Ratos De Porao / Colera
Ao Vivo

This split of two Brazilian bands is beautiful: Ratos De Porao, well-known even abroad, and Colera, a band more active in the national circuit.

Recorded on March 17 1985 at Lira Paulistana, Sao Paulo, the album features 20 tracks, which is quite a lot for a split.

As often occurs in Ratos De Porao concerts, the introduction is entrusted to classical strings, which fade out as the four begin.

The violence of the Brazilian combo then fully surprises us; all tracks last around a minute, with choirs dominating in many, such as "Morrer" or "Asas Da Vinganca".

The RxDxPx mix well the songs from their early days (1980) with the thrash sounds that would increasingly feature in their albums from the mid-'80s onward; "Obrigando A Obedecer" is an example and also one of the best episodes of the first part of the split.

"Neo Me Importo" is certainly the most original, with a duet between Jao Gordo's powerful voice and a female vocalist. It then transitions to the well-known and stunning "Crucificados Pelo Sistema" (often performed in concerts by Sepultura), the title track of the first album by RxDxPx released just a year before. "Pobreza" concludes the songs by Ratos De Porao.

An intro with classical vibes also introduces the second part of the split, and frankly, I'm surprised by these Colera, powerful and lively but not too "noisy" even live. The first "1.9.9.2." is raw and direct, the following "Quanto vale a libertade?" is more melodic.

All tracks are sung in Brazilian, and the trio (Redson:Bs-Vc, Helinho:Gr, Pierre:Dr) formed in the distant 1979 and still active, surely expresses its best in concert.

"Duas Ogivas", the best of the 8 songs offered, is a crowd favorite with its choruses already at the first listen, but let's say that the live atmosphere that exudes from every note is compelling and elevates all tracks, perhaps "X.O.T." is the one that suffers more from an unhappy distorted sound and remains the least good, while the following "Gritar" is a true anthem to pogo. 

For those who appreciate old-school HC, in my opinion, an unmissable split; for others, an invitation to discover two bands certainly not conveyed by specialized magazines or commercial televisions, but who, with their thirty-year experience, know their stuff, especially live.