Thrashera - Bastardos da Noite

Angry Metal Guy 60

Brazil is no stranger to thrash. Like their American and German counterparts, the mid-’80s were ripe with genre leaders and endless debates of who-done-it-first. The most popular of the bunch (in the Grier household, at least) are Sarcófago and Sepultura. But I can’t discredit talents like Attomica, Chakal, Holocausto, Mutilator, and Vulcano (to name a few). Brazilian thrash covered every facet of the genre, from black/thrash to death/thrash. The scene also explored lyrical content ranging from Satan to anti-fascism to societal disorder. While this current generation of Stranger Things fanatics masturbates over Metallica‘s Master of Puppets, there is so much more to the genre. And it continues to be with old-timers Vulcano continuing to release relevant material and newcomers Flageladör cranking out alcohol-fueled speed/thrash. Also part of the Brazilian thrash resurgence is Thrashera, who’s been pumping out Sarcófago/Vulcano love since 2010. Since joining the ranks of Helldprod Records in 2020, these drunk ‘n’ rollers refuse to slow down as they unleash this year’s thrashtastic Bastardos da Noite.

For years, Thrashera stayed far underground, releasing demos, splits, and dive-bar live albums before finally dropping their debut LP, For All Drunks ‘n’ Bitches. Fueled by sex and booze, this primitive beauty combined Sarcófago with the rocking groove of Venom and Motörhead. For All Drunks ‘n’ Bitches (along with sophomore release, Morte Webbanger) is about as ’80s as it gets—unbridled speed, catchiness, and the filthiest production since Hellhammer. Come 2020, the band upped their game with cleaner production and a smattering of guest appearances from such outfits as Flageladör, Vulcano, and Beyond the Grave. Não Gosto! isn’t exactly a new direction for the band and, honestly, nothing new to the genre. But it’s a tighter, better-structured product than previous releases. Is Não Gosto! but a diamond in the band’s catalog, or will Bastardos da Noite dethrone it?

THRASHERA – Bastardos da Noite by Helldprod Records

“Bastardos da Noite” gets into high gear with a simple, filthy thrash lick, gross vocals, and emphasizing gang shouts. It also hints at the back-end leads you come to expect from the rest of the album. These little additions bring freshness to songs that might otherwise become repetitive over time. The most obvious of these additions are in “Partidário ao Metal.” Beginning with an evil, spoken segment, the song settles into a driving riff. Then, it begins to climb as the clever lead pours memorability and catchiness into the track’s final minute. The best of the bunch is the mid-albumer, “A Dona da Noite de Metal.” The trash riffs are more memorable than most, with a killer ’80s metal lick that borders the song. It’s the kind of riff that strategically circles back around at the end, becoming more potent than ever.

Other worthy pieces are the back-to-back closers, “A Viúva do Capeta” and “Bandeira Negra.” Both tracks are balls-to-the-wall and some of the fastest, tightest riffs the band has ever done. I mean, it’s still sloppy fun, but the guitar and drum work is relentless. “A Viúva do Capeta” is memorable for the vocal assistance by Beyond the Grave‘s David Sampaio and the solid soloing at the end. “Bandeira Negra” is a mighty closer with a rip-roaring thrash lick that closes the record in a big way.

But, it’s not all love and kisses for Bastardos da Noite. For one, the opener, “Distópica Marcha Bastarda (Intro),” is a three-plus minute speaking part. Sure, it sets the mood the first listen, but I just want to get this fucker going. Another is the super-fun “Noite Obscena,” which displays a fun gallop and the nastiest vocals on the album. It progresses and soars into a killer solo and classic end-of-a-set guitar and drum assault before it… starts again? Instead of ending, it continues for another minute or so when it should have called it quits. If it had, it would have been perfect.

As I’d hoped, Bastardos da Noite is the proper continuation of Não Gosto! (flaws and all). After years of playing it safe and settling into a classic ’80s copycat, Thrashera is finding its groove. They don’t bring anything new to the table, but Bastardos da Noite and its predecessor introduce a new era for the band. Though it’s a disgusting mishmash of bizarre decisions, Bastardos da Noite is a fun record with some surprising performances. So, if you like your filth filthy and your booze boozy, you should check this out.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 128 kb/s mp3
Label: Helldprod Records | Bandcamp¹
Websites: thrashera.bandcamp.com² | facebook.com/thrasher666
Releases Worldwide: July 15th, 2022

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