Cosmic Wolves (Demos 2019)

Today I stumbled upon a band clash for who would win a slot on Vagos Metal Fest this year, and doing so, I noticed I only knew Allamedah from the lot. I decided as such, to search the other bands, all the two people who follow me, may know I am not that fond of black or thrash metal, I hear it but not everything in those genres is my place. However this band caught my attention, more calm, melodic, more closer to what I seek in music. Coming from my country, Portugal, even better.

The first song I heard Rise of the Samurai, has the oriental style in it that immediately caught my eye, the music makes me remember something coming from the post metal/post rock genres, maybe something drinking close to Mono and those areas.

The Second song is a demo, is called Sakumi, and is different from the last one, in some moments made me remember of Les discrets or Alcest, still following some of what is heard in the post styles. I once again can connect the sound to Mono. I will follow this band for sure in the future. hope they can hang-on in a country not that much focused on this style of music.

Dead Combo - Lisboa Mulata (2011)

Last days I hadn't the time to hear anything new, and as I don't want the blog to stay  without posts for too long, I decided to share something with you. These guys a duet(composed of To Trips and Pedro Gonçalves) from Portugal famous for being amazing, incarnating in their sounds the magic lived in Lisbon and Portugal. They are Dead Combo. I will leave you two songs "Esse Olhar Que Era Só Teu" A song breathing Lisbon ambience everywhere, this is what you will feel if you ever visit Lisbon.

The second one is the self-titled song "Lisboa Mulata" the iconic song from the album, this impersonates the cultural mix existing in Lisbon so well. Listen this one with the stereo effect, becomes so amazing

Allamedah - A um Homem Novo(2018 - new Single)

Today is a quick post for a new single from Allamedah band, metal band from Lisbon, Portugal
They seem to  be closer and closer to a more progressive sound than their first materials. This is their new song, "A um Homem Novo" it is in Portuguese once again, the percussion I enjoy so much, are something we can find in Portuguese folklore like Gaiteiros and similar, that remind our Mediterranean/northern Africa matrix in our culture, mainly the centre/southern culture of Portugal. The percussion all over reminds me mainly of a song called Keeper of Shangri-la from Aeternam, that song is transported to a northern Africa vibe of the band, here the remainder instruments just reminds us of our cultural heritage. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do

Allamedah - singles "Algema" and "Perspective" 2018

Greetings people, sorry for my absence but this year keeps on being hard to me, seems I can't find the right path in between the problems... well that is not the reason i am here today.
On of these days I stumble upon something that put me in absolute awe. I was seeing a react channel caught A&P Reacts(I totally recommend them for finding cool stuff) and heard something I really didn't expect to. I already knew from Ava Inferi how the Portuguese matrix works so well in metal, mainly the atmospherically darkest metal, more connected to darkness of mind and being.
But Ava is a style more connected to gothic metal, and I was still to see if it would work in another style. Than the said channel showed a band called Allamedah with a Fado singer called Valeria Carvalho. I didn't knew any of them, neither the band or the girl. But as the songs starts I became in awe, is starts with strength, in Portuguese(something kind of rare) and all of a sudden the song has a break and it starts a Fado time, then it evolves with conjunction of fado and a more heavy/prog sound of the band. From the break on the presence of the Portuguese Guitar is simply majestic. The song is called "Algema", and it should be shared for more people to know, and then maybe we will more and more fusions of each country style with metal.

The second song "Perspective" is more a typical heavy metal song, but I still enjoy it, that kind of sound is not the most common in Portugal, where black and thrash metal prevails. For me a progressive fan I lack more solid bands on the genre to follow.

Hope you enjoy both songs as much as I do. Cheers and see you soon.

Home(João Barradas) - An End as a New Beginning (2017)

I friends, Due to health reasons until May it will be really hard to come and put this blog updated. Today I finally found a time and decided to share something I found recently.

Today I am showing you something you may have not be expecting and I am sure will not appear here often, A music inside the fusion Jazz, with Jazz, with elements of rock and other sonorities. It was the Vibraphone which called my attention. I will start with the song which gives name to the CD. "An End as a New Beginning"

And my favorite one, "I Am Going Away For a While Don't Try And Follow Me"

Cardhouse - City Blur(2018) From Anathema's Daniel Cardoso

Cheers everyone, Sorry for the absence, health and personal reasons are behind this recent hiatus. Serves this post for the purpose to make you know I am still around and will son comeback to regular posts. For now I bring you the project of Daniel Cardoso from Anathema, called Cardhouse, it has the progressive vibe we  so well know from Anathema. I bring you the song Ink, the song is so calm and relaxing and I was really glad when I heard it in a TV series called 4play. I already purchased the physical copy of CD while I am hearing the digital download they send me with the purchase.

Hope to see you sooner than the time passed between this publication and the previous one.

Os Quatro E Meia - Pontos Nos Is (2017)

Those who follow my blog know that sometimes I like to bring some different stuff, cause not only hard rock and metal can have progressive elements. I bring you what we can call a fusion between rock and traditional sound. Most of you will not understand what is these songs about but they are upbeat and cheerful or other times more to the heart. I love it and decided to share with you.

