Portugal 80s Metal

RAMP

Ramp were formed at the end of 1988. The name Ramp was the joining of the members own initials: Ricardo Mendonça guitar, António José guitar, Miguel bass and Paulo drums. Ricardo Mendonça invites Rui Duarte, an old school friend, to take on the role of vocalist. From that moment on, hours and hours were spent in a friend’s garage rehearsing and composing. Their effort would soon pay off, when they went on stage for the very first time. It took place in Fogueteiro, on September 16th 1989, along with The Coven and Mortifera (farewell concert). After the gig they realized that certain things were wrong, including the bass player. So Miguel is replaced by Ricardo (João Saps) ex-Mortifera. For the 2nd gig, Ramp played with Braindead at the Rock Rendez Vous, Lisbon, February 11th 1990. The show captured the media and critics attention due to Ramp’s mind blowing music and passionate performance. Motivated by the excellent reviews of their live shows and a constantly growing public demand, they focused their efforts for what would be their first recording, a demo tape. The 5 track demo was recorded at Heaven Sound Studios, Almada. With the demo ready, although the band was not totally satisfied with the results, they decided not to commercialize it, thus reserving it for promotional purposes and business card for the labels, with the possibility of signing a contract. The band received offers from several labels, but chose to sign with the multi national Polygram Discos. Carlos Maria Trindade from the label, chooses as producers Rui Fadigas, Jorge Quadros (bassist and drummer from the pop/ rock band Delfins) and Mastern Bailey, Ramp enters the Exit Studios located in Lisbon, in September 1991. The result was "Thoughts" a 6 track mini-LP which is released in the beginning of 1992. Featuring "The Comediants", "Disillusions", "March to Death", "Thoughts", "The Last Child" and "Try Again" (Spermbirds cover). The release party took place at Johnny Guitar, Lisbon, in February 28th 1992. Three video-clips arose from the album: "Try Again", "The Last Child" and "Thoughts".

In March 28th 1992 Ramp opens for brasilian band Sepultura at the pavilion Dramático de Cascais. After several concerts in the Lisbon area, Ramp arrive at the north of the country, playing in Porto on April 17th at the pavilion Infante Sagres, with W.C Noise and Censurados. The EP "Thoughts" is released in CD format with 3 new songs. "In The Beginning", "Out of This World" and "Behind The Wall". Recorded again at Exit Studios on August 1992, produced by Mastern Bailey. The group embarks on a national tour playing all over the country and several appearances on TV. In 1995 the independent label União Lisboa released Ramp’s second album “Intersection”. 11 tracks recorded at 1 Só Céu Studios, Cascais, between March/ April 1995, produced again by Mastern Bailey. As a result, the record stormed the Portuguese sales sharts, something that never happened before to a Portuguese Metal band, and got extensive video play with “All Men Taste Hell”, their first single and video. But Ramp also harvested, throughout the world, excellent reviews and media coverage such as in Burn and Madball magazines in Japan, Metal Head and Rock Brigade in Brazil or Mindview and Hard Force in Belgium. Another tour to promote the album takes place and Ramp plays at several important festivals. Their 3rd work "E.D.R. (Evolution, Devolution, Revolution)" was recorded in Nottingham, England, in the Square Studios and was produced by Simon Efemey. It was released in late 1998, showing a much solid Ramp with an astonishing ability to create great songs. ”Hallelujah” and “Old times” were the chosen video-clips and ”For a While” became a radio hit, featuring in the Top Ten of Radio Comercial, one of the biggest Portuguese National Broadcasting Radios. "Revolution on Tour" was also a success, reaching its highest point with the recording of a live album (the first of its kind for a Portuguese Metal band). The double album "Ramp...Live" was released in late 1999. It gathers 18 tracks of their three original albums and it was recorded on their 10th year celebration show, from which they took footage that would be later used for the “How” video-clip.

