80s Heavy Metal | Outsider Rock

CREATURES recently released their second album, Creatures II, to follow up their debut in 2021. The 4-piece band from Brazil is heavily influenced by ’80s hard rock and heavy metal bands like Judas Priest, Ratt, Ozzy, Dokken….and although I see no mention, lead vocals definitely remind me of Lizzy Borden. Creatures II features a new line-up, with the band lead by guitarist/songwriter Mateus Canteleano, who has answered my questions below. Bandmembers also included their ‘top 10’ album lists, as well as influences.

CREATURES consists of Mateus Cantaleäno, Marc Brito (vocals), Ricke Nunes (bass), and Sidnei Dubiella (drums). *Check out Creatures II, the interview, and the links below.

Can you guys tell me a bit about the band coming together and direction?

Mateus Cantaleano:
Basically, this lineup came together around 2022, a few months after the release of our first album, which was recorded only by me and the former singer, Roberto. After the release of the album, people started getting in touch with me asking about live shows, and since Roberto had moved to Canada, I invited Marc—at first just to sing the first shows—and CJ to play drums. The last one to join the band was Ricke, who became part of the band in 2023. We created a really strong connection not only musically, but also in our personal lives, and this naturally became the official lineup of the band.

What are some of the yours (bandmembers) favorite bands, musicians, influences that you grew up on?

Mateus:
For me, it was and still is bands like Judas Priest, Dokken, and Scorpions. As guitarists, I’d say Yngwie Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth, and George Lynch.

Marc:
Halford, Jon Oliva, Udo, King Diamond.

Ricke:
Rush, Geddy Lee, Billy Sheehan, Juan Alderete, Felipe Andreoli, Bob Daisley, Jeff Pilson, Juan Croucier.

Are you able to give me a ‘top 10’ of favorite albums (each)?

Mateus (Top 10):

Defenders of the Faith – Judas Priest
Under Lock and Key – Dokken
Trilogy – Yngwie Malmsteen
Icon – Icon
Taken by Force – Scorpions
The Final Countdown – Europe
Bonded by Blood – Exodus
Down to Earth – Rainbow
Bark at the Moon – Ozzy Osbourne

Marc (Top 10):

Defenders of the Faith – Judas Priest
Invasion of Your Privacy – Ratt
Phantasmagoria – The Mist
Absolut Country of Sweden – Anti Cimex
Gutter Ballet – Savatage
Tower of Spite – Cerebral Fix
Ordem e Progresso – Azul Limão
Floodland – The Sisters of Mercy
Anything – The Damned
Into the Pandemonium – Celtic Frost

Ricke (Top 10):

Moving Pictures – Rush
Ready to Strike – King Kobra
Second Heat – Racer X
The Ultimate Sin – Ozzy Osbourne
Angels Cry – Angra
Icon – Icon
Back for the Attack – Dokken
Welcome to My Nightmare – Alice Cooper
Lean into It – Mr. Big
Leftoverture – Kansas

What is the metal scene like in Brazil? What sort of venues and shows have you been playing? Any major festival shows or guest slots ?

Mateus:
Like I always say, I think Brazil in general is more focused on extreme/thrash/death/black metal bands and scenes, but we do have a small resistance within the traditional metal and hard rock scene. It’s not very big, but it’s loyal. Most of our shows here are as guests or opening slots for bigger bands—most of the time from other countries—or at festivals with local Brazilian bands. Sometimes we headline, and they are usually good shows in terms of audience.

A lot of excellent songs, such as Dreams, Devil in Disguise, Beware The Creatures, Nothing Lasts Forever…. This album doesn’t really slow down (til the last track). Any antidotes or stories behind some of the tracks? what stands out for you guys (individually)? and how much of this will the band be performing live on the road?

Mateus:
Thank you! Well, something curious is that I usually compose the full songs alone at home, record a complete demo with everything, and then pass it on to the band. Each member takes their part, studies it, and adds their own identity individually. Since Marc doesn’t live in the same city as us, we never rehearsed or played the songs together as a band before recording the album—it was all a surprise. Also, balancing our jobs and personal lives, it took us a few months to record everything, but we were extremely satisfied with the result. For me, the standout tracks are “Beware the Creatures” and “Nothing Lasts Forever.” They’ve always been two of my favorites and still are.

Creatures II is a great production, with some riffs, intros, harmonies….Can you tell us about the making of the making of this album, as far as how aware you were about making it a ‘big’ sounding album? and what you (if) you had any 80s records or productions in mind that you might’ve strived for?

Marc:
It took many, many hours of vocal recording on consecutive days, and there came a point where I was literally lying on the floor during every break between takes, even if it was just for a few seconds, lol.

Mateus:
Well, like I said, it took a lot of work, days, and energy to record this album. We put the best of ourselves into it, and we’re very lucky to count on our producer and mixing engineer, Arthur Migotto, who has all the technical knowledge to bring out everything we were aiming for. We also tried to keep everything as analog as possible—real amps, real pedals, real drums—to sound as close as possible to what we like to listen to.

