Tag Archives: andré matos

Album Review – Godiva / Hubris (2023)

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A prominent Symphonic and Melodic Death Metal horde from the Portuguese scene is back in action after a considerable hiatus with their first full-length opus.

One of the most prominent bands of the Portuguese Symphonic and Melodic Death Metal scene, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga-based horde Godiva is back in action after a considerable hiatus with their first full-length opus, entitled Hubris, sounding more imposing and orchestral than ever. Mixed and mastered by Wojtek Wiesławski (Behemoth, Decapitated, Doro) at Hertz Studio, Hubris will certainly appeal to fans of Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Carach Angren and Septicflesh, among others, offering us all 45 minutes of first-class extreme music carefully brought forth by the band’s strongest lineup since their inception in 1999, those being Pedro Faria on vocals, Ricardo Ribeiro on lead guitars, André Matos on rhythm guitars and orchestrations, Arcélio Sampaio on bass, and Eduardo Sinatra on drums.

Like the soundtrack to a horror movie, the opening tune Black Mirrors brings forward eerie background sounds, deep roars by Pedro and the crushing beats by Eduardo in a great Symphonic Black Metal extravaganza, whereas Ricardo and André slash their stringed axes mercilessly in the also obscure Dawn, once again blending classic Black Metal with contemporary and symphonic nuances. In Death Of Icarus the band’s musicality leans towards the Symphonic Black Metal played by renowned acts the likes of Carach Angren and Dimmu Borgir, with the classy sound of the piano matching flawlessly with the song’s riffage; and their heaviness keeps darkening the skies in Empty Coil, with Arcélio’s bass and Eduardo’s drums generating a thunderous ambience perfect for the sick, deep gnarls by Pedro. Then even more orchestral and majestic than the previous song, Faceless showcases Pedro’s sinister roars walking hand in hand with the furious beats by Eduardo.

Godspell, by far my favorite song of the album, offers our avid ears a fusion of the cinematic and extreme music blasted by Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Fitlh and Epica, spearheaded by the piercing vocals by Pedro while the band’s guitar duo kicks some ass with their riffs and solos, followed by the title-track Hubris, displaying a massive wall of sounds, being imposing and somber from start to finish, and with Eduardo’s tribal beats adding a touch of insanity to the overall result. It’s then time for another avalanche of Symphonic Black Metal by the quintet entitled Media God, keeping the album at a high level of sulfur thanks to another flammable performance by Pedro on vocals, while the band enhances their animosity and darkness in The All Seeing Eye, with Ricardo and André doing a great job on the guitars supported by the song’s infernal orchestrations and background elements. Last but not least, we’re treated to one final round of Godiva’s symphonic madness titled The Meaning of Life, with all the energy flowing from it putting a climatic ending to the album.

The talented Portuguese metallers from Godiva are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates, plans for the future and all things surrounding such obscure band, and don’t forget to also watch their official videos on YouTube and stream more of their music on Spotify. Hubris, which is now available for purchase from Godiva’s own BandCamp page and from Apple Music, represents more than just a return to action by Godiva; it’s also a solid statement that such focused and somber Symphonic and Melodic Death Metal act has finally found the desired shape and form for their sound, leaving us eager for more of their music in the coming years and, of course, beyond ready to succumb to our beloved darkness alongside them.

Best moments of the album: Death Of Icarus, Godspell and The All Seeing Eye.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Black Mirrors 5:10
2. Dawn 4:08
3. Death Of Icarus 3:51
4. Empty Coil 4:21
5. Faceless 3:25
6. Godspell 5:44
7. Hubris 4:52
8. Media God 4:49
9. The All Seeing Eye 4:54
10. The Meaning of Life 4:32

Band members
Pedro Faria – vocals
Ricardo Ribeiro – lead guitars
André Matos – rhythm guitars, orchestrations
Arcélio Sampaio – bass
Eduardo Sinatra – drums

The Year In Review – Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2019

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“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” – Voltaire

The year of 2019 might be reaching its inevitable end in the blink of an eye for most of us, but if there’s one thing we must admit is that it has been indeed a year of countless events, episodes and changes with a huge impact on how pretty much everything works in our Heavy Metal universe. For instance, 2019 was the year where we unfortunately witnessed the ultimate campaign by Thrash Metal titans Slayer, who at the same time left an undisputed and brilliant legacy to Heavy Metal and a giant hole in our hearts and in the global Thrash Metal scene. Do you think there’s any band that can fill that gap created by the end of Slayer? In my humble opinion, although I love bands like Exodus, Testament and Death Angel, I doubt anyone can claim Slayer’s throne as the meanest, most demonic and most pulverizing band of all time, but that doesn’t mean Thrash Metal is dead and gone. Quite the contrary, it’s still alive and kicking, with many of the underground bands reviewed at The Headbanging Moose contributing to keep the flame of such distinct subgenre of heavy music burning bright.

