Goatpenis

In the 1980s, one of the most important countries for the development of black metal was Brazil. Sarcofago, Vulcano, Holocausto, Exterminator, Escola Alemã and others were absolutely instrumental in the shaping of old-school black metal and laying the foundation for so much of what came after. By the early 1990s, many of these bands had broken up or were no longer making an impact on the scene. GOATPENIS, formed in 1991, was a crucially important underground black metal band that helped Brazilian black metal evolve in these years.

Band mastermind Sabbaoth has mentioned that their name draws on the fact that "penis" can be used to denote testosterone-driven power and strength. In terms of style, Goatpenis draws not just on the raw Sarcofago-styled black metal from the 80s, but they looked to Brazil's death metal and grindcore scene--bands like Necrobutcher and Fear of God--for sonic inspiration. The resulting sound is primitive, nasty, and visceral. It compares favorably with the work of such brutal bands as Blasphemy, Beherit, and Archgoat. Topically, like so many black metal bands on the brutal side of the genre, Goatpenis has been obsessed with not just all things blasphemous, but the dehumanization and chaos of war.

From their 1992 demo, this is "S'havohej Detaefed"

This is the title track from their 1994 demo, Jesus Coward

In the early 90s, Goatpenis put out some really raw and intense demos that showed the world the brutality that Brazil was capable of. Through tape trading, Goatpenis's sound spread far and wide. That being said, the band went on hiatus in 1997 due to lack of rehearsal space--but they did become active again in 1999.

Since the dawn of the millenium, Goatpenis has been much more active than they were in the early 90s. They've put out numerous albums, EPs, splits, and compilations that show how the band retained their signature raw sound, but had matured and refined it in the intervening years.

This track from 2004's Inhumanization showcases Goatpenis's post-millenial sound 

Select Discography:

htaeD no tabbaS (demo) (1992)

Blessed by War (demo) (1993)

Jesus Coward (demo) (1994)

Semen 1992 - Anno Domini (demo) (2004)

Inhumanization (full-length)  (2004)

Biochemterrorism (full-length)  (2010)

Depleted Ammunition (full-length)  (2011)

Next time: BETHLEHEM

Mystifier

After Sarcofago, Salvador's MYSTIFIER is probably the best-known Brazilian black metal band. Beelzeebubth (guitars/bass) decided to form the band after his stint with groups like Death Vomit and Putrefaction, gathering other musicians together to create blasphemous music under the black metal label.  After rehearsals and small local shows, Mystifier put out the Tormenting the Holy Trinity demo.

"Possession" is a song from the Tormenting the Holy Trinity demo

Unlike other old-school black metal bands from Brazil (Sarcofago, Holocausto, etc.), Mystifier's sound was not stereotypically Brazilian.  It was not the raw thrash-influenced style heard on such classics as I.N.R.I. or Campo De Exterminio. Instead, Mystifier's sound was steeped in something more eerie, more occultic, more....mystical. Tormenting the Holy Trinity caught the attention of not just black metal fans in South America, but record labels. But instead of signing with a label, Mystifier kept on toiling in the underground, releasing a single (1990's "The Evil Ascenscion Returns") and another demo (1991's Aleister Crowley).  They then signed with the label Hellion Records to release the 1992 album Wicca.

From Wicca, this is "Mystifier (Satan's Messengers)"

Mystifier's eerie and atmospheric sound continued to gain them attention around the world.  They signed with Osmose Productions and subsequently released 1993's Goetia.  This album was a continuation of their early sound, but showed signs of maturity.  Possessed of a style all their own, Mystifier marched forward with their evil sound.  Following Goetia, they released such cult albums as 1996's The World Is So Good That Who Made It Doesn't Live Here, 1999's Demystifying the Mystified Ones For a Decade in the Earthly Paradise, and 2001's Profanus.

"Caerimonia Sanguilentu (Goetia)" is from 1993's Goetia

From their 1996 album, this is "The Death of an Immortal"

"Superstitious Predictions of Misfortune" is off of Profanus

As can be heard with their somewhat more recent material, Mystifier is not afraid to take chances with their black metal.  They occasionally incorporate clean vocals, odd rhythms, and even riffing that doesn't resemble typical black metal.  That being said, they're still a dark and evil band that has hugely impacted world black metal well beyond the borders of their native Brazil.

Select Discography

Tormenting the Holy Trinity (demo)(1989)

Aleister Crowley (demo)(1991)

Wicca (full-length)(1992)

Goetia (full-length)(1993)

The World Is So Good That Who Made It Doesn't Live Here

(full-length) (1996)

Demystifying the Mystifed Ones for a Decade in the Earthly Paradise EP (1999)

Profanus (full-length) (2001)

Next time: DARKTHRONE'S EARLY YEARS

Vulcano

The oldest extreme metal band in South America, or so the story goes....VULCANO formed in 1981.  They hail from Sao Paolo, Brazil.  They pre-date Sarcofago, Sepultura, Overdose and all the other old-school Brazilian metal bands from that era.  They have a sort of an extreme thrash/proto-black metal sound.  They released a single, "Om Pushne Namah," in 1983 (which is not as extreme as later material), and a demo in 1984--Devil On My Roof.

"Witches Sabbath" is off of their 1984 demo

In 1986, they released the full-length album Bloody Vengeance which continued the extreme old-school black/thrash style of their demo.  The lyrics contained the requisite amount of evil and Satanic-oriented content to fit into the old-school black metal mold.  After Vengeance, the 1987 album Anthropophagy seemed to be a change in the wrong direction for many fans.

"Death Metal"--from their first full-length album

Despite the complaints from some of the fans of Bloody Vengeance, 1987's Anthropophagy is still a pretty decent album.  It's definitely got an evil, old-school atmosphere to it, and it stands strong next to the extreme thrash of the day (think Sodom or Destruction or early Sepultura).

An example of their sound off of Anthropophagy

Vulcano is one of the few old-school black/thrash bands that has continued to release albums down to this day.  While their sound has been overshadowed by the full-fledged development of modern black metal, they still possess a rather potent sound for a band that is three decades old.

Select Discography:

Om Pushne Namah 7" (1983)

Devil on My Roof (demo) (1984)

Bloody Vengeance (full-length) (1986)
Anthropophagy (full-length) (1987)

Tomorrow:  MAYHEM - the early years