Sarcófago was a Brazilian
extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...
band formed in 1985. They were fronted by
Sepultura
Sepultura (, "grave")Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 17. is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte. Formed in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera,Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 16. the band was a major force in the groove metal, thra ...
's original singer,
Wagner Lamounier
Wagner Moura Lamounier (born 30 April 1969) is a Brazilian economist and musician who achieved fame for having been the original vocalist of Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura, and for having created and led the first-wave black/thrash metal ...
, and Geraldo Minelli.
The front cover of the band's debut album, ''
I.N.R.I.'', is regarded as a great influence on
black metal
Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...
's
corpse paint
Corpse paint is a style of black and white makeup used mainly by black metal bands for concerts and band photos. The makeup is used to make the musicians appear inhuman, corpse-like, or demonic, and is perhaps "the most identifiable aspect of the ...
style make-up. That record is also considered one of the "
first wave" albums that helped shape the genre.
The band broke up in 2000, after releasing the ''
Crust''
EP. Former members, minus Wagner, played throughout Brazil in 2006 under the moniker Tributo ao Sarcófago (Tribute to Sarcófago). In 2009, rumors surfaced that the original ''I.N.R.I.'' line-up were reuniting for a small, high-profile tour, but proved to be false.
A reissue of their back catalogue is in the works, a joint effort between Cogumelo Records and American label Greyhaze.
History
Early days (1985–1988)
Sarcófago (
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
for 'sarcophagus'
) was formed in 1985 in
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte (, ; ) is the sixth-largest city in Brazil, with a population around 2.7 million and with a metropolitan area of 6 million people. It is the 13th-largest city in South America and the 18th-largest in the Americas. The metropol ...
, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
[ Equally indebted to Finnish ]hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...
and early extreme metal groups such as Bathory, Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost () was a Swiss extreme metal band from Zürich. They are known for their strong influence on the development of extreme metalBukszpan, Daniel. ''The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal''. Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2003. p.43 and avant-ga ...
, and Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style ...
,[ Archived a]
www.metalpesado.com.br
Sarcófago's goal was to create the most aggressive music ever.[Nemitz, 1994, p. 58.] Wagner Lamounier, who parted acrimoniously from Sepultura
Sepultura (, "grave")Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 17. is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte. Formed in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera,Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 16. the band was a major force in the groove metal, thra ...
in March of 1985,[Barcinski & Gomes, 1999, p. 28.] was invited to join the band. Although Sepultura never recorded anything with Lamounier, he contributed the lyrics to the song "Antichrist" on their ''Bestial Devastation
''Bestial Devastation'' is an EP by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released in 1985 through Cogumelo Records. It is their first official release, and originally appeared alongside Overdose's ''Século XX'' as a split album. The EP's songs ...
'' EP. Sarcófago's vinyl debut was on the Cogumelo Produções split album
A split album (or split) is a music album that includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There are also singles and EPs of the same variety, which are often called "split singles" and "split EPs" respectively. Split albums differ from "var ...
''Warfare Noise I'', originally released in 1986. Sarcófago contributed the three tracks "Recrucify", "The Black Vomit" and "Satanas". Their music and lyrics were considered shocking at the time, something which brought them a considerable amount of attention.[Filho, 1992, p. 42.] The band's line-up at that point consisted of "Butcher" (guitars), "Antichrist" (Lamounier; vocals), "Incubus" (Geraldo Minelli; bass) and "Leprous" (Armando Sampaio; drums).
With new drummer "D.D. Crazy" —hailed as a pioneer in the metal world for his extensive use of blast beat
A blast beat is a type of drum beat that originated in hardcore punk and grindcore, and is often associated with certain styles of extreme metal, namely black metal and death metal,Adam MacGregor, ''PCP Torpedo'' by Agoraphobic Nosebleed rev ...
s on this album[Ricardo, 2008, p. 55.]— Sarcófago released '' I.N.R.I'' in July 1987.[ The band's attire on the album's cover —corpsepaint, leather jackets, and bullet belts— is considered the first definite statement of black metal's visual presentation and style.][Schwarz & Strachan, 2005, p. 37.] The music has been equally influential, a milestone in the development of the genre.["The First Wave", 2005, p. 42.] Despite the record's now-legendary status, Lamounier was unsatisfied with the end results, voicing complaints over the quality of the recording sessions and the band being plagued by inner strife.[ After the release of ''I.N.R.I.'', Sarcófago briefly disbanded. Lamounier moved to ]Uberlândia
Uberlândia () is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. It is the second largest municipality in the state of Minas Gerais after the state capital Belo Horizonte. Its population in 2020 was 699,097, making it the fou ...
to study economics at the Federal University of Uberlândia
The Federal University of Uberlândia ( pt, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, UFU) is a Brazilian public university, located in the southwest of Minas Gerais, in Uberlândia, Brazil. The students are admitted through both annual exams, the v ...
