Song Of the Day - XCI - South American Metal Tour: Uruguay

Requiem Aeternam is an Extreme Progressive Metal band, and one of the most experienced comming from Uruguay, with their 3 full lengths.
Their sound is too aggressive for my taste.

Requiem Aeternam - Wisdom

Song Of the Day - XC - South American Metal Tour: Uruguay

Second day in Uruguay's week of this South American Metal Tour, with Folk Metal band Pecho e' Fierro. Their sound is typical South American Folk in Metal style, in a combination that I can only call Latin Metal. Weird? Give it a listen!

Pecho E´ Fierro - La Milonga del Vampiro

Song Of the Day - LXXXIX - South American Metal Tour: Uruguay

Leaving Brazil through they south border we reach Uruguay and the Metal scene changes completely.
In Uruguay, everything is done with effort but in an amateur way, and most of the bands that I found, have an old and raw sound. Although many new bands are being created, their sound doesn't evolve and many of the bands sing in Spanish. I think that Uruguay is suffering from the same internationalization problems that I already found in Spain.

The late post is because it wasn't easy to find info on band from Uruguay, and the info I found was not treated, it was necessary to get to know the bands a bit, and see whih ones I should select for this week.

First day is for the Progressive Metal band, Contracultura. Although they exist since 1996, their first full length was only released in 2009.

Contracultura - Situación normal

Song Of the Day - LXXXVIII - South American Metal Tour: Brazil

There are more great Brazilian bands, like Aquaria or Avec Tristesse, and a great Folk Metal band, Tuatha de Danann, but that hasn't released anything in 7 years ... do they still exist has a band?
So I was really undecided about which band to put here, until Ericotzin (probably our most loyal fan from Brazil) gave us a tip. I went to check it out and really liked the first song I heard, called Maracatrash, a mix of the Brazilian music style Maracatu with Trash Metal. There were lots of slow parts on the song, but enough Trash to be considered Metal, and I really enjoyed the mix.
Then I checked more songs, and the others I found weren't Metal at all.
But hey, today I feel like bending the rules a little, and throwing at my audience something different. Besides, all the Brazilian bands I had placed here were singing in English, and these guys sing in Portuguese, one more reason to go ahead and give some air time to Hexafônicos.
Hope you like it, and thanks again to Ericotzin for the tip.

Hexafônicos - Maracathrash

Song Of the Day - LXXXVII - South American Metal Tour: Brazil

Almah is another Power Metal band from Brazil. Was founded in 2006 as the side project of Angra's singer Edu Falaschi, but after the great sucess of the first album, recorded with guest musicians, he decided to hire a full line-up for the band.

Almah - Beyond Tomorrow

Song Of the Day - LXXXVI - South American Metal Tour: Brazil

Hibria, formed in 1996, is one of the few pure Heavy Metal bands in Brazil. They have released three full lengths.

Hibria - Tiger Punch

Song Of the Day - LXXXV - South American Metal Tour: Brazil

When in 2000 a split in Angra caused the departure of André Matos, Luis Mariutti and Ricardo Confessori, leaving just Rafael Bittencourt and Kiko Loureiro, many people thought that Angra was over. But it didn't.
The ones that left the band, formed a new band, Shaman, together with Luis's brother, Hugo, with the same melodic roots of Angra. After 6 years and two full lengths, this band also suffers a split, leaving Ricardo Confessori alone, and having to rebuild the band from scratch. Everyone thought that Shaman was finished ... wrong again!
With Léo Mancini, Fernando Quesada and Tiago Bianchi they have released another two full lengths.

Shaman - Blind Messiah



André Matos and the Mariutti brothers have, meanwhile, formed yet another band, this time called simply André Matos, which you should also check, since André's voice is awesome.

Song Of the Day - LXXXIV - South American Metal Tour: Brazil

I'm not a big fan of Brutal Death Metal, but Krisiun deserves a proper place in this week dedicated to Brazilian Metal.
The band of the three Kolesne brothers stays solidly together after 20 years and 8 full lengths released (new album expected this year), always faithful to their influences and style.

