The Covid-19 pandemic left scars on people throughout the world that will never be completely healed, because many people suffered and died on those days. Loved ones for many of us. And it had a decisive impact on Brazilian Metal scene, because many bands rose making severe critics to the former president and his followers (the manic idiot make insane jokes about the disease, and made fun of dying people back on 2020 and 2021). And such load of sadness, revolt and other feelings is what lies behind “Faithless”, the fourth and new release of the Brazilian act PANDEMMY, from the city of Recife, Pernambuco (on the Northeast region of Brazil).

For those that aren’t into their music, the trio works on a balanced Death/Thrash Metal model usual for many acts on Brazil (where influences from German Thrash Metal scene are evident), but here with many technical improvements and extreme hooks in each song. Obviously that the maturing the band experienced after all these years mature things to the point where subjective melodies entered the mix of influences, but without tearing apart the aggressive and brutal approach of the band. It’s young, savage, full of energy, but always with excellent care on the instrumental arrangements and charming contrasts between growls and screams. It’s a great experience to deal with such great songs!

“Faithless” was recorded at Demise Studio between January and April of 2024, and were mixed and mastered at On Hold Studio, again working with Cristiano Costa (who worked with the band on post production of “Subversive Need”, released back on 2020). The result is a fine combination of a sharp and aggressive sonority, but with everything sounding defined (what means that everything is understandable). And to give a subjective outfit for the songs, the graphic work of a Juh Leidl for the cover brings references to the black plague on the past, the lack of guidance through those hard days, and many different interpretations. And the drums were recorded by Jhoni Rodrigues, drummer of VISCERAL SUFFERING, SYSYPHUS, NEUROTICOS and others (and who played as live drummer for MYSTIFIER and LORD BLASPHEMATE).

The level of maturity shown by the band on “Faithless” is something amazing, and it’s hard to not pay respects and applaud their musical efforts. “The Shadow” (pay attention to the melodies rising from the guitars on some parts of this fast and intense song), “Every War Needs a God” (another Death/Thrash Metal moment filled with excellent instrumental arrangements and hooks, with bass guitar and drums providing it with tons of rhythmic weight and energy), “This Land Will Never Disappear” (weighty bonecrushing guitars creates the right ambiences for the growls and snarls of the vocals), “Fatal Choice” (the bitterness of the ambiences depicts the revolt against the former extreme right government of the country, with fiery guitars, and what great melodic leads), “Manifesto (Antifascista)” (here with lyrics on Brazilian Portuguese, depicting the antifa’s side of the band’s ideology, here with traces of Hardcore and Crossover appearing in some moments) , “Selective Love” (again some eerie melodies gives a special taste to their musical work, contrasting with the guttural tunes of the vocals), “Blood Never Lies” (pay attention on the harmonies an melodic lines of this one) and “Orphaned Land Never Existed” (a charming instrumental song filled with melodic care on the guitar leads) are the peak of the band’s musical quality, but it seems that such maturing is just starting. And as bonus songs, here are “World Beyond” (a version for the old song of KREATOR, from their underrated album “Coma of Souls”), and “Mina (The Curse’s Rise)” (of their fellow compatriot Death Metal band INNER DEMONS RISE, an act of the same city, here with charming keyboards parts and melodic care), giving a special taste to the album.

As a full-length, “Faithless” depicts as Brazilian Metal acts are able to create great music using old formulas. And PANDEMMY is leaving its comfort zone to become a pillar for Brazilian Death/Thrash Metal.

Hear to it here: https://pandemmy.bandcamp.com/album/faithless