The first song more festive is called Baile de São Simã, about a ball where a guy wants to be with a girl nothing of much

 The second song is my favourite form what I heard, called "Um Sim para Regressar", this can be seen in two different perspectives. One a boy who made something less honorable to a girl and repents it and ask for forgiveness, or can also be seen by the eyes of an emigrant, one who was forced to leave his country to fight for his life and now is back cause can't be more time away from his beloved country and culture. See what you think it is. This one has a really nice progression, starts slowly and becomes more rythmic at the end.

Soon I will comeback to more hard sounds, for now as the end of summer is comming lets enjoy

Blasted Mechanism - Avatara(2005)

Today I was hearing some songs, and thought to myself. Why did I never post on my blog about Blasted Mechanism, not being progressive have several songs with touches of it. And they were one of my own country obsessions for a long time. Blasted Mechanism, are a Portuguese band, which took a violent turn in 2008 with the departure of Karkow(the vocals)

Well but I'm here to talk to you about the album from 2005 Avatara. This album at the time was not so well received even by me, but it's the kind of album which grows with every audition, and even if you pass a time without hearing it, sooner or later you will want to hear it again.

The first Song which has an official video is called Blasted Empire feat Dj Nelassasin it features the band with a known Dj from here, the song full of rhythm and catchy lyrics are a wonderful start-up for this post.

The second song has also a official video-clip and is called Sun Goes Down, more melodic but also with rhythm, has some nuances pretty interesting

The third one I will talk is the 4th song of the album, was the first I was really addicted to when I first started hearing this album more properly. With a speed pace and with a power vibe all over it, I love this one. It's almost a manipulation of mind to dance if it makes sense.

Next is a song I came upon recently in terms of acknowledgement, which is called Enolough,  it's one of the songs I think is more complete on the album speed and power at some points, dynamic and then some more quiet ones, the progressive touch I talked about earlier.

The last one is my favourite, is Take That Shot, I really enjoy it, first the initial beat sets the mood for all the song, then a pretty rhythmic and melodic sound followed by revolt lyrics which make you think like:

I'll take that shot
I'll take that shot

You keep reminding me
Not to get the taste of it
Not to chew the best of it
Not to inhale it
Put it all together
And mix it with the artifact
And set your devil's loose

Maybe I will do a new post about other Blasted albums, maybe a best of or divided for Namaste(2003) and Sound in light/Light in sound(2007) lets wait and see.

A Naifa - Uma Inocente Inclinação para o mal (2008)

Uma Inocente Inclinação Para o Mal is my favourite A Naifa album here I will show you several songs and will translate to you the main parts of the songs for me. This album was All written by Aguardela using a Pseudonym only known publicly after his death

First song of the album is Feitio the Rainha, translates to Temper of a Queen

The chorus of the song

dei-te uso a mais
como deixar de o fazer
o que vai ser de ti
quando a mãezinha falecer

translate to:

Gave you too much use
How could I not do it
What will be of you
When dearest mother pass away

the second song I will show you is Na Página Seguinte, (In the next Page)

This song deserves to be all translated

amanhã serei (Tomorrow I will be)
jornais antigos (Old Newspapers)
doente de amor (Sick of Love)
fabriquei um romance (I will compose a romance)

amanhã morrerei (tomorrow I will Die)
em voz baixa (In low voice)
pequena de destino (Small in destiny)
no banco traseiro (In the back seat)

Ama com egoísmo (Love selfishly)
começarei por mim própria  (I will start with myself)
imagino-me mais alta (I imagine myself taller)
na página seguinte (In the Next Page)

 filha de cabeleireira (Daughter of an Hairdresser)
sinto-me sempre culpada (I always feel guilty)
a técnica minuciosa (The carefull technique)
nunca me serviu de nada (Was never of worth to me)

amanhã serei (Tomorrow I will be)
sem abrigo (Homeless)
banco de jardim (garden bank)
com vista para o mar (With sea sight )

amanhã morrerei (tomorrow I will Die)
lição de história (History lesson)
o corpo da criada (The maid's body)
ao serviço da casa (At home service)

third song will be the official song of this album, Esta Depressão que me anima(This depression which cheers me up)

The pre-chorus and chorus are like this

uma rima obsessiva (An obssessive rhyme)
indecente nas suas maneiras (indecent in it's manners)
desligado o motor do carro (turning off the car's motor)
as criadas tornavam-se indisciplinadas (The maids would misbehave)

vivo do que me dão (I lieve of it's given to me)
nunca falto às aulas de esgrima (Never miss the fencing classes)
e todos os dias agradeço a deus (And every day I thank god)
esta depressão que me anima(for this depression that cheers me up)

 the forth song I'm showing to you is Rapaz mal desenhado(badly drawn boy)

this is the translation of all lyrics

Gostei de o ter por cá (I enjoyed have you here)
O teu corpo delicado e quente (your body so delicate and warm)
Um rapaz mal desenhado (a badly drawn boy)
Obedecia-me cegamente (obeyed me blindly)

