Zona Abissal

ZONA ABISSAL's one and only full-lenght LP share more musical similarities to all them $500 US Metal private pressings and UK post-NWOBHM rarities you always dreamt of owning and less to that of its older Brazilian siblings like Alta Tensao, Stress, Azul Limao etc, so sceptics of "Exotic Metal" need not fear - this is a quality True Kült Metal-rarity well worth pursuing and merely a 'quite expensive' one at that, being both from the wrong half of the decade as well as the wrong continent simultaneously.

While I'm sure the majority of their local brethred around this time aspired to be the new Sepultura, these guys were very much on the Tradition Heavy Metal warpath - not even the still-popular Speed/PowerThrash-genres are flirted with here. Style- as well as productionwise it whips up that perfect blend of the Maiden-Killers sound mixed with the finest of the early Metal Blade-rooster, and the dynamics of the songwriting is tuned to just the right, comfortable level of neither too repetitive nor too sprawling. "Xadrez Social" is a great starter and sets the tone with its migthy fine, leather-clad Iron Maiden-spiced attack. The pounding, rockin' "Nosso País" will etch its fists-in-the-air chorus chant into your skull at first listen and as a perfect A-side closer they present us with the lenghty and excellent "Delírios de Pavor", reminiscent of classic epics like '22 Acacia Avenue' or even 'Rime Of The Ancient Mariner' in its more energetic parts.

"Tempo Passado" that opens side B might be the least exciting number of the album, but the fact that it's still a rather high quality Metalrocker says plenty. The following "Anjos Mortais" is a huge step upwards though - perfect Satan(the band)-worshipping Heavy Metal spewing forth evil riffs of Hell! (also band) ...and the Steel just keeps flowing! "Dias De Cão" is an even more NWOBHM-infused pearl, once again breathing down Satan's neck as well as those of Hollow Ground, Dragonslayer and Grim Reaper ...and the last track is called "Excalibur". *mic drop*

I can safely proclaim this to be one of the must-buys in the curiously narrow and obscure 2ndWaveOfBrazilianHeavyMetal, together with Shock and Orquidea Negra, and for the less format-snobby, the Brazilian quality label Dies Irae finally reissued it on CD in 2021. Justice prevails!