In addition, 2019 was also the year we lost many of our rock and metal icons, including André Matos (vocalist of Angra, Shaman and Viper), Larry Wallis (former guitarist of Motörhead), and Timi Hansen (former bassist of Mercyful Fate and King Diamond), as well as several talented musicians from non-metal styles like Marie Fredriksson (lead singer and keyboardist of Roxette), Keith Flint (frontman of The Prodigy), and the “King of the Surf Guitar”, Mr. Dick Dale. However, even with all those significant losses, we can say 2019 was a productive year for rock and metal music, with many iconic and underground bands delivering some fantastic albums for our total delectation, and that’s why here we are again with The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2019, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums, to prove once and for all that heavy music will never, ever die. Having said that, enjoy our list of top metal albums for this year that’s coming to an end, and keep raising your horns high together with us in 2020!

1. Rammstein – Rammstein (REVIEW)
A magnificent lecture in Neue Deutsche Härte from the bottom of the flaming hearts of the pioneers of the genre.
Best song of the album: Deutschland

2. Necronomicon – UNUS (REVIEW)
Canadian powerhouses of Blackened Death Metal return with the heaviest, most obscure and most infernal opus of their career.
Best song of the album: Infinituum Continuum

3. Rotting Christ – The Heretics (REVIEW)
It’s time to burn in the fires of the dark and occult Black Metal crafted by the greatest Greek institution in the history of heavy music.
Best song of the album: Fire God and Fear

4. Soilwork – Verkligheten (REVIEW)
Swedish Melodic Death Metal masters return in full force with a fresh, groovy and addictive album of first-class heavy music.
Best song of the album: Stålfågel

5. The Agonist – Orphans (REVIEW)
Canadian juggernauts of Melodic Death Metal return with a brand new album that’s more extreme, more melodic and more exciting than ever.
Best song of the album: Blood as My Guide

6. Helevorn – Aamamata (REVIEW)
Embrace darkness and melancholy with the breathtaking new opus by one of the most interesting names from the current Spanish scene.
Best song of the album: Aurora

7. Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind (REVIEW)
The world’s most famous masked metallers are back with a fantastic album that proves once again why Heavy Metal is our kind of music.
Best song of the album: Unsainted

8. Amon Amarth – Berserker (REVIEW)
Raise the shield wall, hold your hammers high, and unleash the berserker that lives inside you together with Amon Amarth.
Best song of the album: Shield Wall

9. Target – Deep Water Flames (REVIEW)
Let’s all dive into the incendiary deep waters of Technical and Progressive Death Metal ruled by this amazing band from Chile.
Best song of the album: Oceangrave

10. Singularity – Place of Chains (REVIEW)
The emotions of being wrongfully imprisoned turned into an ass-kicking hybrid of Technical Death Metal and Symphonic Black Metal.
Best song of the album: Ritual of Regret

And here we have the runner-ups, completing the top 20 for the year:

11. Grand Magus – Wolf God (REVIEW)
12. Hiss From The Moat – The Harrier (REVIEW)
13. Lucifera – La Caceria De Brujas (REVIEW)
14. Alunah – Violet Hour (REVIEW)
15. Dö – Astral Death Cult (REVIEW)
16. Rifftera – Across the Acheron (REVIEW)
17. Rage Of Light – Imploder (REVIEW)
18. Rexoria – Ice Breaker (REVIEW)
19. HerezA – Death Metal Drunks (REVIEW)
20. Aephanemer – Prokopton (REVIEW)

Also, let’s not forget about some of the best albums which, although might be short in duration, they did bring to our ears an endless amount of heaviness, speed and harmony this year, accrediting them to be part of our Top 10 EP’s of 2019. As you can see, those EP’s were recorded by the most diverse types of bands and artists from all over the world, becoming some sort of “tasting sample” of what we can expect from those metallers in a not-so-distant future.

1. Eleine – All Shall Burn (REVIEW)
2. Quilombo – Itankale (REVIEW)
3. Master’s Call – Morbid Black Trinity (REVIEW)
4. Violent Life Violent Death – Sadness Rains (REVIEW)
5. Angra Demana – Triptych Of Decay (REVIEW)
6. Vorga – Radiant Gloom (REVIEW)
7. Shuulak – Citrinitas (REVIEW)
8. Moanaa – Torches (REVIEW)
9. Exuviated – Déliquescence (REVIEW)
10. Sophist – Betrothal To The Stone: Conception of Mephisto (REVIEW)

Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2019? And, as usual, don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 10pm BRT on Rádio Coringão to enjoy the best of classic and underground metal with Jorge Diaz and his Timão Metal, and every Thursday at 8pm UTC on Midnight Madness Metal e-Radio for the best of underground metal with The Headbanging Moose Show!

Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year! See you in 2020!

And before The Headbanging Moose takes a well-deserved break to recover our energies and return in full force in 2020, how about we enjoy what’s probably one of the best and most detailed “Christmas” songs of all time, the fantastic Valhalleluja, recently released by Italian Heavy/Power Metal outfit Nanowar of Steel? This is the perfect soundtrack for your Christmas night with your loved ones, especially if you give someone anything from IKEA as a Christmas gift. Well, simply watch the official video below and follow the lyrics to understand what I’m talking about. Having said that, let’s all pray to Odin, drink beer and sing Valhalleluja together with Nanowar of Steel, my friends!