Rigor Mortis BR: "To Live Only of Metal is a Dream that we Want to Conquer"

Rigor Mortis BR is one of the most promising and strong names in the Brazilian Metal Extreme scene, coming from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which has a great tradition in style, revealing groups such as Krisiun and Mental Horror, for example.  (versão em Português)

The band had a small hiatus, with Alexandre (guitarist and founder) spending some time abroad, but always following the idea of continuing the work. The fruits began to come with the full-lenght release "The One Who ...", which brings a Brutal Death Metal with organic sound, receiving many accolades, including being nominated as one of the 100 Best Death Metal albums of 2016 in Latin America. To talk about this album and other matters, we talked to the band, and you can check below.

RtM: Greetings! Here is Carlos Garcia from Road to Metal, congratulations for the work, it is always praiseworthy to continue in the fight and to believe, to launch an album ... here follows some questions, to talk about this record, and also about what you have managed to build, And your perception about the current Metal scene.

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: Greetings Carlos, thank you for the contact.

RtM: To begin with, tell us a little about the production of "The One Who ...", which for the launch you had the partnership of Sangue Frio Mangement.

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: The production of "The One Who ..." was made entirely by me (Alexandre Rigor Mortis - guitarist) since I have gained my bread with this for many years, (I am a music producer, recording technician, mixing and mastering in Dark Medieval Times). The whole process was done quite calmly and with all the care to the details but not in the sense of having an album with the plastic and cold perfection of the digital productions of today, full of 'replaces' of guitar, drums and with an excess Editing.

RtM: Sure, and an "organic" soun, is much better, more real!
Alexandre Rigor Mortis: What I had in mind was to keep my line of work and try to recover the feeling of the recordings of the 90's where everything was really captured, recorded with the least editing possible and actually mixed on a mixing desk and not 'inbox' (On the computer). The recordings were done in the old ways where you record and re-record endlessly until you get the desired result instead of sitting on a computer and editing millimetrically. Instead of spending hours equalizing and using tons of plug-ins I prefer to spend days positioning microphones, testing them, finally, testing everything and experimenting until you get as close to the end result as possible. The mastering process was done 90% in analog, resulting in a natural mix in all aspects well in line with the productions of the 90's.

"What I had in mind was to keep my line of work and try to recover the feeling of the recordings of the 90's "

RtM: What about what you have felt about Investment vs. Return, something that ends up leaving many bands afraid to invest in new material, especially the release of physical material?

Christian: As for the investment x return I think that anyone who plays extreme metal does more for love, because there are few bands that stand out to the point of having a good financial return. Investments are required.

RtM: As a complement to the previous question, I see people complaining a lot about this issue, of course, having to invest to make it happen, but not getting a return, or a return that comes only in the long run. Do we have to adapt to the reality of the country? What outlets do you envision for a band to stay active?

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: Carlos, does not say reality of the country, but reality of the world today.

Things today do not work like they did in the 90s, for example, where you invested a hard buck in a demo but if a big record company gets interested in your band the investment was guaranteed. It does not exist anymore. When a label is interested in you, the most it does is to make your next recording, distribute the material and arrange a schedule to release the material.

Ricardo (Chakal): It really is not difficult just for the band, I say this in a general way, in the present day we have to adapt, but in a way the ease of disclosure is enormous, the Internet is the best tool for this, I saw This by the return that the band has been having, is being satisfactory.

RtM: About this debut, tell us what it's like to finally have the complete album released, and what does the experience of living outside Brazil add?

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: Dude, it's being really cool because the receptivity sucks. Brazil, Europe, USA, Indonesia ... the people are really enjoying the album. Now we're still nominated as one of the 100 Best Death Metal albums of 2016 in Latin America, so it's really good. I think living abroad has helped me in many ways as a musician. It left me fuller once I had to deal with all aspects of music to live and earn a living out it.

"I think what most represents the identity of Rigor Mortis BR is the brutality of the songs, the technical part of the compositions, the progressive tendency of the sounds."

RtM: Regarding the album, and also to locate those who are not yet familiar with the band, I would like you to discuss their influences, and I see very clear that of the Cannibal Corpse, as well as other North American Death Metal bands, And how have you been stoning the identity of the group during those years? And what would be the elements that best represent the identity of Rigor Mortis BR?

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: What I realize is that, taking out the guys who eat, drink and breathe Death Metal, the headbangers classify Death Metal like this: If it's more technical then compare to Cannibal Corpse, if it's more old school then compare To Morbid Angel, if it is more Blackned then compare to Deicide. If it were to compare our sound I would say it is an "Immolation with lower tuning, mixed with Severe Torture and with a few hints of Suffocation and Dying Fetus".

I think what most represents the identity of Rigor Mortis BR in this album, and this will be stronger on the next, is the brutality of the songs, the technical part of the compositions, the progressive tendency of the sounds.

