The Troops of Doom packs not only a tremendous music background due to its members, but also for being a band that maintains that old school death, thrash and black metal formula.
A Mass to the Grotesque (2024) was released May 31st and already ranked the top lists for Metal Hammer and much more, putting this Brazilian band on par with Kerry King and Darkthrone. With a seasoning of Sepultura, we talked with Jairo “Tormentor” Guedz about this new album, the collaboration with Dan Seagrave, the satisfaction of working with Alma Mater Records and much more.
Jairo allowed us to travel back to the past to that golden age of metal, and bringing his and his bandmates influences into this new killer record.
M.I. - How would you describe your experience working with Fernando from Alma Mater Records?
From the beginning, when we joined Alma Mater Records, we considered two things: the first was that it was a small label that didn't have a roster of hundreds of bands. A record company that is still looking for bands, establishing partnerships in the market, and this was very important to our choice. The Troops of Doom are a new band, although with the vast experience and resume of its members. We wanted a label that wasn't too big, as we would be just another band. We wanted to grow together with the label. We studied some requests even from Brazil. However, Fernando made us the best offer.
The second has to do with the fact that Fernando is a student of Brazilian bands, he is passionate about bands from the 80s in Brazil and, above all, the casting of Cogumelo Records bands. Furthermore, of all the record companies that spoke to us, Fernando was the only one who was a musician. In addition to a business strategy, he knows what it means to be a musician. This made all the difference for us. He leaves us at ease, to work, record, doesn't impose any rules established by the record company and knows the harsh reality of pressures and successes of bands when we work with record companies.
M.I. - An album that brings back good memories of thrash/death metal from the 80s and 90s. However, we also get a little black metal formula, correct?
Yes! This formula or seasoning of black metal comes largely from the influence of Marcelo Vasco, our guitarist, who is quite renowned in the world of music and has already created album covers. Marcelo has a huge influence on black metal. I'm from an older generation than Marcelo, I'm 11 years older than him and my black metal is more like Venom and later Bathory. Marcelo is different, he knows much more about black metal from the Norwegian and Scandinavian schools. One of his projects is called Pátria and involves a black metal band, basically a studio band who run a few shows, although a bit on hold now due to The Troops of Doom.
He's much more into black metal than I am. I really like it, I put a few touches on the music and the lyrical part, but it's more Marcelo's responsibility, so we discuss the riffs via WhatsApp. His opinion is very important, as he expresses his opinion on the black metal parts that have more cohesion. So, yes, we have that hint of black metal on the new album.
M.I. - The cover designed by Dan Seagrave takes us back to an old school death metal band. What was the reason for choosing this cover and working with Dan?
Dan has been a dream of mine, since I was in Sepultura. I have been following his work for over 40 years. I never had the opportunity or money to collaborate with him. Each artist has their own signature and Dan, an English who I think lives in Canada, also has a very specific signature of those death and thrash bands from the late 80s and mid 90s, such as Dismembered and Entombed.
Since we created The Troops of Doom, we have always focused on the possibility of creating a cover with Dan. Fortunately, and thanks to the budget given by Fernando, we were able to collaborate with Dan. We gave him complete freedom to work. The only thing we asked for on the cover was that it had a bluer tone. We didn't want any more warm tones of red, orange and yellow. So, he did this gratefully and, for the first time, this cover does not have the same demon that comes from Sepultura, Bestial Devastation. The demon is no longer the protagonist on the cover and Dan understood perfectly the language of this new album by placing a small demon on the front, as if it were a stone statue.
Some people even question us that our sound is different from Sepultura. There is a certain independence from Sepultura and Dan managed to capture this perfectly. I loved the idea, I asked him to use blue colors and the inscription of a temple with ritualistic or shamanic items.
M.I. - “Dawn of Mephisto” was directed by André Moraes. The video alludes to a metal band from the 80s. Once again, the band following the motto of Make Metal Evil Again?
The video was directed by André Moraes, he worked on capturing the sound of the drums, guitars and voice in Porto Alegre. Afterwards, we sent everything to the Morrisound Recording studio and did the mixing part.
We took advantage of the fact that we were in Porto Alegre and made the video “Dawn of Mephisto”, playing in the middle of the forest. André has a great connection with film making, especially Brazilian film making. He also worked with Sepultura on the album Dante XXI. So, we were able to work with him since we were all in the same studio, with the band all together. Each of us lives in a different state. For example, I live 1500 km from Marcelo and 600 km from Alex, our singer. We are geographically separated, from Rio de Janeiro to Minas Gerais. When we meet, it is to do concerts and some rehearsals. In fact, we even rehearse online every day.
M.I. - “Chapels of the Unholy” reached the 14th place on Metal Hammer, alongside Kerry King and Darkthrone. More than fair, how does it feel to share the metal throne with other renowned musicians?
We are a little scared in a good way. We received a 90/100 rating in a Japanese magazine. It's very rare, as they are extremely demanding and we are scared, including Metal Hammer, particularly with this election.
We were scared, but also very happy. We are a new band with new work, although we have a good musical background. I think we are gradually becoming known and the satisfaction, so far, has been positive. We are going on a tour in Europe in August. It's not the best time to travel, but that's what we managed. I spoke to some partners, and we are going to do some concerts, more than 20 shows within a month and it ends on August 25th at Milagre Metaleiro, in Portugal.
M.I. - The track “Venomous Creed” points us towards a more doom metal sound with a slow and heavy cadence. Can we say that this album is more experimental than Antichrist Reborn (2022)?
Yes, I think so. It's a much more experimental album. We have 8-minute songs and a 2-minute intro until the vocal starts. The track “Venomous Creed” has that touch of doom, very similar to Black Sabbath.
Without a doubt, there is a great concept of experimentalism, much greater than in previous works. We brought all our influence from death, thrash and black metal and on this record, we managed to travel a little back to our roots. I added a little more of the thrash death that I appreciate so much, Marcelo also with more elaborate guitar work. It's a natural evolution, in which we have space to do something more doom or stoner.
When creating the album, we realized that all the songs are fast with some aggression. That's why we chose to make a slower song with that doom metal vibe.
M.I. - If The Troops of Doom had been founded in that golden period of Sepultura, Sarcófágo, Ratos do Porão and Dorsal Atlântica, would they have maintained the same musical sound as today or would it be different?
I think it would be very close. I talk to my bandmates every day and we realize, especially me and Marcelo who are the composers, that we have the same influences as 30 years ago. I take newer things from 2000 to 2010, but I'm a fan of the old school.
The bands I listen to and the way I create music are the same ones I used a few years ago. I wake up and feel like listening to Slayer's album Hell Awaits (1985). I want to listen to older Metallica, Kreator, Possessed, etc. Marcelo and Alex also share the same ideology as bands from the 90s.
When I start producing and playing any song today, I remember who I was a few years ago and I think I would make the same kind of sound if The Troops of Doom were from that time.
M.I. - Thank you very much for sharing the information! What do you recommend our readers listen to?
I don't remember the name, but I recommend an album that I found impressive for people who like Jazz. Something elaborate, and at the same time out of the box. I found out last week about actor Will Smith's daughter. Every night I've been listening to her album. Musically speaking, this album is an authentic cry for freedom for the entire music industry.
Listen to Troop Of Doom, on Sporify
For Portuguese version, click here
Interview by André Neves