(UFU), while Butcher and his brother D.D. Crazy left the group.[ The latter would play drums on Sextrash's debut, 1990's ''Sexual Carnage''.][
]
''Rotting'' (1989–1990)
When '' Rotting'' first came out it stirred a huge amount of controversy due to its cover art — a traditional grim reaper
Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim's death by coming to collect that person's soul. Other b ...
figure licking what appears to be Jesus Christ
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
's face. It was based upon a medieval painting. The cover art
Cover art is a type of artwork presented as an illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book (often on a dust jacket), magazine, newspaper ( tabloid), comic book, video game (box art), music album (album art), ...
ist himself, Kelson Frost, refused to paint a crown of thorns
According to the New Testament, a woven crown of thorns ( or grc, ἀκάνθινος στέφανος, akanthinos stephanos, label=none) was placed on the head of Jesus during the events leading up to his crucifixion. It was one of the instru ...
over the man's head, which would readily identify him as the Christian messiah.
''Rotting'' musically differs from the raw, hyper-speed black metal of ''I.N.R.I.'' Session drummer "Joker" brought a different set of influences to the band (such as crossover thrash
Crossover thrash (often abbreviated to crossover) is a fusion genre of thrash metal and hardcore punk. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and hardcore punk. Other genres on the same continuum, such as metalcore and grindcore, ma ...
); Wagner also quickly learned to play guitar, and contributed many of the album's guitar riff
A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompani ...
s.[ ''Rotting'' also marked their first change of aliases: the group's core duo renamed themselves "Wagner Antichrist" and "Gerald Incubus". Their visual department went through changes as well — they dropped the arm and leg spikes because they made playing live difficult.][Filho, 1992, p. 43.]
''Rotting'' was Sarcófago's first release to have international distribution, handled in Europe by British label Music for Nations
Music For Nations (MFN) is a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. It was a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records, which was a division of BMG and later Sony Music Entertainment.
Launched in 1 ...
,[ and by Maze/Kraze in America.] Maze Records released a censored version of ''Rotting'', blacking out the original cover and adding a sticker which read "Featuring the Original Lead Singer of Sepultura" without consulting the band. Infuriated by the label's actions, Sarcófago sued them.[
]
''The Laws of Scourge'' (1991–1993)
Next came ''The Laws of Scourge
''The Laws of Scourge'' is the second studio album by the Brazilian extreme metal band Sarcófago. It was on this album that the band's lyrical content shifted from Satanism to more realistic subject matter; "Midnight Queen" is about a prostitut ...
'' (1991), considered a "revolution" in the band's career.[ A combination of better musicianship,] improved production values,[ and more sophisticated songwriting][ landed them into death metal territory.][ Sarcófago's new direction in music was partly influenced by new members Fábio "Jhasko" (guitar) and Lúcio Olliver (drums),][Gimenez, 1995, p. 54.] and inspired by a newer crop of extreme metal bands such as Godflesh
Godflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham. The group formed in 1982 under the title Fall of Because but did not release any complete music until 1988 when Justin Broadrick (guitar, vocals and programming) and G. C. Gree ...
, Paradise Lost
''Paradise Lost'' is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton (1608–1674). The first version, published in 1667, consists of ten books with over ten thousand lines of verse (poetry), verse. A second edition fo ...
, Bolt Thrower
Bolt Thrower were an English death metal band from Coventry. They formed in 1986 and released their first album with Vinyl Solution in 1988. The band then shifted to a new record label, Earache Records, soon becoming one of the best selling b ...
, Deicide
Deicide is the killing (or the killer) of a god. The concept may be used for any act of killing a god, including a life-death-rebirth deity who is killed and then resurrected.
Etymology
The term deicide was coined in the 17th century from m ...
, and Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling ...
.[Filho 1992, p. 44.]