Krisiun - Combustion Inferno

Song Of the Day - LXXXIII - South American Metal Tour: Brazil

Angra is one of my favourite bands, ever!
They were awesome with André Matos on vocals and they're just as awesome, and on occasion even a bit more awesome, although different, with Edu Falaschi on vocals. The way how they mix the typical Brazilian rhythms in their Progressive Power Metal riffs and melodies, courtesy of Rafael Bittencourt's musical education, makes their sound unique and so beautiful!

Angra - Deus Le Volt! & Spread Your Fire

Song Of the Day - LXXXII - South American Metal Tour: Brazil

Being Portuguese, I cannot start the South America Tour in any other place than Brazil, nor in any other band than the first Brazilian band I heard, back in 1993.
That's when I laid my eyes and ears on a CD called Chaos A.D. and fell in love by the Tribal drumming used on the songs that really added something to the Trash Metal. This was, I believe, the best period on Sepultura's career.

Sepultura - Territory


Sepultura still exists as a band, but since 1997 they changed their music style to Trashcore, with little success, and as some band members leave and are replaced, the band is getting less and less Brazilian.
So, Sepultura is here, headlining Brazilian Metal for historical reasons, but today, the band is a shadow of what it once was, and still survives because of the history of the name Sepultura and a loyal fan base.

South American Metal Tour

When I finished the European Metal Tour back in February, I promised a South American Metal Tour soon. Well, my lack of time is proving me wrong ... I'm not even being able to write the reviews I want, much less to do proper investigations for something as demanding as a tour.
So, as I see it, the way for me to pull this up, is to include the South American Metal Tour in the Song of the Day which I want to keep doing as long as I can (80 days in a row and counting).
How will this work? Each week, the Song of the Day will focus on one country, each day talking about one band and showcasing one of its songs.
The tour will be interrupted occasionally in some weeks, if I have something that I feel is more important for that week of the Song of the Day.
Hope you guys like this idea!

Song Of the Day - LXXXI - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

To end this 4th edition of 7 Great Albums Of 2011, we have the sixth full length from the Finish Extreme Power Metal band Norther, called Circle Regenerated, the first one without the band founder Petri Lindroos. The sound is a bit different, but is still excelent sound.

Norther - Falling

Song Of the Day - LXXX - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Today's great album of this year, is the second comming from Hungary, which is really good news for the magyar Metal scene. This time, a Power Metal release from the band Wisdom, with their second full length album, Judas.

Wisdom - Live Forevermore

Song Of the Day - LXXIX - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

The Human Connection is the second full length of Australian Melodic Death Metal band, Chaos Divine. Much more Melodic than Death, it's an interesting sound, and a great album from this year.

Chaos Divine - One Door

Song Of the Day - LXXVIII - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Another great album is the fifth full length of Folk Black Metal band from Norway, Kampfar. The album, released the 25th of March, is titled Mare.

Kampfar - Mare

Song Of the Day - LXXVII - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Book Of Dowth is the tenth album from the German Folk influenced Melodic Death Metal band Suidakra. It's another great album released this year.

Suidakra - Dowth 2059

Song Of the Day - LXXVI - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Already reviewed right here on Darklands by Miguel, the fifth full length from Within Temptation, called The Unforgiving, is a great album of 2011.

Within Temptation - Faster

Song Of the Day - LXXV - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

That's right, this week, another 7 quality albums launched in 2011. After this one, I still don't have another set of albums ready, so there should be more weeks before we have another edition of the 7 Great Albums.

So we start the week with the British Power Metal band, Power Quest. They have lauched this year their fifth album, Blood Alliance, which it's not a masterpiece, but it has it's moments, and the keyboards arrangements are really nice.

Power Quest - City Of Lies

Song Of the Day - LXXIV - Black Metal Week

We finish the week in Norway again, with Symphonic Black Metal band Old Man's Child.
This song is the opener from their fifth album In Defiance Of Existence.

Old Man's Child - Felonies of the Christian Art

Song Of the Day - LXXIII - Black Metal Week

Today's Song Of the Day is arriving almost in the end of the day, because Blogger had another screw up.

