Interview with REVIOLENCE guys Edson and Guilherme: when Brazilians trade football for heavy music

The World Cup 2010 reserved great disappointment to Brazilian fans and to national team as well. Looking forward to the final match and nothing else, the team of football country stumbled in the quarter-final. Anyway, Brazil is great not only due to heights of famous game. There are a lot of metal acts in the depths of underground in this large country. I mean not only the famous names but also other bands that are worth to be recognized whenever. Thrash metallers REVIOLENCE are those who are bringing this style to modern level. Even more – the guys are combining familiar sound with motives of other genres. Don’t you believe? Just listen to their new release “Modern Beast”! Taking an occasion we are talking with two members of the band (the drummer Edson and the guitar player Guilherme) about their music, homeland and much more!

Hi guys! It’s great to hear from you again! I guess our metalheads recognized your band after our previous talk (2008). Also they got a chance to listen to your new material. It’s something to feel well again after full-length album released, isn’t it?

Guilherme: Hi Birute and all Ferrum guys! Thanks one more time for the support to REVIOLENCE. Really it is a very good feeling when having a work completed. And even better is to see the feedback that people and media are giving for us. In part, we made this for you!

Edson: Hi Birute, thanks for giving us one more opportunity to talk about REVIOLENCE to metalheads from Lithuania. Well, is an amazing moment for us because we have the new CD “Modern Beast” and this is the divulgation of our work worldwide. I guess that everybody would like our new work.

That’s great. And maybe you already got in touch with some of our metal bands to listen to their material? For instance, our young bands are in “Wacken Metal Battle” contest for a third time. If so, what do you think about the sound of our heavy groups?

Edson: Yes, I listened to some bands from Lithuania and I guess those sounds well. I liked very much one of them named SOUL STEALER; they have a very good singer and a good guitar player too! A fucking good band! Unfortunately the metal from Lithuania actually does not reach us directly it and is a shame because you guys have good bands… But today we have Youtube and Myspace; those spaces turn the distances between our metal stages closer. SOUL STEALER is a great surprise for me, congratulations guys!

Well, let’s talk a little bit about one of the most actual news of the nearest period (of course, besides arrival of Modern Beast). That is football and World Cup 2010. I think you also are in some point a part of torsida as this game seems to be like religion in Brazil. What do you think due to “fate” on Brazilian team? What’s your opinion about certain predominance of European countries in late period of this championship despite domination of South American region as previously provided?

Guilherme: Well, I do not usually accompany football when the game is watched by my family and friends. You simply become slacker in other jobs. And you can do beers for something else (laughter). But I think Brazil should not even get anywhere to win with that team. Also I guess the South American teams were well into their campaigns and the quarter-finals were difficult for European parties. Simply those were more lucky than South Americans.

Edson: Well, maybe it should sound strange but I’m that kind of guy that’s not giving importance for football even living in a place like Brazil where people are terribly “freaks” with this. Many people should call me a boring guy because of this but I prefer not to talk about the subject as I don’t know anything about it. My focus is always about music in all aspects.

Wow, it seems that I’m more experienced football fan than some Brazilian guys… All in all, let’s do few drinks for Spain. They are new champions even going with cup from their first final match ever. And here is the time to return to REVIOLENCE and “Modern Beast”. Do you think the sound of this album is cleaner and more technical than before? How much time were you “trapped” in the studio?

Guilherme: I believe in this…Yes, the sound of “Modern Beast“ is cleaner than in the last EP. Sound of guitars was better toning because we made the record sessions for the strings in my studio; we had much time to choose sounds without worrying about money. The drum sound is cool too and I suppose the result is due to the sessions as mentioned. Also I think we’re more technical as time passed, we improved our ears and our execution. Music has this thing and that’s very cool: you’re always changing, always looking for the better result and the best sound … That’s really very cool.

Guilherme, it’s nice to talk with you this time along with Edson. A couple of questions to you like guitar player and “the young“ of the band. Guitar riffs are really technical and matching to the general conception of the bands’ sound. Did you create every parts of guitar solos yourself? What is period of your interest in metal music and also in your practice as guitar player?

Guilherme: Exactly, I near completely created all guitar solos and basic guitar riffs alone in my studio. I spent a lot of time working on the material. Sometimes I used to record a riff and then to compose lead guitar, sometimes I got an idea of how I wanted it to sound and then made a basic sound according to the mind. After that I usually was sending the recordings of the guitars for the Edson and Cliff and we talked about their impressions on the work. They often proposed interesting ideas. Unfortunately I cannot devote as much time to the guitar I like because I have a normal job as well… But I’m with one of my guitars in my hands whenever I can, either during lunchtime, after work or early in the morning. As concerns metal music I listen to this all the time, I cannot be without it … The period of my interest to heavy music is near the same like my start as the guitar player. I listen to classic rock, to metal and to other styles of music practically all the day! No matter at work, in the car or at home.

It is clear now why guitar riffs are of such technical sound. By the way, you are lucky to listen to metal music in your job. Also it should be interesting to hear from you, how you appeared in REVIOLENCE. You are the youngest member in the band. How are you feeling among more experienced colleagues? Are you in good relations like one team creating heavy music?

Guilherme: Well, I’m really younger than other guys in the band but I don’t see any problem in the situation. Me, Edson and Cliff always are in good and friendly relations. It’s interesting as we have the same line of thinking. We all see the band in a very professional way. Here my contemporaries are playing in bands that do not have a professional way to look at music. I did not get along with the ideas of guys when I was playing with people close to my age. So our relationship in this band is very good. Our union of three guys is very strong; it helps to strengthen our grooves and riffs and to put all our energies on them. We have a hot trio – devastating drums, very strong bass runs with “punch“ and precision and completed the ideas of the guitar solo. This gives us about sound of REVIOLENCE!

