Portugal 80s Metal

WEST BOULEVARD

Constituted by Miguel Freitas vocals (Ibéria), Luis guitar, Sergio Rodrigues drums and Ménix bass. West Boulevard was formed in the beginning of the 90´s, and only lasted one year. With a repertoire of about 7 songs, they performed live only once. The gig was at the "Diz Sim á Vida" festival helded at the Barreirense stadium, July 14th 1991. Sharing the stage with other groups such as Afterdeath, Adelaide Ferreira, Helllegion and Tarantula, they played only two songs.

thanks to Miguel Freitas

VIDEO

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

MEMORABILIA

ticket "Diz Sim á Vida" Festival, July 14th 1991

MEXAGASE

Began as Wild Hand and changed to Fase Critica (Critical Phase) and in 1989 changed again to Mexagase. The group from Costa da Caparica, Almada, was composed by Paulo guitar, Topê drums, Rogerio guitar and Nuno Torres. At the end of 1989, the band recorded a 4 track demo tape w/ the songs "From The Dust", "Black Head", "Instrumental" and "Mexagase". At the time of the recordings Nuno Torres leaves to Procyon. Enter a new guitarist, Jerónimo and the band with only two members of the original line up, changes name.

*(pictures Fase Critica)

MORGUE (Porto)

Morgue formed in Porto, September 1989, by Artur bass and Manuel Toga guitar. Then joined Paulo Pinto "Mosh" drums and soon after Jorge Silva (John) vocals. Later, due to internal problems, John leaves and it is replaced by Nando. With the departure of Nando, John returns to the band as a vocalist, and Victor Bertoquini goes to the guitar. Artur leaves and João take is place. The group presents live for the 1st time doing the opening for Braindead, February 4th 1990 at the Cais 447, Matosinhos. Playing later in the same month on the night of Carnival, at a collectivity. The line up for those 2 gigs was Jorge Silva (John) vocals, Manuel Toga guitar, Vítor Bertoquini guitar, Paulo Pinto (Mosh) drums and João bass. They were scheduled in the "Rock Against Racism (Rock contra o Racismo)" in June of that year, but they had to cancel the performance. A small curiosity: "we turn on the hand to our bassist and presented as the official justification for our non-action that he has injured. in fact, we had lost our rehearsal room immediately following the concerts in February and had never been able to rehearse, so we were not prepared." Over the years, between successive stops for lack of place to rehearse (which was a huge problem at the time) were too many people at one time or another, joined the band line-up.

One of the most radical changes occurred after the opening of Poltergeist Studios (which opened using some of the Morgue stuff), coinciding with the fact that after a considerable time stopped, again with a place to rehearse, Paulo Pinto (along with Alfredo Barbosa) formed Genocide, which created some doubt about what project he wanted to actually. This led, in one sitting, John and Manuel replace all the remaining line-up (whose interest in the project had now faded) and enter Paulo Pereira guitar, Rui Carreiro bass and Raul Filipe Silva drums.

This line up remained, always brushed off public appearances but rehearsing, until 1993, when they form a new project(Voyager), and leave the band. Later, Raul would return and would be only drummer hypothesis for Morgue, while a number of people went through the line up. The final formation of Morgue eventually solidify with the entry of Henrique Fernandes contrabass and has marked a divergence in terms of musical composition in relation to the "Thrash Metal" of the beginning. After being able to find, and keep, a place to rehearse, the line-up came to be completed with the entry of Samuel Coelho violin and Nelson horn and synthesizer and would eventually give a concert on February 18, 2005 in Porto-Rio opening for band Genocide, playing a style defined as "Progressive Thrash". After this concert, and due to a number of circumstances beyond the members the band eventually sink into indefinite hiatus, which still did not wake up after almost nine years without ever declaring its end .

text by Jorge Silva

audio sample I / audio sample II

MEMORABILIA

ticket February 4th 1990, Porto

flyer "Rock Against Racism (Rock contra o Racismo)" June 2nd 1990, performance canceled