Um rapaz vestido de rapariga (a boy dressed like a girl)
Depois de tão belo começo (after so good of a start)
A dar-me a mão por baixo da mesa (giving me his hand below the table)
Eu bem sei que não o mereço (I know very well I don't deserve him)

Ambiciono coração (I grieve heart)
Perco a noção de subtileza (loose the notion of subtlety)
Sabes que nunca te encoragei (You know I never encouraged you)
Levanta-te e paga a despesa (stand up and pay the bill)

Não julgues que não tentei (don't think I never tried)
És pouco para tanto desejo (you're too few for so much desire)
E a toda a tua culpa (and it's all your fault)
Os embaraços em que me vejo (the embarrassment where I saw myself)
Um rapaz vestido de rapariga ( A boy dressed like a girl)
Depois de tão belo começo (after so good start)
A dar-me a mão por baixo da mesa ( giving-me his hand below the table)
Eu bem sei que não o mereço (I know very well I don't deserve him)

Ambiciono coração (I grieve heart)
Perco a noção de subtileza (loose the notion of subtlety)
Sabes que nunca te encoragei (You know I never encouraged you)
Levanta-te e paga a despesa (stand up and pay the bill)

 the last song will be Pequenos romances

The lyrics are:

queimei os pequenos romances (I burned the little romances)
da colecção coração de ouro (from golden heart collection)
só restava o nosso (only ours lasted)
sabias que não seria duradouro (you knew it wouldn't last)
rodeei-me dos teus objectos favoritos (I surrounded myself with your objects)
agora já não me sinto tão culpada (Now I don't feel so guilty)
organizei o remorso (organized the regret)
não encontrei absolutamente nada (didn't find a thing)
um dia é provável que te volte a amar (someday It is probably I will love you again)
mas espero que nesse dia (but hope in that day)
seja tarde demais (it will be too late)

A Naifa - Canções Subterrâneas(2004) and 3 Minutos Antes da Maré Encher(2008)

With the last week post I noticed I never Shared A Naifa with you, and being me form Portugal Is a big mistake of my own. So today and next week we will correct it. A Naifa is a project initiated in 2004 by a true Mastermind João Aguardela from Sitiados.Along João(in Bass) we had Luis Varatojo from Despe & Siga na guitarra e guitarra portuguesa, Mitó Mendes na voz e Vasco Vaz na bateria.

The first song I ever heard from them and the first I will share with you is from thier first album Canções Subterrâneas. Is called Musica, translates to Music.

I love the short Portuguese Guitar solo. The main Chorus

Flor a florir desmedida assim que te vi a rasgar a vida

Translates to 

 Flower blooming with no limits as long as I saw you tearing down life.

 The second song to share with you is Monotone, from 3 Minutos Antes da Maré Encher Album

For me this song is about the dormancy of our lives, only warmed by that song that passed in the radio once before and is still living in our heart and mind.
Here the chorus,

E esqueces essa canção que já não passa na rádio
Mas que vive secretamente dentro de ti.
Fechas a porta à chave com duas voltas e sais.

Translate to

And you forget that song which no longer is on the radio
But  that is secretly  living inside you
You close the door with two turns of the key and you leave.

Señoritas - Acho que é meu dever não gostar (2016)

Today I'm showing you a new Portuguese band arising from the ashes of an amazing band called A Naifa. Now I noticed I never shared anything of them with you. But first what is first, Señoritas, is a good sound hope you enjoy it. Acho que é meu dever não gostar is the song i'm showing you

Heavenwood - The Tarot Of The Bohemians (2016)

Today I bring you a song from the last Heavenwood album The Tarot Of The Bohemians, The reason I made I made the posts about Redemption and Abyss MAsterpiece,was to prepare you to this one. Here for you to enjoy this amazing Porto's band. They seem to have return in full strength

Heavenwood - Abyss Masterpiece (2011)

This is the Album from 2011, from the Porto's band Heavenwood from Portugal, I just adore them. The sound as something of dark atmosphere, along with lots of melodic sounds. Enjoy.

Heavenwood - Redemption (2008)

Redemption marker the return of Heavenwood after 10 years of stopping time, and their return was just amazing, full of strength, quality and nerve.
There are a lot of songs in this album that deserve attention, I would put their sound in Doom/Gothic Metal
The first song of the Album is great in all aspects great composition, amazing lyrics, and the vocals just fit, it is called 13th moon, it's quality show why it was the official video

The second song of the album is called Me and You, is not so dark of an atmsophere as 13th moon but has also its enchantments

The third song, it counts with Jeff Waters from Annihilator, and it's called Bridge to Neverland is my favourite on this album for several reasons, but I think being one of the heaviest it's what makes it so special

The 5th song has Gus G. from Firewind as guest and it's called One Step to Devotion

Another song I really enjoy from this album is Obsolete the 7th one from the album, with Special guest TIJS VANNESTE from the belgian band OCEANS OF SADNESS