How does Creatures II compare to the first album (or differ)?

Mateus:
First of all, I’m the one who recorded both albums, so this time we had almost a completely new band recording it. Over these four years, I’ve also greatly improved my knowledge of music, my skills as a guitar player, and mainly as a songwriter. I think the songs are much more mature on this album. Having a full band recording it this time—people who were already used to playing together and performing shows—also made a huge difference for the better. Musically, the new album goes into a darker territory, and I also think we have more heavy metal (and a little less hard rock) influences on this one.

Can you tell me about the albums artwork? Who created it? The ideas behind it, etc..?

Mateus:
I developed the concept, and the artwork was made by a guy named Velio Josto, who had already worked with a considerable number of heavy metal bands that we like. We were aiming for something simple, something that mixed all that heavy metal and horror aesthetic that we’ve always liked and embraced. I think it turned out great.

What’s coming up for Creatures in the near future? Any possibility of shows in North America?

Mateus:
Well, we have a few shows ahead. We’re going to play our first Creatures II show in a few weeks and do some more shows in Brazil. In April, we’ll play our first show outside Brazil, at the Keep It True Festival in Germany. We’ll actually be the first Brazilians ever to play this festival in its entire history, so this will be a historic moment for us!

About a show in North America, we would absolutely love to do it! I hope we can make this possible in the near future! 🙂

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/creaturesheavymetal
https://www.instagram.com/creaturesheavymetal
https://creaturesheavymetal.bandcamp.com/
https://www.hrrecords.de/
https://highrollerrecords.bandcamp.com/

When Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath and replaced by Ronnie James Dio, it began a new promising era, a fresh start, and a pile of new ideas and up to date sound for the new decade. The band had been closing out the 70s on a bit of a downturn with the last few Ozzy era albums [though I admit I really like Technical Ecstasy] . My introduction to the Dio era of Black Sabbath was borrowing a friend’s copy of Live Evil (which I’ve yet to return 38 years later). I eventually picked up LPs of Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules (had them on a cassette for a while). Mob Rules being my favorite Sabbath album, with Heaven And Hell not far behind. Dio could contribute a lot more than Ozzy, with lyrics and melodies, where as Geezer Butler is generally known for writing many of the Ozzy era lyrics. The new Dio era sounded heavier with Dio’s distinctive voice that could deliver new and darker stories clear and more aggressively, all put together by legendary producer Martin Birch. I thought these 2 albums were/are timeless, and I can pull them out any time and they sound just as good as they did 40 years ago. With Live Evil mixing new and old Sabbath songs, I honestly was not so crazy about this one, having been a fan of the early Sabbath albums I just didn’t think Dio was as suited to those songs, perhaps because Ozzy had such a unique voice, but I did like his performance of “N.I.B.”. After Live Evil Dio, along with Vinny Appice would go off and form Dio. A shame then – done after 2 superb studio albums!? Well, the Mob Rules line-up reformed again in the early ’90s released Dehumanizer [1992]. It was a bit more Dio /Appice influenced in sound, IMO, with those slow heavy dark rock tunes. It took me a long time to get in to this one due to the overall production / sound of the album, but it featured some really good tracks, but overall not high on my Sabbath list. Again, the band split, and over the next decade plus, Sabbath would return to work Tony Martin on vocals [who did a fine job on the Dio era songs live], and then do some shows with Ozzy.

With the release of 2007’s CD compilation release The Dio Years, Iommi, Butler, Dio and Appice again reformed to add 3 new tracks to the album. The band went out on tour, playing only tracks from the Dio-era albums under the name Heaven & Hell, taking Scott Warren [of Dio’s band] in place of Geoff Nicholls – adding keyboards and some guitar. This tour lead to the release of Live At Radio City Music Hall. Rhino Records also released Live At The Hammersmith [from 81/82] in 2007. Continuing as Heaven & Hell, the band made one more studio album – The Devil You Know in 2009. This was a strong album, and I preferred this to Dehumanizer, very heavy, up to date, great clean sounding. Interestingly, The Devil You Know was the highest charting album of the 4 on Billboard USA. The band toured further that year, with Ronnie James Dio later diagnosed with stomach cancer. Shows for 2010 were cancelled, and Dio passed away May 16, 2010. A posthumous live album marking 30 years of Heaven & Hell had been recorded at the band’s performance at the Wacken Open Air Festival in the summer of 2009, and released in late 2010 as Neon Nights – Live In Europe. The 4 Dio era studio albums remain hugely popular amongst Black Sabbath fans, with many hailing the first 2 amongst the band’s best, usually flaring up the who was better – Ozzy or Dio debate. As I said earlier, I am one who easily puts Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules at the top of my BS favorites list. I recently got the 2021 2CD remasters of each, and though some of the ‘bonus’ material is already out there [like Live at Hammersmith] , the Live in Portland show from ’82 [added to Mob Rules] is a nice addition. Here’s hoping there’ll be more live stuff that surfaces [officially] in the future. Here’s a look at my top 10 picks of classics from the Dio era of Black Sabbath [and That includes The Devil You Know!]