Portugal 80s Metal

WILD SHADOW

From Lisbon came Wild Shadow. The band was formed by three friends in the beginning of 1985, Paulo "Grande" drums, Aquiles "Quinito" rhythm guitar and José Gomes vocals. None of them learned to play with anyone... it was all by ear. Many bass and solo guitar players went through the line-up and many rehearsal rooms have been tried from Praça do Chile/ Penha de França to rooms in Olivais. In 1986 Paulo joins as bass player. In late 1986 with a stable line up and a regular rehearsal room/ studio (Hipolab) in Paço de Arcos, the quartet recorded their first demo tape, in just 4 tracks. The sound engineer was Paulo Godinho. However the sound was poor. The demo contained tracks as "Fight For Your Life", "Before The End", "Wild Shadow". The band continued to rehearse in this room/ studio and with this line-up. In late 1987 came to the group Lafayette as lead guitar. Finally in 1988, in the same rehearsal room/ studio, same sound engineer, with these line up Paulo, Aquiles, Zé, Paulo and Lafayette a 2nd demo was recorded. "Restless Run", "The Hope/ Sweet Desire", "New Order Merchants" and "Bound To Be Free" were part of the demo. These two demos were sent to only two or three publishers, but the band never got any response. They never sent to any zine and might have been made three or four recordings for close friends. Also they did a radio interview in 1988, at a Metal radio show in a pirate radio, Lisbon area. The problems in the band were diverse and in 1990 Zé Gomes leaves, almost one month before their 1st live performance, that would be at the Rock Rendez Vous on February 18th, opening for Alkateya. Zé Gomes as he was very friendly of João Henrique (ex-STS Paranoid) asked him to sing in is place. João did what he could do to learn the lyrics in three or four rehearsals and putting his own melodies, that improved in a more raw sound and melodic the songs. That same gig would be the last metallic session at the Rock Rendez Vous. After João Henrique leaving, bassist Paulo also abandoned the group. They were replaced by Gabriel "Gabi" vocals and Fernando bass. A 3rd demo was recorded in late 1991 with the five elements in a 24-track studio. The tracks were "Shadow Of Death", "Winds Of Freedom", "Bound To Be Free" and "Victim Of Society". The demo was sent to several publishers but again no response. João Carlos replaces Lafayette and they played for the last time at a band contest in Graça, Lisbon in 1992. At the end of the contest the unexpected happened, the band was disqualified for excessive ages. They decided to end in late 1993.

thanks to José Gomes

DISCOGRAPHY

VIDEO

"New Order Merchants" 1st gig, February 18th 1990 at the Rock Rendez Vous

MEMORABILIA

advert 1st gig, February 18th 1990 at Rock Rendez Vous
advert June 14th 1991, Amadora

INSANITY

Insanity were from Soure, Coimbra. The band began in the summer of 1988, by Nuno Dias guitar, Rafael Mota drums, Rui Alex solo guitar and Sérgio Leitão vocals/ bass. The first live performance comes in June 10th 1989, in Juncal. Between June and February 1990, the band decide to make a pause for reflection. Rafael Mota leaves on February 10th 1990, passing Sérgio Leitão to the drums and Nuno Dias to the bass. However had already joined the band João Trevas as vocalist. With this line up, Insanity gave several concerts, mostly in the central region. In May, João Trevas is replaced by Tony. The performs at the 1st Nazaré Metal Festival, August 25th 1990, along with Thormenthor, Necrophilia.

audio sample

MEMORABILIA

ticket 1st Nazaré Metal Festival, August 25th 1990

JAROJUPE

Coming from Santa Maria de Portuzelo, Viana Do Castelo, Jarojupe are the two initials of each brother, Jaime Parente vocals/ drums, Rosa Parente bass, Juca Parente guitar and Pedro Parente guitar. Until then the band played at dance clubs, but to enter the contest Só-Rock, that took place in Coimbra in May 1981, was required 3 original songs, so they changed their musical direction to something heavier. The final of the contest was held on July 5th at the Estádio Municipal in Coimbra, having been ranked in 4th place. The following year they win the contest Grande Noite do Rock (Great Night of Rock) at the Pavilhão de Alvalade, Lisbon. As winners they never got to record the single promised. Jarojupe played for the first time outside Portugal, on March 23rd 1984, as guests at the Muestra de Pop, Rock y otros Rollos in Zaragoza, Spain. The band performed to around 15,000 people at the festival. In December 15th 1984 Jarojupe played at the very first Portuguese Heavy Metal Festival. Organized by Purgatório do Heavy Metal Fan-Club, the event took place at the Pavilhão Associação de Moradores in St Antonio dos Cavaleiros, Loures, Lisbon. The festival was a huge invent, along with Xeque Mate, STS Paranoid, Valium, Mac Zac, Sepulcro. The following year they released their first single "Pecado Mortal". The choice of the songs for the single were made by the label, and the recording was eventually made in just 2 tracks. In 1986 a 5 track demo, tittled "Criatura Sinistra". Included the songs "Precisamos De Amor Esta Noite", "Alma Maldita", "Assassinos", "Criatura Sinistra" and "Pecado Mortal". Rosa Parente leaves the band and is replaced by Ronnie. The band had scheduled the first part of the concert of Iron Maiden/ Wasp, at the Dramático in Cascais, December 5th 1986, but for some reason they never got to play. According to what was said at the time, the reason was due to the extended time of the sound check that both Maiden and WASP had. Shortly after the group emigrated to Madrid, where they remained for a long period of four years, playing in bars and numerous concerts with Spanish bands such as Heroes del Silencio or Nacha Pop. Only in 1991 they return to Portugal where they launch their first album... Jarojupe are still active and releasing albums.

