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Artist description
Traditional portuguese music meets early 90's european melodic/doom/obscure Metal aestetics.
A completely unique and personal sound that will lead to a refreshing artistic experience.
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Music Style
Lusitanian Metal |
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Musical Influences
(early) Paradise Lost, (early) Amorphis, Katatonia, Moonspell, Anathema, Samael, Tiamat,... - none of them directly. |
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Similar Artists
none. |
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Artist History
In a time where Lusitanian merits are diluted in a globalised Europe, a time where one’s roots and ancestral knowledge have diminished in importance – only the empty and the plastic are dignified –; someone felt the urge to search for
and to embody one concept: LUSITANIAN METAL
It all begun in mid-1998, when the guitarist Eclipse left the band Desire, with the purpose of reviving a universe to which he has been dedicating himself for quite a while: a band that displayed the Portuguese soul to the universe of Metal.
Jos Ramos (bass) and Nuno Cruz (guitar and vocals) automatically joined Joo Paulo “Eclipse”. In common some projects in the past and a common growth. Finally, conditions at a human level were gathered for Thragedium to grow.
The rhythmic section settled with Csar Feiteira on drums, and for the main voice came the unknown Ricardo Sousa “Max” from a local underground alternative sounding band.
Eclipse enraptured himself in the study of Portuguese traditional acoustical instruments, string and percussion-wise (Portuguese fado guitar, mandolin, ukulele, classical guitar and folk guitar), having the purpose of creating an atmosphere that bonded a melodic and sharp Heavy Metal with a traditional sonority, typical of the Lusitanian culture (such as fado), trying to convey feelings so Portuguese as ‘saudade’ (as in “Das Eclipse Lied Fr” and “The Flame of Draconis”)
or ambition and triumph (as in “Cupidus Gloreae” and “The Hammered Crown”).
Some cults of adrenalin and action have been happening all over the portuguese country.
Faith and the Muse (Oporto), Garden of Delight (Lisbon) and Lacrimosa (Oporto) were two interesting gigs for an intense Metal act such as Thragedium. The band has pleased enthusiastic audiences and left some good memories.
Adjectives such as maturity, innovation and originality, coming from some indisputable figures of the international music scene (ranging from fellow musicians, to distributors, editors and producers) were attributed to this work; in such way the 300 demoCds distributed pleased so much the few who got them, that we were almost compelled to release Theatrum XXIII in a more professional way.
Who better than Mika Jussila, responsible for many of the elite bands recorded at the Finnish Finnvox Studios (Amorphis, Children of Bodom, Synergy, Stratovarius, etc.) to master the sound, recorded in an average/good Portuguese studio.
As a bonus ‘O Esprito do Tejo’ was recorded. Another feature of melancholy, where in waving waters the nostalgia of the Portuguese fado guitar and the words of Fernando Pessoa (through the voice of Fernando Ribeiro – Moonspell – a friend and a believer in this cause) are portrayed.
Regarding HalfBeast Records, we can say clearly that maybe it will be just “one more”... but one who assumes a posture of coherence, wisdom and professionalism, facing its challenge along with the band.
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Group Members
Csar Feiteira - drums and percussion;
JP Eclipse - electric lead & rhythm guitar, folk guitar, mandolin, PORTUGUESE GUITAR, portuguese ukelele and timbrel;
Jos Ramos - bass guitar;
Nuno Cruz - electric rhythm guitar and vocals;
Ricardo Sousa "Max" - lead vocals.
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Instruments
Drums, percussion, electric lead & rhythm guitar, bass guitar, acoustic bass guitar, folk guitar, mandolin, PORTUGUESE GUITAR, portuguese ukelele, and timbrel. |
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Albums
Theatrum XXIII |
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Press Reviews
"For the first time, I think, a Metal band uses the Portuguese guitar, a
Portuguese traditional acoustic instrument, in Metal music. We all have
listened to bands using traditional instruments from different parts of the
world like Russia or the Celtic regions, but this is the first time that a
Portuguese Metal band had the courage to incorporate this tradition in their
music. The music is very pleasant to listen to, sometimes quite melancholic,
and the guitar really gives a different touch to it. It may sound a bit
awkward in the beginning, but it does not take much time to feel this guitar
to be and indispensable part of the music. The band threads a path I'm not
very familiar with, but, with the risk of being mistaken, I feel it to be a
bit in the style that Paradise Lost had when they cut their Death Metal
roots, though this does not, in any way, diminish the merit and originality
of this work. The songs are well-structured and complex enough to show that
there are very good musicians in this band. Though not being my cup of tea,
I must admit that this is a bold step in Portuguese Metal and that this is a
very good CD that, and I hope so, stands as a difference in the scene and is
a promise of more future interesting works."
(4,50/5)
Pedro Flix da Costa - Ancient Ceremonies Magazine, issue 8
www.ancientceremonies.cjb.net
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Additional Info
Check out the lastest news at the the site: www.halfbeast.com |
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Location
Amadora, Lisbon - Portugal |
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