''The Laws of Scourge'' became Sarcófago's best selling record, and responsible for their most extensive touring schedule to this date.[ Their tour trek also included their first international dates: they visited ]South American
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
countries such as Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
and Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
, and in Europe they played shows in Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
and Spain.[ In Brazil, their most important gig was to open for Texas ]crossover thrash
Crossover thrash (often abbreviated to crossover) is a fusion genre of thrash metal and hardcore punk. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and hardcore punk. Other genres on the same continuum, such as metalcore and grindcore, ma ...
pioneers the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (often abbreviated and referred to as D.R.I.) is an American crossover thrash band that formed in Houston, Texas in 1982. The band is currently composed of two of its founding members, vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Sp ...
in São Paulo.[
]
''Hate'' (1994–1996)
Musically speaking, ''Hate
Hatred is an intense negative emotional response towards certain people, things or ideas, usually related to opposition or revulsion toward something. Hatred is often associated with intense feelings of anger, contempt, and disgust. Hatred is s ...
'' is notable for its stripped-down, straightforward approach and the use of a drum machine,[ the latter sparking some controversy.][Franzin, 1997, p. 16.] Lamounier claimed to have no qualms about using this device, on the basis that most death metal drummers use trigger pad
A trigger pad is an electronic sensor on a drum that produces a certain sound assigned from a sound module once the head has been struck. This device allows drummers to play at a constant dynamic regardless of the physical force used.
Triggers a ...
s for recording purposes, which in the end produces the same homogenized sound as that of a drum machine.[
The band cut their hair short, in protest of the masculine ]long hair
Long hair is a hairstyle where the head hair is allowed to grow to a considerable length. Exactly what constitutes long hair can change from culture to culture, or even within cultures. For example, a woman with chin-length hair in some cultures ...
style becoming popular due to the massive success of grunge
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock genre and subculture that emerged during the in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of p ...
in the early 1990s.[ Men sporting long hair has traditionally been associated with ]counterculture
A counterculture is a culture whose values and norms of behavior differ substantially from those of mainstream society, sometimes diametrically opposed to mainstream cultural mores.Eric Donald Hirsch. ''The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy''. Hou ...
groups, and it is especially present in the metalhead subculture. Wagner declared:
In late 1995, Sarcófago released the '' Decade of Decay'' compilation which, amongst other things, featured demo
Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to:
Music and film
*Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release
* ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes
* ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
versions of their early songs and rare backstage
Backstage most commonly refers to backstage (theatre), also in motion picture and television production.
Backstage may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''Back Stage'' (1969 film), a silent film starring Oliver Hardy
* ''Back Stage'' (1942 fil ...
photographs. The band described the CD as a "gift" to their fans.[Franzin, 1997, p. 18.]
''The Worst'' (1996–2000)
Sarcófago's fourth and final album, ''The Worst
The Worst or Worst may refer to:
* ''The Worst'', a 1997 album by Sarcófago, or its title track
* ''The Worst'', a 2000 album by Tech N9ne, or its title track
* ''The Worst'', a 2004 EP by Lower Class Brats, or its title track
* "The Worst" (On ...
'' (1996), sees the band slowing down in relation to the speed-oriented ''Hate'', and having a better grasp of drum programming
Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices and computer software, such as sequencers and workstations or hardware synthesizers, sampler and sequencers, to generate sounds of musical instruments. These mus ...
. Minelli and Lamounier saw this record as a "summation" of their career.[
With the turn of the millennium came the '' Crust'' EP, Sarcófago's swansong release. It was meant to be a preview of an upcoming album, but the band's core duo parted ways before commencing its recording.][
]
Sarcófago Tribute tour (2006–2009)
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the ''Warfare Noise'' split album, Cogumelo Records and Gerald Incubus organized a comeback show with Sarcófago in Belo Horizonte.[ Along with Minelli, the line-up for that event was Fábio Jhasko on guitars, Manu Joker and old-time friend Juarez "Tibanha" on vocals.][Ricardo, 2008, p. 54.] That performance was recorded and there are plans to release it in DVD format. Lamounier opted not to join this "Sarcófago Tribute" band for the lack in desire to play professionally.[ However, Wagner still pursues his musical interests — he plays in the ]crust punk
Crust punk (also known as crust or stenchcore) is a form of music influenced by English punk rock and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the early 1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on politic ...
band Commando Kaos.[
In October 2007,][ Sarcófago flew to ]Santiago, Chile
Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital (political), capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated Regions of Chile, region, t ...
