If you’re hankering after the good old heavy metal days of the 1980s and 90s, then you’re going to love the thrilling, powerful sound of Brazil-based global project Nine Red Moons, who describe their music as “heavy, strong and melodic.”
The band started out with Eduardo Simões, who started writing music from his home in Belo Horizonte when the pandemic hit. When things returned to normal, Eduardo got in touch with musicians he admired to help him bring the project to life and, to date, he’s worked with collaborators from Brazil, the USA, the UK, Poland, Italy and Greece.
Eduardo kicked things off by recording rhythm guitars, some bass and keyboards. He then worked with Sepultura’s Paulo Xisto to lay down more basslines, alongside vocals from Greek singer Tasos Lazaris (Steel Arctus), lead guitars by Hugo Mariutti (Shaman), Felipe Machado (who played in Brazilian band Viper, which supported the likes of Black Sabbath, Metallica and Slayer), Edu Megale, Alan Wallace (Eminence) and Val Santos (also Viper) and drummers Fabio Alessandrini (Annihilator) and James Knoer. One track also features “a very mysterious” violin part by Julia Stein, with more great musicians currently recording collaborations.
And on the sound he’s crafted with these collaborators, Eduardo told us: “We play heavy metal. If you listen to bands like Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche, Metallica, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, check us out. We have heavy guitars, powerful vocals, guitar leads, double kicks, all the elements that made you fall in love with heavy metal in the first place.
Our latest taste of this is Sumerian Songs for the Dead, which was released in October. It opens up with dramatic guitars over driving drums, which are joined by a funky keyboard solo. Chugging guitars kick in to support Tasos’ dramatic vocals, which end with impressive high-pitched cries over spoken vocals that end with a cry of “Sumerian songs for the dead.” The keyboard jumps back in to bridge into another powerful verse, before another big chorus drops into chugging guitars that give way to a meandering riff under powerful vocals. A ripping solo suddenly takes centre stage, joined by another as it tees up another blast of huge cries over spoken repeats “Sumerian songs for the dead.” Another solo kicks in over lively drums and a repeating riff, before the track comes to a calming conclusion.
On the track, Eduardo said: “The reception has been great. There’s a lot of views online, and a lot of people are really relating to the song. If you haven’t listened, check it out! You can expect very traditional heavy metal. I think Sumerian Songs for the Dead sound like a mix of Maiden, Priest and Queensryche. However, we also have other influences that are more evident on other songs.”
That follows on from the project’s debut single No Man’s Land, which was released in September. It starts with a very cool darting riff before stabbing guitars support Tasos’ engaging vocals and a couple of quick choruses give way to a blistering guitar solo. Spoken vocals play call and response with delicious powerful retorts, before meandering guitar licks continue under a little guitar solo that feeds into a more intense chorus.
The Nine Red Moons sound draws on a wide range of influences, from heavy metal to classical music and jazz. And Eduardo names the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Yes, Slayer, King Crimson, Judas Priest, Sepultura, Dream Theater, Queensrÿche, Rammstein, Viper, Frank Zappa, Nightwish, Eminence, Devin Townsend, Faith No More, Fates Warning, Van Halen, Anthrax and Megadeth as his biggest influences.
And on what inspires their music, Eduardo told us: “Our influences are very wide, so, even if we sound like traditional heavy metal, you can hear some odd time signatures, different song structures and even a small piece of Mozart melodies in the lead guitar of Sumerian Songs for the Dead. The lyrics address themes such as primitive civilisations, Plato’s myth of the cave, the book Solaris, emanations from the Kabbalistic tree of life, and, like every good heavy metal album, death.
“I like to add some different elements here and there. There are some different rhythms, chords and even a classic melody played by a violin on one of our songs, and, honestly, I really don’t know how I came up with that.”
Nine Red Moons will release their third single, Solaris, next month, building up to their debut album sometime between March and May. And the idea of a tour is not out of the question, which sounds like an interesting logistical challenge with collaborators from all over the world.
And Eduardo added: “Just give us a listen. I love the 80s, but if you give new bands a chance, you will see there’s a lot of new music being made right now.”
You can follow Nine Red Moons on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
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