In a 20 year career Ramp had the opportunity to play as opening act of international artists such as Motorhead, Metallica, Alice Cooper, Sepultura, Angra, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Manowar, Paradise Lost...

DISCOGRAPHY

VIDEO

1st gig, Fogueteiro, September 16th 1989 // "Thoughts" official video

"All Men Taste Hell" official video

MEMORABILIA

ticket 1st gig, Fogueteiro, September 16th 1989

ticket February 11th 1990, RRV, Lisbon

invitation February 28th 1992, Johnny Guitar, Lisbon, "Thoughts" release party

advert/ ticket March 28th 1992, Dramático Cascais, opening for Sepultura

ticket April 10th 1992, Lisbon

ticket April 17th 1992, Porto

ticket June 26th 1992, Lisbon

advert/ invitation March 29th 1993, Gartejo, Lisbon, CD "Thoughts" release party

ticket May 30rd 1993 (?), Amora, Seixal

ticket March 25th 1994, Amora, Seixal

ticket June 4th 1994, Porto

ticket 1996, Sacavem

ticket April 6th 1996, Lusideia Bar, Samora Correia

ticket October 10th 1996, Toma Bar, Vila Franca de Xira

ticket 1996, Caneças

ticket July 5th 1997, Super Bock Super Rock fstival, Lisbon

ticket January 26th 1999, Amora, opening for Angra

ticket June 12th 1999, Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, opening for Motorhead

ticket July 2th 1999, Lisbon, opening for Manowar

advert October 9th 1999, Seixal, 10th anniversary/ live recording

advert "Ramp" double live CD

AFTERDEATH

Afterdeath were formed in May 1990 by Sérgio Paulo vocals, ex-Vandals Nuno Maciel guitar and Sérgio Filipe bass. Joining them, Rui guitar and Fernando drums, both would eventually come out shortly after, by several incompatibilities and later formed Insult. In October Ricardo Rosales drums come in and finally Afterdeath begin to emerge the first songs. Which were presented for the 1st time live in December 1990, at a festival of new bands at a school in Benfica, Lisbon. They played the two new songs which they had composed, eventually repeat one of them. The year does not end without the band go into the studio for the first time, more precisely on December 27th at Edit Studios, where they recorded the 1st track composed by the band "Death is Calling." Though, the band was not satisfied with the quality of the recording, the promo-track served to promote the band and is sent to many local radio stations, getting good airplay and making known the band's name all over the country. At this time they needed to give their 1st seriously gig and with the lack of invitations singer Sérgio Paulo decides to organize their debut concert on March 3rd 1991 in Odivelas, inviting Unsilent and Angel Sinner. After this concert Sérgio Filipe is replaced by bassist Ricardo Jorge "Dick". Invitations to concerts begin to emerge, giving origin to a mini-tour entitled "Death on The Road '91", ending at is best on July 14th in the Diz Sim á Vida Festival, at the Barreirense stadium before 3,000 people where they share the stage with Tarantula, Adelaide Ferreira, Jorge Palma, Procyon, the UK band British Lion and many others. Motivated by the good acceptance, they decided to enter the Heaven Sound Studios, located in Almada, in August 1991, to record their 1st demo. Entitled "Behind Life", with a Intro and 4 songs, "Digital Horizons", "Afterdeath", "Heart of Fire" and "Fortune", with the production of João Martins (ex-vocalist of Agora Colora). With the lack of money and because it was the band`s intention to released a more professional demo tape, with color cover and with the DGEDA seal, so that it could be sold in all record stores, the demo only came out in March 1992.