DISCOGRAPHY

demo tape "Criatura Sinistra" ©1986

demo tape "Criatura Sinistra" ©199x H.M.Z.P. 007

audio sample

MEMORABILIA

advert gig April 23th 1982

advert March 23rd 1984, Zaragoza, Spain

advert/ ticket 1st Heavy Metal Festival, December 15th 1984

advert management

advert/ ticket December 5th 1986

SEPULCRO

From Olivais, Lisbon came Sepulcro. Formed around 1982, the line up consisted of Miguel Pinto vocals, Jorge Marmitas guitar, Beto guitar (Alkateya), Manuel Animal drums (Alkateya) and Isidro Chibo bass. In December 15th 1984 Sepulcro played at the very first Portuguese Heavy Metal Festival organized by the Purgatório do Heavy Metal Fan-Club. The event took place at the Pavilhão Associação de Moradores in St Antonio dos Cavaleiros, Loures, Lisbon. The festival was a huge invent, they played along with Xeque Mate, STS Paranoid, Valium, Mac Zac, Jarojupe. In 1985 the band released their 1st demo tape, which included 5 tracks: "Flesh Meets Steel", "Street Survivor", "Space Line No. 13", "Rock And Roll Raiders" and "Born On The Road". The band played at the Rock Rendez Vous in October 10th 1985, with Tarântula, which replaced Blizzard at the last minute. Soon after Beto leaves the band, with only four members Sepulcro performs for the first time in the North of the country with Tarântula, November 30th 1985, at the T.A.S. Pavillion, Sandim, Vila Nova de Gaia. In 1986 they released their 2nd demo tape, with 4 tracks, "Pictures Of Silence", " R.I.P.", "I Wanna See Girls" and "Gimme Shelter". The band splits at the beginning of 1988. Both demos were re issued on cassette through H.M.Z.P. in the early 90s and by the The Forge in 2010.

DISCOGRAPHY

VIDEO

"Venom and Treason" live December 15th 1984, Sto Antonio dos Cavaleiros, Loures

MEMORABILIA

advert/ ticket 1st Portuguese Heavy Metal Festival, December 15th 1984

advert Rock Rendez Vous 1985, Blizzard didn´t play, and had been replaced by Tarântula

SATAN´S SAINTS

Satan`s Saints were from Amadora. Initially formed on October 1985 by Samuel Lopes bass, Zé Allen rhythm guitar and Carlos Coelho drums. After some searching for a vocalist capable of filling the place, they end up choosing Paulo Lemos. In mid-February 1986 João Carvalho enters for the second guitar. The group's first concert took place at the Ateneu Madre de Deus, Lisbon, June 26th 1986, with STS Paranoid. After a brief period of four months, they have the opportunity to to play at "Metal Stage", the 1st Heavy Metal Festival of Amadora city, an event that took place in the Plaza Cinema on October 4th. Also participated STS Paranoid, Cruise and Valium. In November the band went into studio to record their first demo tape. João Carvalho leaves but still in the same month his replacement is found, Mario Moutinho (ex.White Traffic, ex-STS Paranoid). In December 14th 1986 the band played live for the 1st time at the Rock Rendez Vous venue, with STS Paranoid, the very first organized gig by Metal Army. Meanwhile the group records at Edit Studios located in Amadora, a 5 track demo tape, with the songs "The Power Of The Night", "Nightbomber", "No Mercy", "Let Them Do It Again" and "Full Speed Ahead". Satan`s Saints were one of eight bands, together with Navan, Tarantula, STS Paranoid, Procyon, Blizzard, Devil Across and Black Cross, to entered the sessions for the first Heavy Metal double album, live at the Rock Rendez Vous in 1987, but that never materialized. Along with STS Paranoid and V12 they played in Nem Martins on August 15th 1987. After the departure of the singer Paulo de Lemos and bassist Samuel Lopes in the middle of 1987 the band separates.

DISCOGRAPHY

audio sample

MEMORABILIA

ticket October 4th 1986, Cine Plaza, Amadora

advert/ ticket Rock Rendez Vous, December 14th 1986

advert/ ticket Rock Rendez Vous, June 20th 1987

ticket concert August 15th 1987

ANTIGO TESTAMENTO

Antigo Testamento emerged with the Portuguese Rock boom in the beginning of the 80s, and only released the 7" single "Farto/ Hiroshima" around 1982. The line up was Rogério Gil vocals/ guitar, Julio Baião guitar, Quim Zé Mateus bass and Rui Teixeira drums.

DISCOGRAPHY