to play in the Black Shadows Festival,[ alongside death metal pioneers ]Possessed
Possessed may refer to:
Possession
* Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else
** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body
*** ...
.[
In March 2009, Wagner supposedly announced that Sarcófago would reunite, and their tour itinerary would include appearances at the ]Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a rock music, rock music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles and su ...
and Hole in the Sky festivals, as well as dates in London, New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo. He stated it would be the original ''I.N.R.I.'' line-up, but that this would be the only tour they would be doing and there would be no new material. A couple of days later, Lamounier himself wrote to the music press exposing this news report as a hoax.[
]
Lyrical approach
Inspired by Venom
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
and Hellhammer
Hellhammer was a Swiss metal band from Nürensdorf, active from 1982 to 1984. Although the band's sound and style were heavily criticized and poorly reviewed during their active years, they have been widely praised in retrospect and are often re ...
, Sarcófago's early lyrics were openly Satanic.[ These lyrics frequently employed curse words and crude, obscene scenarios, such as in the case of "Desecration of (the) Virgin", a blasphemous take on ]Mother Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...
's virgin birth.
Whilst still polemical, by 1989's ''Rotting'' the band's stance on Christianity was more agnostic than Satanic. The original vinyl release came with a lengthy manifesto written by Lamounier, in which he criticized the alienating effect that Catholicism had on Brazilian society.[ The band also questioned the divine nature of Christ, declaring he was just a regular man who died for his ideas.][ On a less serious note the album featured "Sex, Drinks and Metal", a hedonistic ode to the headbanger lifestyle.]
Their next album, ''The Laws of Scourge'', continued their new-found focus on more "reality-based" themes,[ with lyrics generally covering such death-related topics as suicide and homicide.][ The band had trouble again with American censors, with the lyrics of the re-recorded version of "The Black Vomit" being forcibly omitted from the CD booklet as well as the entire "Prelude to Suicide" track.][
]
Legacy
Influence
The band left a widespread influence on black metal
Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...
circles worldwide, particularly among the Scandinavian portion of the so-called " second wave" of the genre. "It is sobering", claimed ''Terrorizer
Terrorizer is an American grindcore band formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. After disbanding, its members gained recognition by playing in influential extreme metal bands, such as Morbid Angel ( David Vincent, Pete Sandoval), Napalm D ...
'' magazine, "to think of what wouldn't have happened had 'I.N.R.I.' not been released".[
]Fenriz
Gylve Fenris Nagell (born Leif Nagell; 28 November 1971), known professionally as Fenriz, is a Norwegian musician, part-time music journalist and online radio host (with the show "Radio Fenriz") , drummer of Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian extreme metal band from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death, in 1991 Darkthrone embraced a black metal style influenced by Bathory and Celtic Frost and became one of the leadin ...
, included a Sarcófago track ("Satanic Lust") in his '' The Best of Old-School Black Metal'' compilation, released by Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent heavy metal record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw (of the bands Instigators and Civilised Society) in Dewsbury, England in 1987, who was also a one-time drummer of Sore Throat ...
. Of Sarcófago's ''I.N.R.I.'', he said it was an "album" that "you buy or die". Euronymous
Øystein Aarseth (; 22 March 1968 – 10 August 1993), better known by his stage name Euronymous, was a Norwegian musician and a founder of and central figure in the early Norwegian black metal scene. He was a co-founder and guitarist of the N ...
, the deceased guitarist of Mayhem and erstwhile leader of the so-called " Inner Circle", traded correspondence with Lamounier in the early days of Norway's scene.[ In the '' Lords of Chaos'' book, Metalion (''Slayer'' fanzine, ex-]Head Not Found
Head Not Found is a Norwegian record label, a sublabel of Voices Music & Entertainment, specializing in various heavy metal subgenres. They describe the genres as Black, Death, Doom, Thrash, Gothic, Viking Metal and Ambient. Their parent label is ...
) stated that Euronymous was "obsessed with them because wore lots of spikes and corpsepaint. He said he wanted every band to be like this " Satyricon
The ''Satyricon'', ''Satyricon'' ''liber'' (''The Book of Satyrlike Adventures''), or ''Satyrica'', is a Latin work of fiction believed to have been written by Gaius Petronius, though the manuscript tradition identifies the author as Titus Petro ...
covered Sarcófago's "I.N.R.I." on their ''Intermezzo II
''Intermezzo II'' is the second EP by Norwegian black metal band Satyricon. It was released on 10 May 1999, through Moonfog Productions.
