Here is my opinion on this and the bands to check from early 80's to early 90's (I have also left out the thrash/black/death bands):
- ALKATEYA --> one of my favourites, you can check their three demo CD reissue at this topic, there is one music for you to listen:
http://www.thecorroseum.com/phpbb2/view ... hp?p=82564
- SEPULCRO --> again, one of my favourites, you can check their two demo cassette reissue at this topic, there is one music for you to listen:
http://www.thecorroseum.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=4173
- V12 --> their demo is really agressive speed metal, then they changed quite a bit to be able to have a contract and record their album which is a solid album but with two or three mediocre songs that throw it down a bit...could have been much better given the talent of the musicians envolved. Still, when all is said and done and given the other competition, it's probably the best recorded LP from Portugal in the end, so you get the ideia of the rest of the field as far as LP goes.
example of demo era music (with original singer):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zt6RbtZbKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uCYOKBsqU8
example of album era music (notice they changed vocalist):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8m-fJYuK_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-92AbpNkgo0
- SATAN SAINTS --> cool demo and live demo! like these a lot also.
listen here:
http://www.myspace.com/satanssaintsmetal
- STS PARANOID --> another cool demo worth listening!
- XEQUE MATE ---> single is somewhat OK, album is better and it's a keeper with tasty solos in every song.
listen here:
http://www.myspace.com/osxequemate
- NZZN ---> more on the hard rockish side of heavy metal, simple and to point music, both singles and album are in this direction.
listen here:
http://www.myspace.com/nzzn
- IBERIA --> their two albums might be worth a listen if you can stand the glam overtones. Not quite for me...
- VASCO DA GAMA --> their album is probably the most rare in Portugal. Music is a mixture of hard rock / psych / heavy. Never though of it as a very good album, it has some cool songs and it's a bit of an oddity, but not worth the price or praise if you ask me
http://www.myspace.com/osvascodagama
- ALARME --> single is quite energetic hard rock, over the top vocals included, cool 7".
- FERRO E FOGO --> another hard rock group with blues rock and other stuff, simple stuff but maybe you can dig their two singles (Super Homem e Santa Apolonia), not bad at all, but not quite heavy metal if you ask me.
- DEADWITCH --> I am mentioning them mostly for this one track from their '90 demo called "Gladiators" which is a great epic/power metal song. Too bad the rest of the stuff does not touch this, but don't think it's bad either, all material worth checking. All their demos with band permission are downloadable here
http://portugalunderground.blogspot.com ... =Deadwitch
- TROPA DE CHOQUE --> their demo "Mira ja Feita" is actually not bad at all hard rock mixed with early to mid-era IRON MAIDEN. The sound quality on the demo is excellent.
- HARUM --> their two demos only somewhat chaotic heavy/speed but the vocals are not that good, check them out here, both demos availble to download with band permission
http://portugalunderground.blogspot.com ... um&x=0&y=0
- PROCYON -> first demo only here, more on the thrash side with vocals not quite that good... check them here
http://portugalunderground.blogspot.com ... -1987.html
- TARANTULA -> well, don't know their demos, the first two albuns are worth checking if you like Power Metal like say, Helloween? Used to like their second album, but I have grown out of the band completely and I am only mentioning them here for historical purposes...
- WILD SHADOW -> I personally have not listened to the demos, but friends of mine in which I have absolute confidence have listened and liked these a lot.
- VALIUM -> as refered in the above posts, check their 2nd demo on poisonoise.
- THE COVEN -> their demo is power/thrash, also worth listening for sure.
EDIT: done some spelling corrections and added some more.