Modern Extreme Metal in South America
by dzorrilla
So after writing my guide about the early South American extreme metal scene, I figured a follow up would be inevitable. Firstly, became even though South America is not the influential beacon that it was in its heyday of the 80s, the old school resurgence has hit the continent as well and they are pumping out a ton of bands that are still faithful to the acts that made the continent so great in the first place – early Sepultura, Sarcofago, Parabellum, Pentagram, etc. This list broadly covers bands playing in this style, although I think there is something for everyone (if you like extreme metal that is). The bands here are those that have been mostly active from the 2000s onwards.
This list has been in the works for a while and has given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the current musical situation in SA a lot more. Shoutout to u/deathofthesun for recommending some bands from Paraguay and Peru. If you don’t see a band you know that fits the criteria in this list, give me a shout in the comments although bear in mind I had to cull a lot given that there were many bands I don’t like/care for (that’s why there is no Krisiun). Also look at the first list.
Argentina
Grima Morstua – A faithful rendering of early Norwegian BM ala Darkthrone, although with a French sound at times. This should appeal to fans of Peste Noire and Mortifera.
Infernal Curse One of the biggest surprises for me of 2016. This band channels the murkiest and most depraved elements of war metal into a single listening session. While some war metal bands just opt for a complete aural assault, Infernal Curse use the Blasphemy/Beherit template to bring forth an excellent atmospheric rending of the genre. IF you were a fan of the Wrathprayer and Genocide Shrines full length, this will be for you.
Bolivia
Imperio Nocturno – Possibly my favourite Bolivian band. An interesting mix between raw black metal and heavy metal. The closest point of comparison would be the Greek scene (Rotting Christ, Varathron, etc) but IN go beyond that. One moment you will passages reminiscent of Darkthrone only for it to suddenly break into some very melodic leads not far from what you’d hear on a Mercyful Fate album. Get the compilation of their early demos if you can.
Nekromanteion – if Sarcofago and HP Lovecraft joined forces, this would be the byproduct
Lilith – Much more melodic than the aforementioned bands, Lilith would be Bolivia’s answer to symphonic black metal although synths are used quite sparsely throughout their records. Not bad at all!
Bestial Holocaust – Black/thrash of the South American kind i.e. the best kind
Brazil
Embalmed Souls – Atmospheric, doomy death metal from the innards of Brazil. The closest point of comparison would be The Chasm.
Incrust – A band that sounds like an amalgamation of most of the early OSDM bands, but largely copying the style that made Incantation so famous on OtG/MTtN. Nasty as hell.
Apokalyptic Raids – UGH. You know what this is going to sound like, making Tom G Warrior a very proud man.
Power from Hell – Quite possibly the best and most authentic replica of 80s Bathory I have ever heard. Their first 3 albums are absolutely recommended for those who want to hear a “modern” take on The Return plus some Venom/Hellhammer/Motorhead influence on top. Essential!
Dethroned Christ – Guttural and raw black metal with some melodic touches. I personally enjoy them a lot. Side project of Evil.
Beast Conjurator – Side project of Whipstriker members. Cavernous death metal akin to Incantation.
Eternal Violence – Over the top speed/thrash with a blackened touch. Doesn’t really bear any resemblance to Vio-lence.
Cemiterio – A Brazilian version of Consuming Impulse, with lyrics in Portuguese. Nifty stuff.
Grave Desecrator – This band emulates the pure barbarism that was typical of the 80s South American scene. A violent mesh of black/death, not for wimps.
Goatpenis – Pure war metal aural assault. Not much else to say aside from you will love this if you enjoy pure sonic violence.
Rebaelliun – Of all the “brutal demonic death metal” ala Abhorrence, Krisiun, etc these guys are by far the best. If you take all the best elements of early Deicide and Morbid Angel, these guys would be their offspring.
Grave Reaper – More violent black/thrash. Sometimes you can never have enough, particularly with these guys who are very faithful to the old school sound.
Chile
Wrathprayer – Channelling the spirit of the old Ross bay cult, a very atmospheric take on the war metal genre. Probably the best band of the modern Chilean scene.
Oraculum – Side project of Wrathprayer, this type playing exceptionally cavernous death metal which sounds like a combination of Asphyx and Incantation. Good shit.
Ripper – One of the more exciting thrash bands of recent times, Ripper’s debut sounded like a lost Kreator album circa 1985. Their new album will likely up the ante and pay an honourable tribute to the old Teutonic sound
Force of Darkness – Somewhere between Sarcofago, Kreator and Early Sodom lies this killer band.