Background
On the conception of the EP, the band have stated, "We've used mini-album format to express o ...
'' EP, also featured on the '' Tribute to Sarcófago'' album, released by Cogumelo Records in 2001. Key Gorgoroth
Gorgoroth is a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen. It was formed in 1992 by guitarist Infernus, who is also the only original member remaining, and the band have since released nine studio albums. Gorgoroth are a Satanic band and have ...
members Infernus
Roger Tiegs (born 18 June 1972 in Umeå), better known by his stage name Infernus, is a Norwegian black metal musician and Satanist. He is the sole founding member and chief ideologist of the black metal band Gorgoroth, which was formed in 1 ...
and King
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
were also influenced by Sarcófago.
Notable black metal groups from neighbouring Finland were also affected by Sarcófago's early output. Beherit
Beherit is a black metal band from Finland. The band was formed in 1989 by Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance (Marko Laiho), Black Jesus (Arjo Wennström) and Sodomatic Slaughter (Jari Pirinen), with the purpose of performing "the most primitive, sava ...
founder Nuclear Holocausto said Sarcófago was one of "the greatest influences" for the band; Mika Luttinen
Mika Kristian Luttinen is a Finnish vocalist who formed the black metal band Impaled Nazarene in 1990. After numerous line-up changes, he remains the only original member. Besides his main project, Mika has been involved in various other bands ...
from Impaled Nazarene said that "nothing tops Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style ...
's ''Reign in Blood
''Reign in Blood'' is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on October 7, 1986, by Def Jam Recordings."Touring Blood", ''Decibel Magazine'', April 2008, p. 57. The album was the band's first collaboration with pro ...
'' or Sarcofago's ''I.N.R.I.'', you know". Their version of "The Black Vomit" was included in ''Tribute to Sarcófago''.
Lamounier, however, has been critical of several of the bands influenced by Sarcófago, especially bands from the Norwegian black metal scene, wondering how one of the wealthiest countries in the world could have produced such a scene. Although he liked Immortal
Immortality is the ability to live forever, or eternal life.
Immortal or Immortality may also refer to:
Film
* ''The Immortals'' (1995 film), an American crime film
* ''Immortality'', an alternate title for the 1998 British film '' The Wisdom of ...
, Wagner dubbed Euronymous a "nutcase" and considered Burzum
Burzum (; ) was a Norwegian music project founded by Varg Vikernes in 1991. Although Burzum never played live performances, it became a part of the early Norwegian black metal scene and is considered one of the most influential acts in black m ...
"shit".[ He also criticized black metal's purposely ]lo-fi
Lo-fi (also typeset as lofi or low-fi; short for low fidelity) is a music or production quality in which elements usually regarded as imperfections in the context of a recording or performance are present, sometimes as a deliberate choice. The ...
recording aesthetic; Lamounier said that Burzum's guitar timbre
In music, timbre ( ), also known as tone color or tone quality (from psychoacoustics), is the perceived sound quality of a musical note, sound or musical tone, tone. Timbre distinguishes different types of sound production, such as choir voice ...
"sounded like it was recorded through a transistor radio
A transistor radio is a small portable radio receiver that uses transistor-based circuitry. Following the invention of the transistor in 1947—which revolutionized the field of consumer electronics by introducing small but powerful, convenien ...
".[
They are also considered highly influential on the development of ]war metal
Blackened death metal (also known as black death metal) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal that fuses elements of black metal and death metal.
The genre emerged in early 1990s when black metal bands began incorporating elements of death m ...
.
Rivalry with Sepultura
An oft-cited aspect of Sarcófago's history is their long-lasting feud with Sepultura.[Franzin, 1997, p. 17.] Although former Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera
Igor Graziano Cavalera (born 4 September 1970) is a Brazilian musician, best known as the former drummer for the heavy metal band Sepultura, which he co-founded with his brother Max in 1984. Max left the band in 1996, and Cavalera himself wo ...
eventually dismissed the entire affair as "child's play", the music press fuelled their bitter rivalry for many years. Their conflict partially contributed to Sarcofágo's fame as the perennial "black sheep
In the English language, black sheep is an idiom that describes a member of a group who is different from the rest, especially a family member who does not fit in. The term stems from sheep whose fleece is colored black rather than the more comm ...