DIMENSÃO ATROZ

Formed in mid-September 1988, São João da Madeira, Aveiro, Dimensão Atroz (Atrocious Dimension) consisted of Miguel Silva guitar/ vocals, Jorge Santos bass and Rui Danin drums (Trasher´s fanzine/ Alienação Infernal Fan-Club). Some time later, Tono Silva joins the band as vocalist. For about 80 people, the band performs their 1st concert. In late May 1989, Zé Oliveira joins as rhythm guitar. In June 16th 1989 they performs live at the Auditório Municipal in their home town São João da Madeira. Songs like "Diabólico", "Fantasia", "Ruas da Amargura", "Pesadelo (instrumental)", "Peregrinação", "Apache", "Dimensão Atroz", were all sung in Portuguese.

DISCOGRAPHY

INDEX

Index were a Hard ´n´Heavy band from Laranjeiro, Almada, formed in 1988. With several line up changes, the band stabilized in 1990 with Mário vocals, Nuno keyboards, Carlos guitar, João drums and S.S. bass.

audio sample

DISEMBOWEL

Disembowel born from the ashes of Sepulchral. In April 1991, with an unchanged line-up consisting of Bruno Correia guitar/ vocals, João Marques drums and Fernando Estorninho bass and the addition of a female guitarrist Asmara, they registered a 7 track demo tape, "Existing". The songs were: "Premature Embryonic Extraction", "Drowning Dissolution Of Abstracy", "Cadaveric Choir", "Atrophyated Aberration", "Twisted Disforme", "Abnormality Inside" and "Calm Necrotomy (Outro)". Soon after they changed name to Bowelrot.

DISCOGRAPHY

demo tape "Existing" ©04.1991

MEMORABILIA

flyer demo "Existing"

DRAKKAR

The band Drakkar began in September 1990, Miratejo, Almada. At that time, the group founding members: Nelson Silva guitar, Paulo Almeida bass, and Pedro Arroja vocals, usually got together in a garage, where they started to create some music. After some time the band’s first alignment was completed with Nino Brancal guitar and Pedro Pinto drums. Drakkar had their very first concert at Alfeite Gymnasium, February 1st 1992. From that time onwards the band participated in many other concerts and music contests, where two prominent 1st places were obtained. Along with this musical activity the band alignment went trough several alterations, where the contributions of some musicians such as, Carlos Ferreira, Carlos Rodrigues e Paulo Gabriel drums, Miguel Arroja, Hugo Lopes and Hugo Fernandes guitar, Carlos Santos bass must be enhanced. Meanwhile some demo tapes were recorded only for internal consuming.

DISCOGRAPHY

MANTRON

Mantron from Lisbon, was formed in June 1988, with the line up: Mário guitar, Klein drums, West bass/ vocals and Luís guitar. At the end of the year they recorded a demo tape entitled "Violent Thrashers", but the demo was never released, it was a preparation for a real demo. As a trio the group continues to rehearse and in the beginning of 1989 they perform live for the very first time, at the Secundary school in Sacavem, before 700 people. In March 1989 Luís decides to leave the band due to musical divergences. Mantron plays their 2nd gig, at the Bar Oceano in late May, along with N.A.M. and Cianeto. The band takes 2 months to record a 5 track demo tape, "Emperor`s Return". They decide not to sell it, but only to show to friends. In November 18th 1989 Mantron plays at the Clube Recreativo Leais Amigos, with Massacre and Massive Roar. At least 800 bangers attended to the concert.

DISCOGRAPHY

MEMORABILIA

ticket November 18th 1989

ticket February 9th 1991, Voz do Operário, Lisbon

CHAMA ETERNA FANZINE/ METAL KINGS II FAN-CLUB

From the Açores island came the Metal Kings II Fan-Club. The official organ was the fanzine Chama Eterna (Eternal Flame), which came out just one number, in October 1988. Metal Kings II was also the official Fan-Club of the band Wrek Age.

DEATH SKULL FANZINE

Fanzine from Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora. José Paulo Fernandes, David Assunção, Artur Guerreiro, Jorge Mantas and Jorge Ramalho released the 1st issue of the Death Skull zine in July 1990.