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by Marco Vallim
National pride! We have many reasons for this, and we value few of them. Many bands emerge every day, and most of them end up halfway through their pursuit of their dream due to lack of support, structure, and in a few cases, simply due to a lack of talent, but we won't analyze this specific case.
Being a musician requires a lot of work and effort; it's not enough to just make good music, you have to make people listen, like it, and want to hear more. And many bands end up failing because of that.
First of all, Wikimetal deserves a special mention. The "National Pride" has always been my favorite part of every episode. It allows me to discover new things, and I'm going to mention some bands that I think deserve to be seen and heard. Some have already been featured on Wikimetal, others yet !
To match the great (interpret that as you will) Nando Machado, I'm going to make a top 10 with 11 items!
1. Nervous
There's little left to say about the girls from Nervosa , especially on Wikimetal. Not because they lack ability or potential—quite the opposite, they have potential to spare—but because they've been getting a lot of attention, deservedly so, for some time now. With a contract with Napalm Records and their first European tour already planned before even recording their debut, few in their right minds wouldn't bet on their success. Pure Thrash Metal, without frills or fuss, the band Nervosa showed in their demo '2012' that they're here to stay! I'm really rooting for their success. I suggest you listen to the track "Masked Betrayer" from the '2012' demo.
2. Dog World
Having been around for some time, Mundo Cao released their debut album in 2011 with none other than Ivan Busic (Dr. Sin) on drums and are preparing to enter the studio to record their second album, which I'm eagerly awaiting! They made an appearance on the 'National Pride' segment of Wikimetal last year. The power trio plays a heavier, well-crafted Rock 'N Roll, flirting with Hard Rock, but with a Heavy Metal attitude! With original and captivating compositions, they deserve a place in the national spotlight! I suggest you listen to the track "Bug do Milênio" from their self-titled debut album, 'Mundo Cao'.
3. Tier
Here's a band I discovered recently. With an EP released last year called "Sem Saída" (No Exit), they create an interesting sound that blends guitars in low tunings and strong compositions that flirt with Extreme Metal without being absorbed by that style. The striking, raspy vocals have already become a trademark of this band. And the title track is something masterful! I suggest, obviously, that you listen to "Sem Saída" from the EP 'Sem Saída'
4. Gift Tray
This one's for the nostalgic fans! Although the Brazilian Metalhead scene always avoids unanimity, criticizing and insulting (sometimes rightly, sometimes not), I've never seen anyone speak ill of or criticize Tuatha De Danann. If you miss the band, you should listen to Tray Of Gift! No, they're not a fancy cover band, or a band trying to cling to the remnants of the success the Minas Gerais band had in the 2000s. Tray Of Gift started as a solo project by Tuatha's guitarist and vocalist, Rodrigo Berne.
Gradually the band took shape, and some current and former members of Tuatha joined the lineup. The band's debut album was released last year, and this year they are expected to present something from their second album, signed with the historic Cogumelo Records label. The band's sound picks up where Tuatha left off, showcasing all the folk and Celtic elements that brought the Minas Gerais band to fame, but with a heavier metal feel, though no less, shall we say, "happy" than Tuatha. The fans are grateful!
I suggest not my favorite track, but the first one I heard and that made me a fan, leading me to discover all the others: “Tray Of Gift” from the album “The Tray Of Gift”
5. Neurosis
Aneurose has been around for a while. They've recorded some demos and just finished recording their debut album, which will be called 'From Hell', produced by Gus Montanto. The fact that the band managed to play at Roça N Roll even without releasing their first album already shows some of their potential for the future. With a unique sound that efficiently blends Thrash Metal, melodic Death Metal, and elements of other styles, such as grunge, the band shows in their demo 'Square In Flames' that their first official release can – and should – be amazing! I, personally, am very eager to get my hands on this CD! I suggest you listen to the song 'Game Over'
6. Damned
Probably the most controversial band on the list. Many comparisons to Marilyn Manson arose at the beginning of the band's career, but, little by little, they showed their personality. Always doing something surprising, in one way or another, they climbed the ranks in the national underground scene, always being one of the main attractions at any show on the independent circuit. After releasing the album Nero, in which they blend songs with industrial, gothic, and acoustic elements with elements of Extreme Metal, the band released the EP Montagem.