" of Brazilian heavy metal.[
Tensions started after Lamounier parted ways with Sepultura, which led to a temporarily awkward situation. In Minelli's assessment, "everybody had forgotten it" until two years later, when D.D. Crazy smashed a bottle over ]Andreas Kisser
Andreas Rudolf Kisser (; born 24 August 1968) is a Brazilian musician, best known for being the lead guitarist for the metal band Sepultura. He has been featured on every Sepultura release since their second album, ''Schizophrenia''. Additionally, ...
's head,[ who had been recently recruited as Sepultura's new lead guitarist. Kisser was being "too much of a douchebag".][ Sílvio "Bibica" Gomes, Sepultura ]roadie
The road crew (or roadies) are the technicians or support personnel who travel with a band on tour, usually in sleeper buses, and handle every part of the concert productions except actually performing the music with the musicians. This catc ...
and co-author of the band's ''Toda a História'' biography, was one of the prime instigators of that fight.[
During an interview from ''The Worst'' era, Lamounier was asked to comment on Sepultura's well-publicized break-up,][ when ]Max Cavalera
Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera (; born August 4, 1969) is a Brazilian musician. He co-founded the heavy metal band Sepultura in 1984 with his brother Igor Cavalera, and was the band's lead singer and rhythm guitarist until his departure i ...
left the band in January 1997. Lamounier declared he was not surprised that things turned out the way they did as, in his words, "with what I knew of them, I think it's quite normal that one brother should betray another in that family, they don't measure the consequences to get what they want. So, a brother backstabbing the other, deceiving their mother, cheating a friend... For money, I'll bet they're capable of anything."
Annoyed by Lamounier meddling in "private family business", Max Cavalera's answer came through "Bumbklaatt", a song on Soulfly
Soulfly is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1997, and later based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, who formed the band after he left the Brazilian group in 199 ...
's debut album.
Max explained that, in Jamaican patois
Jamaican Patois (; locally rendered Patwah and called Jamaican Creole by linguists) is an English-based creole language with West African influences, spoken primarily in Jamaica and among the Jamaican diaspora. A majority of the non-English wo ...
, "Bumbklatt" means "blood clot
A thrombus (plural thrombi), colloquially called a blood clot, is the final product of the blood coagulation step in hemostasis. There are two components to a thrombus: aggregated platelets and red blood cells that form a plug, and a mesh of c ...
" and it is also "a big insult... It means ''motherfucker'' or a ''piece of shit'' in Jamaica".
The animosity between the two groups eventually reached another major Brazilian band, crossover thrash act Ratos de Porão
Ratos de Porão (Portuguese for "Basement Rats") is a Brazilian crossover thrash band from São Paulo. They were formed in 1981, toured South America, North America, Asia and Europe, and still continue to play today. Their core lineup of João G ...
. The band got involved in the affair after a 1987 Belo Horizonte gig, when a portion of the audience kept jeering at the band.[ One version of that story states that Lamounier and Ratos de Porão singer ]João Gordo
João Gordo (born João Francisco Benedan on 13 March 1964) is a Brazilian vocalist and TV host. He is the lead singer of the hardcore punk band Ratos de Porão, also known simply as RxDxPx. He participated in many seminal punk events in Brazil ...
were antagonizing each other during the show.[ Another one tells that when Gordo asked Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera who was " gobbing" at his band, Max accused Sarcófago.][
Tensions flared up once again five years later when Sarcófago, instead of Ratos de Porão, were picked up to be the opening band of ]Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (often abbreviated and referred to as D.R.I.) is an American crossover thrash band that formed in Houston, Texas in 1982. The band is currently composed of two of its founding members, vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Sp ...
' first Brazilian shows.[ Ratos de Porão and friends from São Paulo ]thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
group Korzus
Korzus is a Brazilian thrash metal band formed in São Paulo in 1983. They are one of the first bands of the Brazilian thrash metal scene, along with bands like Sarcófago and Sepultura. Their first release was issued in the seminal metal comp ...
invaded Sarcófago's backstage area; João Gordo then proceeded to sucker-punch
A sucker punch (American English), also known as a dog shot, coward punch, king hit or one-punch attack
(Australian and New Zealand English) or cold-cock (American English), is a punch made without warning or while the recipient is distracted, ...
Lamounier while he was lying drunk on the floor,[Ricardo, 2008, p. 56.] and Gordo's friends attacked the rest with motorcycle chains.[ A massive brawl ensued, with a member of Dirty Rotten Imbeciles' ]road crew
The road crew (or roadies) are the technicians or support personnel who travel with a band on tour, usually in sleeper buses, and handle every part of the concert productions except actually performing the music with the musicians. This catc ...
getting his arm broken.