Today, Borknagar, another Norwegian band that takes the stand, playing Melodic Black Metal. This song is the opener of the album Empiricism, released in 2001.
With the recent return of Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs to the band, he that was associated with the best period of the band in the past, great things are expected from their next album, predicted for next year.

Borknagar - The Genuine Pulse

Song Of the Day - LXXII - Black Metal Week

Today a more Doom-ish Black Metal, with extra depressing mood, from the Swedish band Shining. This song is from their fifth album V - Halmstad, released in 2007.

Shining - Lat Oss Ta Allt Fran Varandra

Song Of the Day - LXXI - Black Metal Week

Another Black Metal band, this time with a very Folkish tone to it, from Ireland, Primordial, with a song from their 2007 album To the Nameless Dead.

Primordial - Empire Falls

Song Of the Day - LXX - Black Metal Week

Today, a more Atmospheric and Epic Black Metal, by the Austrian band Summoning, from their 2006 album Oath Bound. Simply beautiful!

Summoning - Land of the Dead

Song Of the Day - LXIX - Black Metal Week

Another band from Norway (this will almost look like Norway week), Enslaved, with a song from their acclaimed 2010 album Axioma Ethica Odini.

Enslaved - Lightening

Song Of the Day - LXVIII - Black Metal Week

With so much work to do, and being Portuguese and a Benfica supporter, I'm really in the mood for some Black Metal this week. It hasn't been much of it around here, lately, so it's time to catch up with a full week with Black Metal.
Starting with the kings, of course.

Dimmu Borgir - Progenies of The Great Apocalypse

Song Of the Day - LXVII - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Melodic Death Metal to end another set of 7 Great Albums released this year.
The Swedish band Amon Amarth released their eighth full length, Surtur Rising, with the usual quality standards. Powerful voice, great riffs and lots of melody.

Amon Amarth - War of the Gods

Song Of the Day - LXVI - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Long time has passed since a classic Heavy Metal album has caught my attention, until I laid my ears on Bloodbound's fourth album, Unholy Cross. The Swedish band really hit the spot in this one, good riffs, good vocals, catchy choruses, all the things I look for in Heavy Metal are there, together with a sense of coherence throughout the whole album.
This is the first song of the album, a killer opening song that compels you to listen to the remaining of it.

Bloodbound - Moria

Song Of the Day - LXV - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

Only lack of time has stopped me from writing a proper and full blown review of this album. Probably, one of the best Metal albums EVER, released by a Portuguese band.
Abyss Masterpiece is the fourth album from the Gothic Metal band Heavenwood, and for me is already one of the strongest releases of the year.

Heavenwood - Morning Glory Clouds

Song Of the Day - LXIV - 7 Great Albums Of 2011

It's not the next Follow the Reaper, but Relentless Reckless Forever is the first in some years that goes in that direction. The seventh full length from Children Of Bodom gives us the signs that the Finish Extreme Power Metal band is back in shape and that we can still expect great things from them.

Children of Bodom - Ugly

Song Of the Day - LXIII - 7 Great Albums of 2011

Another great album of 2011 is the nine full length from German Medieval Folk Metal band, In Extremo, titled Sterneneisen. Although the Medieval part of their style is now solely in the instruments they use, their musics are not the clearly Medieval tunes from their first albums, and were perfected until they fit their instruments in a much more catchy and enjoyable music.

In Extremo - Zigeunerskart

Song Of the Day - LXII - 7 Great Albums of 2011

More Symphonic Metal from Austria, with Symphonic Power Metal band, Serenity. Their third release, Death & Legacy, is a great album that includes beautiful duets with Ailyn (Sirenia), Amanda Sommerville and Charlotte Wessels (Delain).

Serenity - The Chevalier

Song Of the Day - LXI - 7 Great Albums of 2011

New week, and another edition of the Great Albums Of 2011 ... they keep being released, and only in this third edition will I go into albums released in March.

So we start the week with Austrian Symphonic Metal band, Visions Of Atlantis, with their fourth album, Delta. Not the best that I have heard from them, but still a great album with several highlights, like this song.

Visions Of Atlantis - New Dawn