Interview with VISAGEM
!!!TRUE EVIL BLACK SPEED METAL FROM BRAZIL!!!
We had a conversation with M. Profanadör (Vocals). Enjoy!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about VISAGEM (Members, Starting Year etc).
Hello!! First of all, we would like to thank you for the invitation to be part of this conversation. We are Visagem, a speed/black metal band from Manaus/AM. Our current members are: M. Profanadör, screams and lyrics; N. Morbid, riffs and solos; L. Speedrazör, bass and V. Krauser on drums. The project was born around 2021/2022, but it was only in 2023 that we went to the studio to put the songs into practice. Our first event took place on 02/17/2024, at "A Noite do Trovão" (A Noite do Trovão), which we created ourselves.
You have recently released your demo ''A Ascensão da Tirania Infernal''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
The general public is enjoying it, they understood the proposal well and we are happy about that. In our city, old school metal is not very explored, so we are ahead of the curve when it comes to this style.
Label or DIY and why?
It would be interesting to have a label to help us, there are some that we follow and it would be an honor, but this first demo was done independently, from recording to t-shirt production. But I can give you a spoiler, we will soon be releasing the material on cassette tape through a new label, the infamous "Iron & Blood Prod".
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Well, as a funny story I think I can mention the day we recorded our demo, it was quite turbulent, we had several problems, besides the bass pickup broke down, the hissing that you hear in some tracks comes from this pickup problem hahah we decided not to re-record and keep the error in the final material.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
I can say that I really like all formats, but bringing tape and vinyl to my state ends up being expensive sometimes, so we can't always buy them. But I, M. Profanadör, have The Rise of Satanic Might, A Noite do Reifador and some other CDs and LPs.
Your music style is Black/Speed Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
We have several influences, but the main ones are those that we believe preach true DARK AND FAST metal. Bands like: Cruel Force, Svlfvr, Blasphemaniac, Iron Bastard, Matadör, Padre Alcoolatra, Grave Reaper, Deathhammer, Nordeath and of course, the most powerful gods, Bathory, Venom, Sabbat, Amazarak, Celtic Frost, Power From Hell, Occult Burial and Dark Throne are part of our influences.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
Having a band is definitely not a joke, we often end up giving up our social life to focus on rehearsals or saving money to invest in equipment or recording. Everyone who thinks about having a band should keep these things in mind. Being a band is stressful and demands a lot of energy and money, sometimes you feel like giving up, but the result is something very satisfying and powerful.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
We played live a few times during this year of 2024, but the reality is that we don't want to maintain the same frequency of shows in 2025, the idea is to only play when it is really ideal for our proposal. So answering the question, the ideal show for us would be one with bands of our style and a truly dark theme. Expect that from now on.
What attributes do you think that a new Black/Speed Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
I think being unique these days is complicated, but the ideal is to not copy anyone and try to do something authentic. Of course there will always be strong influences, but you have to be careful not to look like just another black/speed band. Be authentic in your own way.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Black/Speed Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Digital platforms certainly help with promotion, but a band that preaches old school metal also needs to respect older formats and try to sell that way, whether on CDs or cassette tapes.
Do you see any differences between the Brazilian Metal Market & the EU Metal Market (Labels, Bands, Fans etc)?
I believe that in general there is not a big difference, everyone is trying their best and making true, quality music. As for record companies and labels, Brazil is second to none in terms of quality.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Manaus, Brazil (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
The Manaus scene has been gaining more and more strength, old bands are coming back and new bands are emerging. We have great bands like Exxxpurgo Letal, Platoon and Caos Devasta, bands that are second to none when it comes to performance and quality. Still on the subject of bands from Manaus, I can also mention the dark side of the scene. Powerful bands like Domminus Infernalium and Infandvm have my respect and admiration. They are bands that I believe preach true evil.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
I do know some bands. The ones that come to mind right now are: Asgard, Acrimonious, Satan’s Wrath, and some old demos from Rotting Christ.
In the last 4 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange, and new situations in our everyday lives (covid, lockdown, etc.). Did all of this affect you positively or negatively?
Yes, these were very strange and challenging years. We saw loved ones and close friends leave us. I can’t say if I took anything positive from all of this, because to this day I see people getting their lives back on track and learning to deal with everything that happened. It really wasn’t easy. But I can say that I learned a lot, gained maturity, and gained self-control. But interestingly, the Visagem project was born between the middle and end of the pandemic. The name and some of the lyrics were written during this sober time.
What are your future plans?
The current plans are definitely to compose more songs and mature the project. We won't leave aside the rough and raw side, but we want to mature the idea behind the songs, the riffs and the lyrics. We have some new songs being finished and I believe you will like them, we are increasingly dark and blasphemous, a true supreme Tyranny against the Christian God and false metal. True Black Steel and fast.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
We who thank you for the opportunity, It was an honor. Our final message is FUCK POSERS AND FUCK FAKE METAL. Visagem salutes only true underground metal, hunter of posers and executioner of all those who are in the scene just for the fad.
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
VISAGEM CONTACT:
https://www.instagram.com/infamevisagem/
https://visagem666.bandcamp.com/album/a-ascens-o-da-tirania-infernal