Discography
;Studio albums
* '' I.N.R.I.'' (1987)
* ''The Laws of Scourge
''The Laws of Scourge'' is the second studio album by the Brazilian extreme metal band Sarcófago. It was on this album that the band's lyrical content shifted from Satanism to more realistic subject matter; "Midnight Queen" is about a prostitut ...
'' (1991)
* ''Hate
Hatred is an intense negative emotional response towards certain people, things or ideas, usually related to opposition or revulsion toward something. Hatred is often associated with intense feelings of anger, contempt, and disgust. Hatred is s ...
'' (1994)
* ''The Worst
The Worst or Worst may refer to:
* ''The Worst'', a 1997 album by Sarcófago, or its title track
* ''The Worst'', a 2000 album by Tech N9ne, or its title track
* ''The Worst'', a 2004 EP by Lower Class Brats, or its title track
* "The Worst" (On ...
'' (1997)
;Compilation albums
* ''Decade of Decay'' (1996)
;Demos
* ''Satanic Lust'' (1986)
* ''The Black Vomit'' (1986)
* ''Sepultado'' (1987)
* ''Christ's Death'' (1987)
* ''Die... Hard!'' (2015) (compilation)
;EPs
* '' Rotting'' (1989)
* '' Crush, Kill, Destroy'' (1992)
* ''Crust'' (2000)
;Split albums
* '' Warfare Noise I'' (1986); with Chakal
Chakal (altered spelling of the Portuguese word for ''jackal''; ''chacal'') is a blackened thrash metal band from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The band formed in 1985 and has to date released five albums through Cogumelo Records. Its debut record, ...
, Holocausto and Mutilator
Mutilator was a thrash / death metal band, formed in 1985 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. They released two full-length records through Cogumelo Records in the 1980s.
Biography
Mutilator was formed in 1985 in Belo Horizonte by vocalist/guitarist Klebe ...
;Compilation appearances
* '' The Lost Tapes of Cogumelo'' (1990)
* ''Masters of Brutality II'' (1992)
* ''Speed Kills 6: Violence of the Slams'' (1992)
* ''Roadkill, Vol. 2'' (1999)
* ''Cogumelo Records Compilation'' (2001)
* ''Warzone XXVI'' (2001)
* '' Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal'' (2004)
Members
;Last known line-up
* Wagner "Antichrist" Lamounier – vocals, guitar (1985–2000)
* Geraldo "Gerald Incubus" Minelli – bass guitar, backing vocals (1986–2000)
;Session
* Manoel Henriques "Manu Joker" – drums, backing vocals (1989–1991)
* Vanir Jr. – keyboards (1991–1993)
* Eugênio "Dead Zone" – drum programming
Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices and computer software, such as sequencers and workstations or hardware synthesizers, sampler and sequencers, to generate sounds of musical instruments. These mus ...
, keyboards (1994–2000)
;Former
* Armando "Leprous" Sampaio – drums (1985–1986)
* Juninho "Pussy Fucker" – bass guitar (1985–1986)
* Zéder "Butcher" – guitar (1985–1987)
* Eduardo "D.D. Crazy" – drums (1986–1987)
* Fábio Jhasko "Jhasko" – guitar (1991–1993)
* Lucio Olliver – drums (1991–1993)
Timeline
ImageSize =width:900 height:auto barincrement:19
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Colors=
id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals
id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals
id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar
id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion
id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards,_piano,_programming
id:studio value:black legend:Studio_releases
id:other value:gray(0.6) legend:Others_releases
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at:02/01/1986 color:other layer:back
at:06/01/1986 color:other layer:back
at:08/01/1986 color:other layer:back
at:07/01/1987 color:black layer:back
at:08/01/1987 color:other layer:back
at:07/02/1989 color:other layer:back
at:08/01/1989 color:other layer:back
at:01/01/1990 color:other layer:back
at:08/01/1991 color:black layer:back
at:03/16/1992 color:other layer:back
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at:12/01/1996 color:black layer:back
at:12/01/2000 color:other layer:back
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bar:Marco text:"Marco"
bar:Cabeção text:"Vega"
bar:Wagner text:"Wagner Lamounier"
bar:Oswaldo text:"Pussy Ripper"
bar:Zeder text:"Zéder"
bar:Fabio text:"Fábio Jhasko"
bar:Fernando text:"Fernando"
bar:Roberto text:"Roberto UFO"
bar:Rodrigo text:"Rodrigo Damned Sentry"
bar:Arnaldo text:"Arnaldo Nascimento"
bar:Juninho text:"Juninho"
bar:Geraldo text:"Geraldo Minelli"
bar:Vanir text:"Vanir Jr."
