A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD EXTRA - INTERVIEW WITH ZHEMA RODERO OF VULCANO

Back in March, when we were trying to get some stories together for the Brazil Issue, I thought a feature on Brazil's golden age of metal would make an interesting feature. I contacted every legendary 80s Brazilian black/death/thrash band I could think of, hoping to score some interviews. I got email addresses from the official sites, went through their official MySpaces, and even emailed a university in Belo Horizonte, as Sarcófago's Wagner Lamounier is a professor of economic science there. But it was all for shit. Either they didn't speak English, didn't get the email, thought I was a waste of time, or are just plain Brazilian and don't care about deadlines. One dark hero, Vulcano's Zhema Rodero, did finally respond though, and I got as far as sending him a list of questions (back in April), but he disappeared again and never replied. Until last night.

A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD - PENTAGRAM

A week of very Christian sun has forced the troglodyte metallers back into the lairs of misanthropic winter from whence they came. Don't despair just yet, young malefic minds. I have uncovered one of South America's greatest lost treasures, Chile's Pentagram...

A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD - DEVASTATION

The chamber is awaiting. Inside, we have some more real deathrash on our hands this week, plus a quiz of sorts. Prepare for Devastation...

A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD - GHOUL CULT

After the treacherous journey back from a month in the Brazilian realm of deathrash, we return to the sounds of northern Europe's unholy zombie-fixated Ghoul-Cult.

UM TAPA NA CARA DE DEUS - DIABOLIC FORCE

OK, we know we already called curtains on the Brazil Issue but we've still got one more Brazil-themed A Fist in the Face of God. There were just too many bands to choose from (apologies to Muitlator, Vulcano, etc.) so I'm gonna go with a new-ish band covering what is, for me, one of thrash's greatest moments. Hellhammer's "Massacra" is the song; the band is Diabolic Force.

LONDON - A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD FESTIVAL BONUS

For the UK's new Guide to Festivals I "curated" my own "festival" called Monsters of Rocky. It was at a kid called Benson's house, and it ruled. F.O.G., the band I'm in with William Trill, played live and didn't suck as much as we should considering we had no working mic. To get the festival vibe going we covered a bunch of metal classics including "Too Old Too Cold" (twice, actually), "Possessed By Black Fucking Metal," "Back In Black," and, er, "Tourette's." 

LONDON - UM TAPA NA CARA DE DEUS: SARCÓFAGO

To commemorate our Brazil Issue I'm going to cover Brazilian warriors of metal on A Fist In The Face Of God this month. So, firstly, raise your goblet to the bastard sound of the enemy of Catholic oppression: the legendary... Sarcófago.

LONDON - A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD ON ILDJARN

Fisters of God, welcome once again. I have been mulling over this post a little too much today so that I can serenade you all with something that may leave you temporarily shadowless: Ildjarn.

LONDON - A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD ON ALCEST

So, shoegaze black metal huh? Not a joke, heathens. Step into my alcove of sonic bliss for something that has been very dear to me for some time now: Neige's (Amesoeurs, Forgotten Woods, Peste Noire) solo project, Alcest. Alcest were a black metal band; now they are not. The slightly nostalgic tones of Le Secret have bloomed into some sort of wistful post-punk sound that, to be honest, is a bit soft. Musically, aside from the vocals (both done by Neige, even though it sounds like a chick's on the first track), this could almost be My Bloody Valentine. If they listened to Darkthrone. Anyway, this is the finest release by this guy, and though I kinda wish he'd refer to this sound in the future, it seems less likely than Varg teaching the metal world a lesson with his next release (if that ever even happens). 

LONDON - A FIST IN THE FACE OF GOD ON THE MELVINS (YES, THE MELVINS)

Brothers and sisters grim, you are scratching your heads at my inclusion of The Melvins in this space, no? Well, they have fisted God so many times more than half of the posers cluttering "metal" nowadays, so take note.