Matanza (band)

Matanza
Matanza
	Matanza Concert at Plaza Hall, Sorocaba in December 2010.
Background information
Origin	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Genres	Hardcore punk; heavy metal; cowpunk; psychobilly; countrycore;
Years active	1996–2018
Labels	Abril Music, Deckdisc
Associated acts	Matanza Inc
Website	www.matanza.com.br
Past members	Maurício Nogueira; Donida; Dony Escobar; Jonas; Jimmy London; Diba; Nervoso; Fausto; China

Matanza were a Brazilian rock band from Rio de Janeiro. Their music is a blend of hardcore punk, country and heavy metal, thus falling into a subgenre known as countrycore.

Biography[]

Matanza was formed in 1996 by Jimmy London and , with the idea of exploring the simple and straightforward melodies of the early career of the American singer Johnny Cash, adapted to the drum tempo of Scottish punk band The Exploited. With drummer Nervoso and bassist Diba, they recorded a demo in 1998 called Terror em Dashville.

In 1999, a new recording would attract the attention of producer of Deckdisc, and lead Matanza to sign with the now-defunct for the release of their first CD. With China on bass guitar, Santa Madre Cassino was recorded in December 2000, and released in March the following year, shortly before the band was dropped by their record label for the lack of a radio hit.

Matanza then brought Ramos to the studio to record their second album, (Music to Drink and Brawl), with Fausto on the drums this time.

An album highlight is "Bom é Quando Faz Mal" ("It Is Good When It's Not Good") whose music videos were directed by , who was also responsible for "Ela Roubou Meu Caminhão" ("She Stole My Truck") from the first album, and all the videos from their tribute to Johnny Cash.

The project started out as a set of four songs the band would play at their shows, but in a short time, grew to a full 12-track album, containing only covers of Johnny Cash songs.

Recorded in mid-2006 and released in October of that year, (The Art of Insult) revealed a vastly more professional band. The seriousness of the music was expressed in the tone of the lyrics, the weight of the composition and intensity of their live shows, which would later become a DVD.

Promotion of the album also included the video for "Clube dos Canalhas" ("Scoundrels' Club") directed by and shot by , as well as the magazine Matanza Comix with comics by , Arnold White, , among others, Donida himself being the editor of the publication.

The record recorded at in December 2008 and directed by , featured Jonas on drums and marks the transition to a new phase. Guitarist Donida left the stage to devote himself exclusively to composing the band's music. He was replaced onstage by (Ex-Torture Squad).

Five years after A Arte do Insulto Matanza released (Hateful Human Nature) in March on Deckdisc. Work on the fifth studio album (and fourth of new material) began in 2010 and was recorded in three days, live to tape (no digital recording), produced by Rafael Ramos.

In 2015, the band announced the departure of bassist China, who was replaced by Dony Escobar. According to the band, China left Matanza because he wanted to play the guitar only.^[1] Before leaving, he took part of the recordings of the band's seven full-length album, Pior Cenário Possível, released in April of the same year^[2] and the first album with Maurício taking part of the songwriting process.^[1]

In May 2018, Matanza announced they would end the band in October of the same year due to "matter questions that need to be dealt with, professional possibilities that need to be contemplated and artistic needs that [...] take to distinct paths".^[3]

On 11 January 2019, the former members of the band announced a new version of the band without vocalist Jimmy London, who was replaced by Vital Cavalcante.^[4]^[5]

Style and Influences[]

Frequent topics in the band's sarcastic and cynical lyrics are hatred, violence, alcohol, and women. They have a "Wild West" atmosphere. The media dubbed the style created by the band as "country-core". The band members are fans of Johnny Cash, and in 2005, they recorded an album of covers of songs from the early stage of his career, dubbed To Hell With Johnny Cash. In their 2006 album, A Arte do Insulto, Matanza explores various aspects of traditional Irish music. Other major influences include: Motörhead, Slayer, Dropkick Murphys and The Exploited, basically, extreme metal and punk rock bands.

The main songwriter was Donida.

Members[]

Matanza Concert at the Cabo Branco club in João Pessoa (PB) - 07/23/11

Final line-up[]

Jimmy London – vocals (1996-2018)
– lead and rhythm guitar (2008-2018)
– lead and rhythm guitar (1996-2018; studio only 2008-2018)
– bass (2015-2018)
– drums(2008-2018)

Former members[]

– bass (2003-2015)
- drums (2003-2008)
- drums (1996-2003)
- bass (1996-2003)

Discography[]

Studio albums

Santa Madre Cassino (2002)
(Music For Drinking and Fighting) (2003)
(2005)
(The art of insulting) (2006)
(Hateful Human Nature) (2011)
(2012)
Pior Cenário Possível (Worst possible scenery) (2015)

Demo albums

Terror em Dashville (Horror in Dashville) (1998)

Live albums

(2008)

Terror em Dashville[]

Terror em Dashville is the original demo tape^[6] by Matanza, released in 1998 only in cassette version.

Track listing:

"Gore Doom Jamboree" - 01:45
"Imbecil"(Imbecile) - 01:30
"As Melhores Putas do Alabama"(The Best Whores in Alabama) - 01:29
"Já Bebi Demais"(I have drank too much) - 01:48
"Dashville Chainsaw Massacre" - 02:07
"Alabama" - 01:38
"Matanza em Idaho"(Matanza in Idaho) - 02:29
"El Rey" - 01:30

Side projects[]

The bassist and the guitarist, Donida and China, have a side project called (Burial). Enterro is a black metal band, and released its first album in 2008, Nunc Scio Tenebris Lux.

Donida edited the band's magazine "Matanza Comix" in mid-2007.

Jimmy London was involved with a series of programs on MTV Brasil. In addition to Rockgol, where the whole band participated in a soccer tournament, Jimmy presented the program Pimp My Ride Brazil in 2007, and did voice work for cartoons. He also participated in a song with the band , called "Eu Queria me Casar".