Follows a new mini tour, the "Life on The Road '92", already with drummer Miguel Mourão (ex-Sacred Sin) replacing Ricardo Rosales, who later joins Casablanca. After the last concert of this mini tour, which took place in Tramagal, in early August, the singer Sérgio Paulo stands alone in the band and two weeks after he enters the then, obligatory military service for 8 months. By that time the track "Digital Horizons" extracted from the 1st demo is included in the 1st Portuguese Metal compilation "The Birth of a Tragedy", released as a double-LP. Rumors begin to emerge in the national underground scene that Afterdeath had just end, but even before finish the military service, Sérgio Paulo begin the first rehearsals with three former members of Thornado, Virgilio Neto guitar, Roberto Monteiro bass and Filipe Martins drums. After the departure of the vocalist from the military service in late March 1993, the band returns to the concerts on June 5th and again goes to the Heaven Sound Studios to record the track "Dark Atmosfere", to be included in the compilation CD "Sometimes Death is Better", from the Belgian label Shiver Records. Is used as promo-track for radio stations, getting good airplay and a place in many of these programs through the tops of the listeners vote. In late February 1994 the band returned back to Heaven Sound Studios, and their 2nd demo by the name "Unreal Sight" is recorded, once again produced by João Martins. Tracklist: "Justice Manipulation", "Live For Today", "Speaks On Your Thoughts (instrumental)", "Hunger Calling" and "Deep In Natural Art". The demo, as the first one, was professional printed in color and gets excellent reviews, national and international magazines such as Metallian (France) or the Sounds of Death (USA) and starting to attract interest from several publishers. But the band is drastically forced to reduce their live activity, with the entry of the drummer to the obligatory military service, soon followed by the bass player. The interest of a record label appears and the band takes the little time they have available to compose new songs with a view to record their debut album. Musical differences began between the singer and the guitarist, who eventually quit the band, followed by the bassist and the drummer, in early 1995.

Sérgio Paulo was alone again, when by chance finds the guitarist Nuno Maciel, whom he had formed the band, and after a long discussion they decided to reunite again, and invited drummer Mário Rui (former roadie of Afterdeath) which brought for the band bassist José Ramos. With this lineup, Afterdeath returns to gigs and to rehearsals, composing new songs, that would be part of the debut CD "Back Words". Recorded in the summer of 1995, at the Rec 'n' Roll Studios under the producer Luis Barros (Tarantula`s drummer). The album with 11 songs (among which is an intro by the brothers Barros from Tarantula) and the rewrite of the track "Digital Horizons", with the participation of the singer Stregoyck from Candle Serenade. The album is released in late 1995 through Guardians of Metal (singer`s Sérgio Paulo property which had already released the debut CD of Candle Serenade (GM 001)). The CD promotion begins with several concerts and with new guitarist Victor Silva, who replaced Nuno Maciel, which lasted for 1996. Soon after, bassist communicates that he wants to stop playing, also the drummer starts playing live in a cover band and Afterdeath eventually break up naturally again. Faced with promises of higher flights for Afterdeath in terms of touring and release albums, Sérgio Paulo invites the elements of Nameless, Ricardo Ferreira guitar, Jorge Lisboa bass and Bruno Filipe drums. They went again to the Rec `n` Roll Studios to record the only song composed by this lineup "World Deformed by Man,". Which would be included in the CD compilation "Guardians of Metal Vol. IV". Afterdeath plays live several times, but the environment within the band was not the best and after a gig in Cantanhede, in the summer of 1997, vocalist Sérgio Paulo tired of the constant lineup changes, the disinterest of the musicians who were passing and all the promises made and never fulfilled, he decided to put an end in Afterdeath and dedicates more to the activities of the Guardians of Metal label, post order and later physical store in Lisbon.

biography by Sérgio Paulo

DISCOGRAPHY

VIDEO

Live at the "Diz Sim á Vida" festival, July 14th 1991

MEMORABILIA

ticket 1st gig, March 3rd 1991, Odivelas
advert Covilhã, June 15th 1991
ticket "Diz Sim á Vida Festival" July 14th 1991
ticket July 23th 1991
ticket June 20th 1992, Rio De Mouro
ticket July 4th 1992, Brandoa, Amadora
ticket November 6th 1993, Mourisca Do Vouga, Águeda
ticket Caneças Metal Fest II 1996, Caneças