Greetings to “hot” three! Well, are you satisfied with the sound of your guitar in “Modern Beast”? At last, how could you provide for future turns of thrash metal and your band?

Guilherme: Yes, the guitar sound is really fat, full of energy and present all the time. Also the sound of both guitars does not lump together. The only problem (not with the CD sound) appears when you play the songs many times in rehearsals and concerts where new ideas and ways to play come to your mind and damned, everything is recorded already. Sometimes you wish you could add more guitar lines to the record. You know, that thing is like “hey, I can put another riff here, this can be heavier etc”… I believe in future of REVIOLENCE and of the whole metal scene! I wish for our band to see more albums released, to play a number of gigs, and maybe we’ll play in Lithuania in the future and will drink few beers! I think the scene tends to grow, we have many good bands in the world, this is not a only the new wav. All in all the style is very solid.

Good for you due to such optimistic position, Guilherme. As I got acquainted with your band few years ago, I’m also looking forward to welcome you in Lithuania and to strike mugs of beer, of course. Edson, nevertheless you are the founder of REVIOLENCE. Thrash metal seems to take next wind, and a number of old and young bands arise for heavy march. Are you expecting your “child” to be strong in a sea of huge competition?

Edson: Yes, I’m here since the band’s early days but I have old band mates with me like the bass player Mauricio Cliff. I play with this guy for 10 years already. Well, I believe that “Modern Beast” can be successful and significant among releases of 2010. Until now we have only good reviews, if to be true, very positive… Most important metal guys from magazines provided many good words evaluating CD. By the way, one very interesting history happened to me several days ago. I had a good surprise when saw in my E-mail box a message of Gerre from TANKARD searching for “Modern Beast”… Yes, the guy is our fan. Also now we have our official merchandise made in Europe of a company “Merchlad”, the same company made t-shirts for ARCH ENEMY and MUNICIPAL WASTE. Consequently, European metalheads can buy our t-shirts and buttons now!! This shows us that our sound is available for people in many countries. Our release counts only 3 months, let’s wait for the result when one year will pass.

It’s really nice to hear about your success with the album promotion. One can hear various motives and turns in sound of “Modern Beast”. How did you decide to introduce power metal tunes and even more “feints” in the album?

Edson: I can answer that question in two ways. First, let’s take a look how the band plays. We came to the scene on early eighties; we were kids back in this time. So it’s natural that we have many elements from old school metal in our music. SAXON, ACCEPT, JUDAS PRIEST and other bands are still the light of way that we search for to compose our own songs. If I’m seeing this issue as a drummer, well I play always with an eye in the same eighties. Also I believe that I still have a lot of influences from guys like Nicko McBrain in my way to play drums, drum fills and cymbals. I like drummers of precision like Scott Travis and crazy drummers like Gene Hoglan. And this mix is where I take my way of playing, these guys were my drum teachers in the past

And what’s concerning relations with other Brazilian bands? Are any groups like mates for REVIOLENCE? Or big strife just caused a “battle field” to appear?

Edson: Well, we have a good relationship here. Maybe it should take the bun but the battle field does not exist like it could be in another countries. There are some ways for every band here, we prefer walk in our own way without looking for another bands.

Ok, it’s interesting to hear certain news about your plans for forthcoming gigs, at least to present your new album. What geographic range of shows is planned? And what’s about the tour, maybe?

Guilherme: We provided certain plans although I don’t believe for something special to happen just this year. But we have serious intentions and propose to give one European tour next year. It should be great for the band. I believe that concerts in Europe would help our music to reach ears of more and more people. And our new fans should be here…

The best wishes for that. And what is your nearest future schedule? I mean every point as concerns REVIOLENCE action.

Edson: We are also planning a new music video, I think it should be released this year already and should help us to promote our new CD. Soon we’ll spread certain news about the band nailed to record and to release a single as well. In addition, some concerts are planned for the next three months.

Oh men, there is a high heat in Lithuania now. It exceeds 30 ºC and it’s also wet. Damn, I‘m feeling like in desert or in sauna. So guys, allow me to finish our interesting conversation with this 13th question. Traditionally, what are your wishes to our metalheads and all your fans in Lithuania?

Guilherme: I understand what you say (laughs). That’s very close to our summer weather. I wish you a lot of metal, many good bands in your area, many new albums for those commands, and fun and good flashes for all the metalheads, especially for our fans in Lithuania!

Edson: Hey, you say 30ºC????? I have a solution for this! Cold beer!!!!! Well, I thank all the metalheads of Lithuania who support us, I hope to play there soon and to drink a beer together with you.

Thanks, Edson and Guilherme, very much for a nice time! Regards and take care!

Guilherme: Birute and Ferrum staff, I would like to thank you for your kind attention to REVIOLENCE! Since 2008 when you opened the doors for the EP, I’m really very grateful for the support! Thanks also to readers of Ferrum for the attention to the band and to this interview! Rock’n'Roll. Thank you all once more, and to you Birute!!!!!

Edson: Thanks Birute and all people in Lithuania!!! Keep the metal in your life… Peace!!!

P.S. It stands to reason that period of preparation for the interview (communication, translation, etc.) caused quiet emotions due to World Cup and also drop of extreme heat in Lithuania. But REVIOLENCE and their “Modern Beast“ stand here. So here we wish a good acquaintance with them. And maybe not only Brazilian heat but also those nailing guys will come to our land in the near future, who knows. Let’s set mugs ready…