and ruptures within the band, which led to the creation of the lyrics as a response to another song that we had to delete during this renewal process.
