Brazilian Heavy Metal is original and our musicians are exceptional. What we need is to provide the conditions for these talents to emerge and be able to make a living from music
by Nando Machado
Last Saturday, May 11th, was a great day for Brazilian Heavy Metal.
Andre Matos managed to fill a relatively large concert venue in São Paulo, driving the audience wild. And the reason for my joy isn't just personal, due to my friendship of over 30 years with this legend of Brazilian Metal, but also because a national band managed to do this, even with an international competitor in another venue in the same city (and, incidentally, there were more people there to see Andre). A true milestone in the history of Metal, regardless of your personal taste or preferred Metal style.
Heavy Metal is probably the most unfairly treated music genre in the world, and I'm not saying that's only caused by the mainstream media. It's not just because we're not on TV or radio that we're treated unfairly, but because there's a great deal of prejudice from the public and society in general surrounding what is known as Metal. The worst part is that the Metal audience itself also has this prejudice, and against Heavy Metal itself!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Since I was 10 years old, I've been going to Heavy Metal shows, and in those years I've witnessed the evolution of concert venues. In the 80s, shows that used to be held in theaters and bars started happening in nightclubs like Dama Xoc and Aeroanta. At that time, Sepultura was booming, Viper was killing it, Dr. Sin was destroying everything, Korzus was tearing it up, and Angra was smashing it. Shows started being held at the Olympia, the Palace, and later the Credicard Hall. These big bands were constantly on the radio and MTV, but suddenly the dream ended. Nobody wanted to hear about long-haired guys or distorted guitars anymore. And don't blame grunge. Brazilian rock came back in full force, forró, pagode, axé, and all that garbage dominated the media. Metal bands lost their main members. Andre left Angra, Max left Sepultura, Viper released a pop album… Was it the end?
We need to show that the movement in Brazil is as strong as anywhere else in the world and that our bands are the best.”
No! Heavy Metal will never die. Never! You can be sure that while you're reading this text, some 12 or 13-year-old kid is discovering Iron Maiden or Metallica through the influence of an older brother or friend. In some dark basement, a teenager is playing air guitar listening to Slayer at full blast or starting to strum a guitar borrowed from a friend, trying to play Black Sabbath riffs. And some girl is trying to learn a song on the bass and getting ready to rehearse with her band.
Will these be the next Andre Matos, Max Cavalera, or Andreas Kisser? Maybe? That depends only on you, or rather, on us. When you receive an invitation to see a Brazilian band, don't think twice, go. The bands here are as good as, and often better than, many foreign bands. Brazilian Heavy Metal is original, and our musicians are exceptional. What we need is professionalism. We need to create the conditions for these talents to emerge and make a living from music, from the music we love so much.
It's pointless to have 150 international shows a year if our own bands have to break up due to lack of money, if our musicians have to play only as a hobby, if these talented artists have to choose other professions and abandon their dream of a career in rock. That, indeed, is a great injustice.
We need to boost our self-esteem and show that the movement in Brazil is as strong as anywhere else in the world and that our bands are the best. How do we do that? By filling the venues, buying the bands' CDs and t-shirts, and purchasing their MP3s on iTunes. That's the only way these bands will survive.
If Europeans applauded Shadowside, what should we Brazilians do?
On May 26th, we have the chance to see a new band representing the best of Brazilian Metal in a top-notch venue. That day, Shadowside will play at Via Marquês, the same venue that made me so happy with Viper last year and with Andre last Saturday. After 36 shows across Europe opening for Helloween and Gamma Ray, these guys are on fire and fired up, and I guarantee it will be a sensational show. If the Europeans gave Shadowside such a standing ovation, what should we Brazilians do? Or will we forever have to depend on Andre Matos, Andreas Kisser, and Max Cavalera to be proud of Brazilian Metal?
The production is by Wikimetal, and from the beginning our idea was to do a show like this every 1 or 2 months. This time we'll have Shadowside and SupreMa, a great band that's also releasing their new album. In the future we might have Almah, Ancesttral, Attomica, Baranga, Carro Bomba, Claustrofobia, Command 6, Dr. Sin, Elixir Inc, Forka, Fúria Inc, Genocídio, Hibria, Jack Devil, King of Bones, Korzus, Metalmorphose, Project46, Salário Mínimo, Sceleratta, Sepultura, Sioux 66, Torture Squad, Voodoopriest, and so many other great Brazilian Metal bands. And believe me, all these bands are excellent. If you don't know them, go check them out.
If someone can afford to pay R$ 950 for a VIP ticket or R$ 300 for a Black Sabbath concert, I don't criticize or condemn them. I also have idols, big dreams, and I love seeing Metallica, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Judas Priest, etc. I truly love these great bands. On the other hand, for a much lower price, you can support national bands and help create a true Brazilian Metal scene. With national bands playing in venues that treat the audience with respect, with top-quality sound, lighting, and screens. No difference from an international show.
Support Brazilian Metal and let's change this narrative that Brazilian bands don't draw crowds. I hope to see everyone at the SupreMa and Shadowside show on May 26th at Via Marquês. I'm sure you won't regret it.