And Rakkan For All

Barbara Chiariello / Anthrax
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In their own words

My story starts in Brazil, the 80’s was the decade and I remember music being part of my life since I was a little one.

At that time, Rock and Roll was my parent’s type of music (Hail Universe!!!) and I grew up surrounded by the Beatles, Elvis, Animals, The Mamas & the Papas, Fleetwood Mac, etc, LPs and EPs. Nothing too heavy, I know, but it was enough to pave my way to the dark side!

It was 1989, I was only 14 and, while innocently watching a Saturday TV videoclips show, an Axl Rose came across the screen, flipping his long hair, with that husky and deep voice, wiggling around the set… It was love at first sight! Then, my future music path seemed crystal clear!

1990 came, I met a friend and he was the one responsible for introducing me to the beauty of Thrash Metal! Aaaah... the K7 tapes’ times... I fell in love again! By him (he became and still is my husband until now!) and by the new tone!

It is a K7 compilation (Yes, I still have it!) with Sacred Reich, Kreator, Nuclear Assault, among other bands, but the one that really caught my attention was Anthrax! The mind-blowing lyrics, the sticky chorus, the aggressive and perfect riffs and solos and Belladona’s master vocals! That finally made me a metalhead! “Indians” is a hymn! To me it is for Thrash Metal like “The Trooper” is for Heavy Metal!

Since then my life is a beautiful complex mixture of Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Death Metal, Hardcore, Crust and Punk music!
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Gavin Kerrigan / Danzig
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In their own words

It must of been around 89’ - 90’ when I discovered Danzig. I was already well on my way submerged in the rock/metal genre listening to bands like Iron Maiden, Guns & Roses, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica.

I would religiously buy rock magazines every week and stay up late watching Headbangers ball. I would always see James Hetfield photographed or doing interviews wearing a Samhain or Danzig t-shirt with the iconic skull. I just remember thinking how cool that looked!! As much the same then as I am today, I was always on the look out for new and interesting music. So I went out the next day and bought the first Danzig album on vinyl gatefold, which I still have today and is always my go to album with its dark demonic blues rock.
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Natalia Bieszke / Burzum
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In their own words

How to begin? Burzum. I think it’s important to distinguish between Varg as a person and Varg as an artist. He’s a musical genius, but this is not to say that I share Varg’s views or support him in any way. He’s an idiot. Musically though, he managed to create an atmosphere that I could not find in any other artist’s catalogue. It’s peaceful and it’s mystical; it’s folkloric and it’s spiritual. All of which create this unprecedented atmosphere. Alfadanz has been my favourite song ever since I can remember and I highly doubt there’ll be a replacement.

In terms of metal, I listen to pretty much all genres depending on my mood. It’s a genre where the lyrics go, a lot of the time, unnoticed. But if you do go on to read them, they approach subject matters that are full of meaning, whether it’s human morality, nature, religion or war. It’s poetic. Unlike other genres of music that constantly talk about “b***y, b***y, s*x, s*x”, I can see effort being put into the lyrics in most genres of metal and I really appreciate and enjoy that.

P.S. I highly recommend the movie ‘Midsommar’ for the Scandinavian, folk vibes.
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Caio Alves / Mayhem
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In their own words

Black metal is the genre that appeals to me the most. It’s dark, heavy, fast and has this cold atmosphere which I adore. A lot of people hate on the production and I understand why but I understand it has its purpose. That’s where that cold atmosphere comes from.

Mayhem combines all those elements and it was one of the first bands that got me into the genre. Their history as a band is really dark and negative, and it is definitely translated into their music. This is why I like black metal: it’s honest and raw. Other bands such as Darkthrone, Immortal and Burzum all have that too. Albums such as Transylvanian Hunger, Filosofem and Battles in the North are the most chilling and gloomy you can get. Shrieking vocals, tremolo guitars and pounding drums, that’s what I love.

It’s a genre that is inherently cathartic and chaotic...and tell me, who’s life isn’t chaotic to some extent?
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Felix Labwo / Soulfly
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In their own words

For me, Metal music is like that shock of electricity that hits you as soon as a song starts; that high that you need after feeling so low; or that high that you need if you have a long day ahead of you. I wouldn't have survived these 29 years of life if Metal wasn't in it! I've been bullied, experienced constant rejection in the dating scene, had family difficulties but one thing that remained constant since my teenage years...being a Metalhead! No matter the pace of the drums, the crunchiness of the guitar, the mesmerizing vocals...Metal got me through!

I like the shirt (Soulfly) I've chosen because the night I bought it was a rebirth, a resurrection of me re-immersing myself into Metal as a culture/a return to going gigs. The last gig I went to was 10 years ago and that was Testament at Shepherd's Bush Empire! The night I went to see Soulfly, it was a vivid reminder of what has been missing from my life...gigs! The energy, excitement, the essence of brotherhood and most importantly experiencing metal music...LIVE!
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