Pandemmy

PANDEMMY interview

01) Hello Pedro! How are you? Please tell us about the foundation of Pandemmy first! When and how did it all happen?

Pedro Valença – Hi, Daniel! I’m good. Pandemmy was founded in January 10th 2009 after I have left my first band, Monstera. In Monstera I played just thrash metal but I wanted play Death Metal too and Pandemmy is the union between Thrash and Death.

02) Have you played in other bands before?

Pedro Valença – At that time, Monstera (Thrash Metal) was the only band that I played.

03) What´s the idea behind the different pronunciation of Pandemmy?

Pedro Valença – About the pronunciation it’s mean nothing. The name Pandemmy is associated the idea of a sound Pandemic, a kind of sound spreading through the Earth. It’s a little abstract, but it’s a simple name, still sounds good to us today.

04) Which bands are your main influences?

Pedro Valença – Carcass, Kreator, Sepultura, Andralls and Death.

05) What are your lyrics about: the typical clichés, or is there a certain message behind them?

Pedro Valença – I prefer write about problems of society because here in Brazil we are victims of an unfair system. We have abstract and personal lyrics too, but in less quantity.

06) There always were brutal Death-, Thrash- and Black Metal bands in Brazil. What do you think are the reasons for that? Where do this anger and aggression come from?

Pedro Valença – Brazil is a big country with a lot of cultural differences, however common problems are everywhere: poverty, misery, corruption, urban violence, criminal elites... I think this anger has reflected on Brazilian Metal style.

07) Let´s dig a little bit in the history of the band, okay? In 2011, you won the regional W:O:A: Metal Battle. Where did you get the contact for that? And did you play at Wacken Open Air as well for that?

Pedro Valença – The W:O:A Metal Battle happened few times years ago in Brazil. We won the local battle in our state (Pernambuco). The national battle (final dispute) was in a traditional Brazilian festival called Roça N’ Roll. In 2011 we disputed with 20 bands or more, but we lose. The experience of travel to another state (Minas Gerais, land of Sepultura!) and playing with those bands and national press was very intense and unbelievable for us. A great chapter in our history, of course.

08) How many bands took part in this battle at all by the way?

Pedro Valença –20 bands, I guess. I remember some great ones, as such as Nekrost (the winner of 2011 Brazilian W:O:A Metal Battle), Madness Factory, Kamala, Fire Shadow.

09) Also in 2011, you contributed on the Sepultura tribute sampler “Ratamahatta – De Pernambuco Para O Mundo: Um Tributo Ao Sepultura”. That´s not really surprising actually. What was surprising though was that you chose “Convicted In Life” from Sepultura´s 2006 album “Dante XII” featuring Derrick Green on vocals. That´s not old school at all, haha! What were the reasons for that? And do you like their later albums as well, or was it just a kind of experiment?

Pedro Valença – So, I think we were invited for this tribute in the last few moments. Originally, we wanted record a track from Max Cavalera’s years. Many songs have been recorded by other bands were on the tribute. We are inspired mainly by the old Sepultura, but we appreciate the longevity of them. We like the song Convicted In Life because this track have the Sepultura’s aggressiveness trademark. I like the albums ‘The Mediator…’, ‘Quadra’ and a lot of songs from Derick Green’s era.

10) In 2019, you released a split-CD with the Italian Death/Thrash Metal band Abscendent. How did you get in contact with them? And how did this collaboration work?

Pedro Valença – I found the band through the Google. After, I talked with Luca Riccardelli (bassist and vocalist) and Gabriele Vellucci (guitarist) on Facebook. They are very kind guys. We agreed on deadlines and talked about the title of Split Album and stuff. ‘Obliteration’ was released in May 31st 2019 – check it out!

11) Your new, third album “Subversive Need” was released by the Dutch label Heabangers Records and the Dutch record shop Big Bad Wolf Records. The Netherlands are very far away from Brazil, haha! So, how did this happen?

