Compilation Review: Metralion - Quo Vadis / A Mosh in Brazil (2019)
I was born in 1987.
In the same year J.P., Roberto, Alexandre and Rica founded the band Metralion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All four of them were into Thrash Metal and that's exactly what you're hearing when you listen to their songs. Within the following two years, two albums were released: "Quo Vadis" (1988) and "A Mosh in Brazil" (1989). And then there was silence. Silence kept on for over thirty years.
My Brazilian and other South American readers are invited to tell me whether Metralion are really sort of a legend for Thrash Metal or if they just disappeared silently.
Last November the two albums by Metralion were re-released as a compilation via Awakening Records. Thus, now we can listen to the full opus of Rio de Janeiros Thrash Metal band. That means more than one hour of fullspeed Old School Thrash Metal and nostalgia are available on CD now.
My first impression is that the two albums were not remastered but directly put onto one storage medium. Considering the nostalgic aspect of this compilation that is fair enough. I am just a little spoiled with HiFi recordings or re-issues from other Old School bands.
Therefore, the sound is raw, rough and crashing. Music-wise Metralion play harsh and ultrafast Thrash riffs backed by a hammering drumset and decorated by yelled, screamed and shouted lyrics. On "Quo Vadis" the lyrics are in Brazilian Portuguese, the second album is in English language.
The structures are not too demanding. Mostly, the main part is done by thrashing attacks which interchange with some halting bridges. At the end of verses vocalist often shouts "Huh" or "Hooh" - either in his regular barking style or sometimes in Heavy Metal-like high pitch.
Altogether, this is pretty basic stuff. I gues, it is not only my lack of knowledge of the Portuguese language that makes it hard to me recognizing the songs from each other. Structures, motifs, speed and intensity only vary by nuances. On "Quo Vadis" it is the song 'Heróis de Guerra' ('Heroes of War') that is most outstanding due to its uncommonly long halting bridge.
The second album "A Mosh in Brazil" is produced way better and thus has a more pleasant sound to my not so nostalgic ears. The variety is a little bigger here as well. The beats are set with more detail and versatility. The opener 'No way out' for example has a great introductory part that has more variety in it than the whole first album. On the other hand it seems like Metralion put so much emphasis on their intros on "A Mosh in Brazil" that the actual songs are pushed to the background.
Yes, I know, I can only complain...
Generally, it is fun listening to the compilation, I can sum this up. Metralion play the Thrash Metal you can put on when getting drunk with your friends or when driving. For listening with two open ears the music is a bit too simple, in my humble opinion. But also collectors will probably love this one for its nostalgic value.
Oh, and should not forget that as a bonus the compilation ends with a cover version of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall".
In the same year J.P., Roberto, Alexandre and Rica founded the band Metralion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All four of them were into Thrash Metal and that's exactly what you're hearing when you listen to their songs. Within the following two years, two albums were released: "Quo Vadis" (1988) and "A Mosh in Brazil" (1989). And then there was silence. Silence kept on for over thirty years.
My Brazilian and other South American readers are invited to tell me whether Metralion are really sort of a legend for Thrash Metal or if they just disappeared silently.
Last November the two albums by Metralion were re-released as a compilation via Awakening Records. Thus, now we can listen to the full opus of Rio de Janeiros Thrash Metal band. That means more than one hour of fullspeed Old School Thrash Metal and nostalgia are available on CD now.
Therefore, the sound is raw, rough and crashing. Music-wise Metralion play harsh and ultrafast Thrash riffs backed by a hammering drumset and decorated by yelled, screamed and shouted lyrics. On "Quo Vadis" the lyrics are in Brazilian Portuguese, the second album is in English language.
Altogether, this is pretty basic stuff. I gues, it is not only my lack of knowledge of the Portuguese language that makes it hard to me recognizing the songs from each other. Structures, motifs, speed and intensity only vary by nuances. On "Quo Vadis" it is the song 'Heróis de Guerra' ('Heroes of War') that is most outstanding due to its uncommonly long halting bridge.
The second album "A Mosh in Brazil" is produced way better and thus has a more pleasant sound to my not so nostalgic ears. The variety is a little bigger here as well. The beats are set with more detail and versatility. The opener 'No way out' for example has a great introductory part that has more variety in it than the whole first album. On the other hand it seems like Metralion put so much emphasis on their intros on "A Mosh in Brazil" that the actual songs are pushed to the background.
Yes, I know, I can only complain...
Generally, it is fun listening to the compilation, I can sum this up. Metralion play the Thrash Metal you can put on when getting drunk with your friends or when driving. For listening with two open ears the music is a bit too simple, in my humble opinion. But also collectors will probably love this one for its nostalgic value.
Oh, and should not forget that as a bonus the compilation ends with a cover version of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall".
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