Text by Marcelo Gomes
The 15th edition of the Setembro Negro Festival took place on September 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th at the Carioca Club in São Paulo. The festival returned in full force and was once again a great celebration of extreme music.
For four days, fans were able to see everything from underground to a representative of the German Big Four Sodom . The experience this festival provides is fantastic because it immerses fans in the world of heavy music.
The first day took place on Brazil's Independence Day holiday. Actually, it was a pre-party with a slightly smaller number of bands, headlined by Voivod .
Right on time at 3:55 PM, the band Erasy kicked off the event. Nothing better than some good doom to start the festival. Those who were still arriving could check out the Sabbath-esque sound the band creates. Guitarist Leandro D'Carvalho, with his nearly one-meter-tall wizard hat, unleashed riffs that would make the creator of it all, Tony Iommi , proud. What a performance!
Those who enjoy more extreme music were happy to see the gauchos from Burn The Manking playing death metal with great technique and drive. It's impressive how Brazil has been a breeding ground for extreme bands since the 80s, and if it depends on this new generation, we are very well represented.
And it was no different with Warshipper , who came next. Formed in Sorocaba (SP), the quartet plays competent thrash/death metal that earned the respect of those present.
Next up was Leviaethan , another representative from the pampas region, celebrating 40 years on the road. Led by Flavio Soares , the band from Rio Grande do Sul performed songs from their two albums released in the 90s ( Smile and Disturbed Mind ) and two more recent compositions, “Hell Is Here” and “The Time Has Come Yours”. Based on these two songs and the positive reception, it was clear that the band still has a lot of fuel left in the tank.
The second-to-last band to perform was In The Woods . With a set time of 50 minutes, the Norwegians presented six long tracks that filled the entire time. The music evokes melancholy, various moods that stand out for their taste and excellent performance. One track that perfectly summarizes all of this is "299 796 km/s". This nearly 15-minute song features several soundscapes that create cinematic images, transporting the audience to another dimension. A great show and a beautiful debut in Brazil.
To close the first night, the Canadian band Voivod, celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, took the stage. The first two songs, “Killing Technology” and “Absolete Beings,” were enough to have their name chanted. They haven't been here often; this was only their third time, which explains why it was the most crowded show of the day. The setlist was well-chosen and covered various phases of the band. Songs like “Syncro Anarchy,” “Rise,” “Nuage Fractal,” and “Pre-Ignition” were performed with a phenomenal intensity that only a band with such a unique sound could achieve.
Vocalist Dennis “Snake” Bellanger said that during these four decades, they've been through a lot and made a point of remembering his former bandmate, guitarist Dennis “Piggy” D'Amour , who passed away in 2005 from cancer. Snake also mentioned that they haven't been to South America much and that they plan to correct that. They closed with “Fix My Heart.” The curtains closed, but the audience still wanted more. Due to numerous requests, the band returned to the delight of the crowd and finished with the classic that bears the band's name, “Voivod.”
During the performance, the connection with the fans, who were captivated by the intricate rhythms of the music, was clear. Like it or not, Voivod is a beacon of authenticity and innovation amidst so much generic music. The show celebrated the band's four decades of history with dignity.