Hades Archer – Penis metal for the ages. No, but seriously – Hades Archer play a very blackened thrash not too dissimilar if you crossed early Bathory with Kreator.
Communion – Excellent black/death/thrash that will satisfy any fans of old Sepultura/Sarcofago.
Chainsaw - Totally stripped down black/death of the South American variety.
Dominus Xul – Long before bands in the West started emulating Incantation left and right, these Chileans decided to follow the blueprint laid by Onward to Golgotha.
Nar Mattaru – Sharing members with Dominus Xul, it is unsurprising that this band also opted for a very Incantation-flavoured brand of death metal. Much stronger production values though. Definitely recommended for addicts of this style.
Perversor – Take Sodom’s “In The Sign of Evil” and crank up the speed. This is what you essentially get. A must for those into the old South American sound.
Slaughtbbath – More bestial black metal, albeit more mid-paced than other contemporaries. Raw and visceral.
Unassprichen Kulten Thunderous death metal with a strong lovecraft theme behind the lyrics.
Hetroertzen – Raw and atmospheric orthodox black metal, for fans of Malign, Watain, etc.
Colombia
Death Kult – Pretty cool early Carcass/Morbid Angel/Asphyx mash up, complete with dual vocal attack!
Lucera – Raw, primal and punkish black metal. Almost like a crustish Darkthrone.
Knell – Sloppy black/thrash sort of in the vein of Old Sarcofago. Not the greatest but there are some great songs on the Torment From Hell album.
Guerra Total – Really raw extreme thrash. It has that early/mid-era Sodom touch that a lot of South American bands seem to love to death.
Skull – I tend to exclude a lot of pure thrash on this list for the simple fact a lot of it simply doesn’t sound extreme. Skull’s debut however has all the elements of thrash circa 84/85 that made it so appealing in the first place. Speed, furious leads and a belching vocalist that sounds like a possessed Paul Baloff. Great stuff.
Vitam Et Mortem – This will probably appeal a lot more to fans of more modern death metal. Vitam Et Mortem make melodicish death metal not terribly dissimilar to Vehemence with themes revolving around 15th/16th century Latin America (if the cover wasn’t obvious enough). Their earlier records are too blastfests for my taste, but they really upped their efforts with this. Recommended!
Hellbreaker - Pure black/thrash assault. For fans of Nifelheim, Desaster, Sarcofago, etc.
Belkant - If you ever wondered if there will still any bands playing the old Ultra Metal sound of Parabellum, Reencarnacion, Blasfemia, etc then listen to this! Pure chaotic black/death/thrash
Ecuador
Grimorium Verum – Stalwarts of the Ecuadorian scene, Grimorium Verum wouldn’t feel too out of place if they belonged to the first wave as they incorporate a lot of heavy metal influence in certain passages (also some female vocals). For those who enjoy black metal with a lot of speed metal influence.
Alcoholic Rites – Side project of some Grimorium Verum members. Raw and filthy black/speed.
Destroyer Attack – Violent death/thrash assault, almost like an Ecuadorian counterpart to Excoriate.
Paraguay
Sepulchral Throne – Cavernous black/death for fans of Blasphemy, Beherit, etc. Surprisingly good for a country not known for its scene!
Ekron Cult Solid, if slightly generic death/thrash with some extremely ugly vocals!!
Rotten Grave - Putrid death/black from the depths of this small SA country.
Perú
Bestial Possession – Primal thrash in the vein of old Sodom/Sarcofago, you know the story
Evoked Terror Very raw and dirty death metal in the vein of Autopsy and Nihilist.
Evil Spectrum – Reverb-fest, perfect for fans of Bastard Priest and Repugnant
Uruguay
Ossuary – Kinda struggled to find a band I actually enjoyed from Uruguay and Ossuary fit this bill. The type of death metal Ossuary play is a bit too modern for my taste as they go overboard with the tempo (think of stuff like Krisiun, Hate Eternal) but they compensate by having strong heavy metal overtones, particularly in the leads and guitar solos that give it a The Chasm vibe at times. Their only debut is worth checking out, if not just for the musicianship.
Pheretrum – An Uruguayan take on the FLDM sound, the vocalist closely resembling Glen Benton. There’s some early CC thrown in for good measure as well.
Venezuela
Nocturnal Hollow – Fairly decent Swedeath sounding band (no HM2 pedal from the sounds of it though) from Venezuela. Not necessarily the most original, but some pretty cool riffs thrown in!