bar:Armando text:"Armando Sampaio"
bar:Eduardo text:"Eduardo"
bar:Manoel text:"Manoel Henriques"
bar:Lucio text:"Lucio Olliver"
bar:Eugenio text:"Eugênio"
bar:Bruno text:"Bruno Fonseca"
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width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
bar:Marco from:09/01/1985 till:10/01/1985 color:vocals
bar:Cabeção from:10/01/1985 till:01/01/1986 color:vocals
bar:Wagner from:01/01/1986 till:09/01/1987 color:vocals
bar:Wagner from:04/01/1986 till:07/01/1986 color:rguitar width:3
bar:Wagner from:01/01/1989 till:end color:vocals
bar:Oswaldo from:09/01/1987 till:10/01/1987 color:vocals
bar:Wagner from:01/01/1989 till:12/15/1989 color:rguitar width:3
bar:Wagner from:01/15/1990 till:end color:rguitar width:3
bar:Wagner from:01/01/1989 till:12/15/1989 color:lguitar width:7
bar:Wagner from:01/15/1990 till:04/01/1991 color:lguitar width:7
bar:Wagner from:06/01/1993 till:end color:lguitar width:7
bar:Zeder from:09/01/1985 till:10/01/1987 color:lguitar
bar:Zeder from:09/01/1985 till:04/01/1986 color:rguitar width:3
bar:Zeder from:07/01/1986 till:08/01/1987 color:rguitar width:3
bar:Rodrigo from:08/01/1987 till:10/01/1987 color:rguitar
bar:Zeder from:12/15/1989 till:01/15/1990 color:lguitar
bar:Zeder from:12/15/1989 till:01/15/1990 color:rguitar width:3
bar:Fernando from:09/01/1985 till:11/01/1985 color:rguitar
bar:Roberto from:11/01/1985 till:01/01/1986 color:rguitar
bar:Fabio from:04/01/1991 till:06/01/1993 color:lguitar
bar:Vanir from:04/01/1991 till:06/01/1993 color:keys
bar:Juninho from:09/01/1985 till:12/01/1985 color:bass
bar:Geraldo from:12/01/1985 till:10/01/1987 color:bass
bar:Geraldo from:01/01/1989 till:end color:bass
bar:Geraldo from:07/15/1989 till:08/15/1989 color:bvocals width:3
bar:Geraldo from:07/15/1989 till:08/15/1989 color:lguitar width:7
bar:Geraldo from:04/01/1991 till:06/01/1993 color:rguitar width:3
bar:Geraldo from:06/01/1993 till:01/01/1997 color:keys width:3
bar:Geraldo from:01/01/1999 till:end color:vocals width:3
bar:Armando from:09/01/1985 till:01/01/1986 color:drums
bar:Eduardo from:01/01/1986 till:10/01/1987 color:drums
bar:Eduardo from:07/15/1989 till:08/15/1989 color:bvocals
bar:Arnaldo from:01/05/1996 till:01/01/2001 color:rguitar
bar:Eduardo from:04/01/1991 till:01/01/1992 color:keys
bar:Eduardo from:07/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 color:drums
bar:Bruno from:01/01/1997 till:07/01/1998 color:drums
bar:Manoel from:01/01/1989 till:04/01/1991 color:drums
bar:Manoel from:07/15/1989 till:08/15/1989 color:bvocals width:3
bar:Lucio from:04/01/1991 till:06/01/1993 color:drums
bar:Eugenio from:07/15/1989 till:08/15/1989 color:keys
bar:Eugenio from:04/01/1991 till:end color:drums
bar:Eugenio from:04/01/1991 till:end color:keys width:3
References
Bibliography
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External links
Sarcófago at MySpace
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarcofago
Brazilian black metal musical groups
Brazilian death metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1985
Musical groups disestablished in 2000
Musical groups from Belo Horizonte
Brazilian musical trios
Musical quartets
1985 establishments in Brazil
2000 establishments in Brazil
Musical quintets
Extreme metal musical groups
Technical death metal musical groups