Christian: Influences end up being many, because all end up taking a little of themselves. I think Death Metal in general. As for the elements I would say that brutality would be the main one.

RtM: Speaking a little bit about the tracks, I would like you to tell us a bit more about "Psychotropic Illness", which happens to be one of the best representations of the band's evolution in terms of composition, and I have seen lots of praise for this song.

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: It's really great to have this feedback from the people who listen to the songs. This helps us in every way and makes us feel valued all our effort and also serves us as a north to make a future video.

It's nice to know that people can see this in relation to the compositions. We have several praises in several songs and each one emphasizing a quality of them.

The "Psychotropic Illness" is a really mature song, and was one of those that were composed from beginning to end for this album. Some compositions already existed and I just finished the arrangements and organized the harmony. It's one of the songs that probably reveals much of our identity, as well as "Find Body Parts Toy" and "Medieval Impalement". But all were done thinking only of representing us faithfully and nothing else.

Christian: We're happy about that. I think this song is very good, it is very heavy and the staff has received very well. All songs took us to the limit and this one really looked good. He would also cite the "Medieval Impalement".

RtM: Another track that stands out is "Febrônio Índio do Brazil", based on this case, which was even approached in the program Línea Directa (TV show what treated about criminal cases), Globo TV, back in 2004.

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: The Febronio Índio was an icon for me in my adolescence. His story was something that struck me was something magical for me, sort of legend, I could not imagine that his life was real and since my 16 years I said that one day I would make a song for him and when the music came I I then identified with his image, then I came to our vocalist (Rafael) and said "this song will be called the Son of Light" and he already knew who I was talking about. And it's done.

RtM: The South is known for the quantity of great bands of Extreme Metal and Brutal, and always are looked more carefully the bands of the style come from here. Do you think it's something that can help Rigor Mortis BR on this walk? What other factors can be sought for others to follow a path of a Krisiun, for example, that has gained a certain independence and can only live on Metal.

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: Certainly when it is said that a band is from the South, the eyes turn more severely and criticize what to expect. But I think that's very good because it raises the level of the bands here in the South.

Today there are lots of fuckin' great extreme metal bands around here in Brazil, sooner or later big labels will realize that.

About to live and pay our bills with Metal is a dream that we want to conquer and is a process that demands a lot of work, time, dedication and a little luck also.

Christian: I think everything comes with a lot of work and dedication. Sometimes you tell yourself a little bit with luck let's say like this. Rio Grande do Sul has a lot of great Death Metal bands. This I think generates an expectation for what appears here.

RtM: And how are you currently feeling the scene more specifically of Metal Extreme? Especially because the most well-known labels within Metal, such as Nuclear Blast, Napalm Records, Century Media, etc ... it seems that they also turn their eyes to what may be more convenient and "commercial", leaving behind that independent label aura or underground. What is the better way for the bands? is to try self-financing and also with the help of partnerships for pressing, dissemination?

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: I think so, Carlos. I think that more and more this will be the way.

Today we see more and more bands that used to be supported by big labels to look for self-financing or to get stamps on their own to release an album.

I see many good points in this, and one of them is that, since there is no contract, there is no obligation to produce an album with a date marked forcing the bar in songs and compositions. It only occurs when one has real and sufficient material. Another positive side is that the band today more than ever actively participates in the distribution and can choose which labels and how their album will be distributed.

"The only way to support a band that you like is to buy the material (CDs, shirts), disclosuring and going to the shows."

RtM: There are some other issues that a label / record carrier also needs.

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: Yes, the negative side of independent production is that there is no such immediate financial support, and also support for recording and effectively putting together a schedule of shows in post-release; Thing that only a recorder or label can give you and the number much bigger in relation to the pressing of the material and support for art cover. It still has the issue of international distribution that with large labels  happens easily.

RtM: Guys, thank you very much for the attention, once again congratulations for the work, i let  the final space for your final message!

Christian: Thank you for the space, the staff who have accompanied Rigor Mortis BR and supported the scene. Please contact us. In 2017 we want to play there in your city. Thanks.

Ricardo (Chakal): I would like to thank you for the space, you callos and people from Road to Metal, Patrick and Sangue Frio Produções who are always helping us on this walk, and to all the headbangers who support us and accompany us, big hug.

Alexandre Rigor Mortis: Thank you Carlos and Road to Metal !!!

I want to tell bangers that the only way to support a band that you like is to buy the material (CDs, shirts), disclosuring and going to the shows.

So support the local scene because the big ones are already walking.

We are setting our agenda for 2017 !!! Get in touch !!!!


Interview: Carlos Garcia

Rigor Mortis BR are:
Alexandre Rigor Mortis: Guitars
Leafar Sagrav: Vocals
Christian Peixoto: Bass
Ricardo Chakal: Drums

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