Expanding the boundaries of Metal as we know it, this EP was an experimental project by the band that ended up reaping many rewards. Mixing the heaviness of Metal with electronic elements – so far just another industrial Metal band, nothing new – but not just any electronic element, we're talking about Rio de Janeiro's electronic music, the so-called Rio funk. That's right, the band blended Metal with the electronic beat of funk in an EP with 5 songs. I suggest that this band listen to two songs, one from Montagem and one that came before it.
From the montage: 'What the moon brings with it'
From Nero: the title track:
7. Rygel
Another band that has already made its mark on National Pride! Rygel emerged in 2004, but only released a full-length album in 2009. The album 'Realities… Life as It Is' achieved little notoriety, leading many to believe that their most recent CD, 'Imminent' from 2012, is their first. The sound of their second album is much more mature and heavier; the band has indeed evolved significantly in a very short time. Blending Power Metal with heavier passages that flirt, at times, with Thrash and Death Metal, the band even managed to compete in the battle of the bands to play at the Sweden Rock Fest! I suggest the single from 'Imminent', the track called 'Just One':
8. Lothloryen
We talked about Rygel, and we're returning to Minas Gerais to talk about Lothloryen. Rygel's vocalist, Daniel Felipe, recently joined Lothloryen. The band has always played Folk Metal with lyrics based on the famous author Tolkien. For their most recent CD (and, in my opinion, their best), they decided to change the theme and blend Folk with elements of Power, Thrash, and Death Metal. The lyrical themes also changed, migrating from Tolkien and medievalism to the theme of "Madness," the human mind studied in depth. Highly recommended since their beginnings, but even more so now with their new work, Raving Souls Society. I suggest the track "Face Your Insanity":
9. Shadowside
It's almost unfair to talk about Shadowside , especially on Wikimetal's website. As I write this, the band is touring Europe with Gamma Ray and Helloween. They've also toured with WASP and recorded with the vocalists of Dark Tranquillity, Soilwork, and Dream Evil on the band's most recent album. That alone shows the band has a lot to offer. With three CDs released, they're already among the established bands, but they still have a long way to go in the global metal scene. I suggest the song "Gag Order." It's not my favorite, but I think it's one of the band's best "calling cards."
10. Motorocker
Initially gaining notoriety as an AC/DC tribute band, Motorocker gradually shifted towards creating original music. With a sound rooted in Rock 'N Roll and Blues, heavily influenced by AC/DC but not limited to it, Motorocker has released two albums of original material: “Igreja Universal do Reino do Rock” in 2006 and “Rock na Veia” in 2010. They were voted best band by the website Whiplash.net in 2011 and 2012.
I recommend the track “Homem Livre,” a ballad that showcases the band's strong personality.
11. Command6
Formed in 2008, Command6 has been promoting their second studio album, titled Black Flag. During these five years, the band has had the opportunity to share the stage with major national names such as Angra, Almah, and Sepultura, as well as participating in the Motorcycle Rock Cruise for two consecutive years.
The band has a lot of experience performing shows throughout Brazil, having played in practically every region of the country. Sonically, the band stands out for its Metalcore sound with influences ranging from Thrash Metal to more traditional Heavy Metal. I suggest you listen to the track 'So Cold' and keep an eye out, the band will soon be releasing a new music video!
Of course, I only mentioned 11, and that's very little compared to the entire Brazilian Metal scene. I could make a list with 20 or 30, or even more (just to mention a few: Trayce, Project46 , The Apple, Almah, Mattilha, Nacionarquia, among many others...). Or you, dear reader, could do the same and post your own list. Either in the comments, or write your own text.
And what do you think about a future list featuring only foreign bands? I would gladly do it if you're interested, or even a second list with 11 more national bands.
*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.
