Throughout history, VIPER had the rare privilege of featuring two of the most charismatic artists in Brazilian heavy metal: The sad and premature loss of Andre Matos , the greatest vocalist in the country's history, and Pit Passarell , the genius composer of most of VIPER's repertoire (who would also take over the band's vocals after Andre), would affect the performance and even the eventual continuation of the band.
But what we saw this Sunday, August 3rd, at Tokio Marine Hall in São Paulo is a clear and direct message from the band: Despite the devastating blow, VIPER is more alive than ever. And it continues with an extremely well-rehearsed, energetic, and cohesive band.
It was heartening to see the band's energy, the quality of its members, and the unbeatable repertoire that the São Paulo band presented.
VIPER opens show with a song that has already become a new classic.
To open a show celebrating 40 years of their career, it's not every band that can excite with a "new" song like "Under The Sun," the first single from their most recent album, Timeless . Judging by the vibe, you could already feel that the audience would be completely captivated by VIPER throughout the entire performance.
Subsequently, “To Live Again” made clear something that would be repeated throughout the entire show: the quality of the backing vocals, which were elevated to a new level after the arrival of the newest members, guitarist Kiko Shred and bassist Dani Matos .
Incidentally, the bassist, brother of Andre Matos, showed his quality not only in "Dead Light" but throughout the entire show. Perfectly in sync with the band, he has done justice to his position as Pit's bassist and to the surname he carries.
The band piles up classic after classic.
“A Cry From The Edge” is the classic that followed, keeping the energy high and featuring the only founding member, guitarist Felipe Machado , as the main communicator with the audience, speaking between songs, introducing the band and asking for audience interaction.
“Soldiers of Sunrise” was one of the highlights of the show, with drummer Guilherme Martin , nicknamed “machine” by Felipe Machado during the band members' introduction, showcasing his skill and his current exuberant form.
By playing “Coma Rage,” the most hardcore song in their setlist, VIPER demonstrated the strength of their discography: The first 6 songs of the show belong to 5 different albums. Something only iconic bands can afford to do.
During "The Spreading Soul," the most emotional moment of the show: The screen was filled with a beautiful black and white photo of Andre and Pit. The lovely song was sung by the entire audience. Drummer Guilherme Martin was visibly moved.
Leandro Caçoilo 's vocal quality is evident throughout the show. However, "Timeless" is where Leandro truly showcases his incredible vocal talent. The song features very high notes and is performed with the same quality as in the studio. Kiko Shred's brilliant solo in this song is another highlight.
down the Tokio Marine Hall.
The final stretch of the show begins with the classic "Prelude To Oblivion," which features, among other highlights, Felipe Machado's guitar solo with his guitar behind his back. The quality of Leandro's vocals in this song, towards the end of the show, is impressive.
VIPER's biggest hit, "Living For The Night," featured Rafael Bittencourt from Angra as a special guest, in addition to the traditional audience participation where people sang along from beginning to end.
The Tokio Marine Hall erupted with the explosive "Rebel Maniac," which brought to a close one of VIPER's best performances in recent years.
From beginning to end, VIPER's message was crystal clear. One of the most important bands in Brazilian metal is alive, in shape, and revitalized. And most importantly: They are living up to the legacy left by Andre and Pit, who would certainly be happy to see their band captivating audiences so intensely.
Check out the photos from the VIPER show:
READ ALSO : Angra in São Paulo revives 'Temple of Shadows' in a memorable final show before their hiatus.