Pedro Valença – Throughout the last year, we sent lots of e-mails from to many labels. And, finally, Tamme from Big Bad Wolf Records answered me. We made a deal and we are very happy with this partnership. Marco (Headbangers Records) is a great guy too.

12) How much time did it take to write and record the album?

Pedro Valença – I believe we made ‘Subversive Need’ in 6 months. I’m always writing riffs and stuff with my bandmates. I would say we are always in pre-productions because of new songs.

13) Where did you record, and who was the producer?

Pedro Valença – Me and Guilherme Silva (guitarist and vocalist) produced this album. We recorded at Demise Studio and Home 64, home studios of Guilherme and Marcelo Santa Fé (bassist), respectively.

14) I like the artwork a lot. Who did it, and how did you get in contact with the artist?

Pedro Valença – The artist called Durval Tavares (Deafbird Design). He is an old friend and a fantastic designer. He works with game development and coming soon he is gonna work more with artwork for heavy metal bands.

15) Are there plans for a vinyl version as well, or just the CD?

Pedro Valença – Just CDs because we still are an independent and underground band. We have now a great support from the two Dutch Labels but we need to play in Europe to get the attention of more partners and, who knows, also a vinyl release.

16) Please let us also talk about the bonus tracks of the album. There are two cover versions on it. “Dominios Of Death” by Vulcano makes obvious sense to me, haha! But what about the Manowar cover “Wheels Of Fire” with its high-pitched vocals (which also doesn´t fit lyrically)? What was the idea behind it?

Pedro Valença – Vulcano is a legend of Brazilian Heavy Metal. It’s fair make a homage for the Brazilian’s bands first generation, I guess. ‘Dominios Of Death’ have the angriness that we like so much. About the Manowar cover: we're always trying to make our versions for bands of different styles. On our second album, Rise Of a New Strike, we recorded a version for ‘Nepenthe’ (Sentenced). It’s a fun part of the job. In general, we always attempt to record two cover as bonus track for physical version of an album: one track, like homage. And other to the bands across different subgenres of Heavy Metal. We know that Manowar's lyrics are very bad. We write about the opposite.

17) Do you play live? And have you maybe already supported bigger bands in your country?

Pedro Valença – We played live for the last time one year ago, before the covid-19 crisis. We like to go to shows, whether underground or mainstream band concerts. In past gigs, we were a open act band to Exodus, Brujeria, Belphegor, Obituary, Ratos de Porão.

18) Please let us also talk about the Brazilian Metal scene, okay? Because I´m a hugh fan of hordes like (old) Sepultura, Sarcogago, Vulcano, Holocausto, Mutilator, MX, Cova, Necrofago and also some younger hordes like Envoke. What about the Metal scene in Brazil today? Do bands support each other? And which other bands from your country can you recommend?

Pedro Valença – The scene in Brazil is keeping strong in big urban centers like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza. In small cities in Brazil some scenes are disappearing, unfortunately. The major part of Brazilians headbangers do not support the local bands. Lots of bands prefer to play in Europe or promote their albums because these headbangers support Brazilian bands. It’s a sad reality. I recommend bands like Kamala, Elizabethan Walpurga, Crashkill, Malefactor, Hibria, Inner Demons Rise, Aporya, Invisible Control, Mofo, Rebaelliun…

19) Please tell us about the future plans with Pandemmy!

Pedro Valença – Until the vaccination here in Brazil happens (I don't see it coming so soon, sadly) we will not play in concerts. However, we have been working in new songs for the next album yet. I hope that in 2022 we’re gonna release a new album.

20) Okay, Pedro! The last words are yours!

Pedro Valença – Thanks Daniel and everyone from Crossfire Metal Webzine! Follow Pandemmy on social media (Facebook or Instagram), listen our albums on streaming platforms and during this world isolation watch us on Pandemmy’s YouTube Channel. Keep safe and stay Metal!

https://www.facebook.com/pandemmyofficial/

https://pandemmy.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/Pandemmy

Author: Daniel Müller