Ratos De Porão
Just Another Crime... In Massacreland

It might have seemed incredible, but at the end of the 1980s, a third-world metal scene like Brazil catapulted dozens of bands into the musical universe, including hardcore, crossover, thrash metal, and death metal. They all had a common denominator: their music truly seemed to be born from the streets, from poverty, and their lyrics seemed REAL and LIVED through more than many other bands in the metal circuit who had only seen such things on television.

RATOS DE PORAO were one of these groups. Born in 1980 in São Paulo, Brazil, they can be considered to this day among the best exponents of the Hardcore-Thrash crossover scene, which lived its golden period in the late 1980s. Some of their albums can easily be compared to masterpieces of the genre released by bands like D.R.I., CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, S.O.D., CRUMBSUCKER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, DISCHARGE, G.B.H.

Born as a punk-hardcore band, over the years, they were influenced by thrash metal, managing to record two crossover albums that are among the most appreciated in the genre, like Brazil (1989) and Anarkophobia (1990), released under Roadrunner, who signed them thanks also to the intervention of Max Cavalera, who had always been a fan. Indeed, SEPULTURA would be influenced by Ratos De Porão for their musical evolution that began with Chaos A.D. onwards. Influence and respect never hidden by Max Cavalera and his associates, always generous with good words and tributes towards their blood brothers, often performing their covers.

This "Just another crime...in massacreland" was released in 1993 and from the cover alone, depicting Brazilian children engaged in cutting cocaine to sell on the street, it represents what we will find in the band's lyrics and music. Led by the enormous vocalist Gordo, author of almost all the lyrics, the Ratos are the voice of the living reality of the poorer portions of the Brazilian population, still forced to live in favelas on the margins of the welfare civilization.

The album is produced by Alex Newport (leader of the always underrated FUDGE TUNNEL), who within a year would set up the highly appreciated and fundamental NAILBOMB project with Max Cavalera. For the first time, Ratos De Porão tackle lyrics almost entirely in English, centered on social issues and the poverty of the Brazilian people. Thus, we find thrashy tracks like Money, Satanic bullshit, Real enemies, and hardcore assaults like Video macumba and Suposicollor, where Gordo vomits all his rage supported by guitarist Jao, bassist Bart, and drummer Boka.

The album reaches track number eleven, Quando ci vuole ci vuole. It starts with a speech from the duce with laughter recorded by the band in the background, then launches into a classic and fast punk-hardcore song with lyrics in Italian: "Quando ci vuole ci vuole, senza giustizia non c'è pietà, è troppo facile morir per niente senza lottare perché?!?, tutti corrotti la polizia fascisti di merda no passaran!! è troppo facile morir per niente senza lottare contro il potere." A small masterpiece of protest, if only because it comes from a Brazilian band.

There's still time for two covers, Breaking all the rules by Peter Frampton (featuring Newport on vocals) and the fun Ultra seven no uta.

This album was supposed to catapult Ratos De Porão into the big Metal circuit. It didn't happen. They continue to tour the world with their punk attitude, knowing that what matters is getting their message across. There will still be time for success...