EMQ’s With HEAVY SMASHER
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview, courtesy of Victor, with Fortaleza, Brazil based Heavy Metal band, Heavy Smasher. Huge thanks to vocalist Nildo Gomes and drummer Bruno Rocha, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Nildo Gomes: I’m Nildo Gomes and I’m the lead singer. I was the last one to enter the band and have very few things to tell about the band’s history. But if there’s something I can surely state, is that from the very beginning, the work, goals and strategies have been extremely well directed and focused. I feel like my job is in my family.
Bruno Rocha: I’m Bruno Rocha, the band’s drummer and coffee supplier (the main role of myself, btw). Heavy Smasher was founded around the beginning of the 2010’s by the guitarists Nando Smasher and Diego Quântico and since then, we have been doing hard work trying to survive in the underground scene and playing the music we love. Actually, Heavy Smasher’s line-up are Nildo Gomes on vocals, Nando Smasher and Diego Quântico on guitars, Luís Paulo on bass and myself.
Victor here. Let’s Remember that Bruno is also known as ‘the ambassador of the Russian metal band Aria’, here in Brazil, for his passion and work to promote them in our country.
How did you come up with your band name?
Bruno: According to Nando, while he was learning how to play guitar sometime around the second half of the 2000’s, he had the desire to found a Metal band whose name must carry the word “Heavy”. As a Marvel world fan, Nando had the idea to add “Smasher” to his band’s name after listening to The Incredible Hulk scream “HULK SMASH” several times in the movies. So, Nando realized that “Smasher” would fit well with “Heavy” and then the name came about.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
Nildo: From Brazil’s northeast region, In the state of Ceará (city of Fortaleza) to be more precise. As for the metal scene, we got many great bands here, and lots of wonderful jobs being done. The world should turn its eyes to this place.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Bruno: Two new singles have been released in the last days, ‘We Are Angels’ and ‘In The Abyss’. A music video for ‘Sunrise Rebel’ was also released last December. And we released our debut full-length, self-titled, album on July 10th.
‘Sunrise Rebel’ (Official Video)
‘We Are Angels’ (Official Single Audio)
‘In The Abyss’ (Official Single Audio)
Who have been your greatest influences?
Nildo: Personally, I always admired Bruce Dickinson and André Matos as singers, and (since I also play the guitar) I see in Malmsteen a great example of a composer.
Bruno: For the band as a whole, Dio, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath always taught us how to create our sound, although our main quest as a band is the search for our own music identity. As a drummer, my greatest influences were always Nicko McBrain, Lars Ulrich (yes, I love him!), Ian Paice and Vinny Appice. But I can’t forget to mention how important Blaze Bayley, some classic Doom Metal bands and the Russian band Aria have been in my life.
What first got you into music?
Nildo: The fact that I was born in a family of musicians.
Bruno: TV União, a kind of “MTV” from Ceará, our state.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
Bruno: Blaze Bayley, Damian Wilson or Scott “Wino” Weinrich.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Nildo: Wacken, surely! Because it’s every metalhead’s dream!
Bruno: Wacken, Hellfest, these two the most important Heavy Metal fests nowadays, and the Russian Big Gun, because of their huge professionalism and also because everyone knows about my dream to visit Russia before I die. Playing at Keep It True also would be great to me.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Nildo: A guy (visibly drunk) gave me money and asked me to sing “Wasting Love”. I felt like a stripper on a pole! Hahaha!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Nildo: You are the fuel that keeps the metal motor running. Thanks!
Bruno: Take care of your mental health.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Nildo: Dio.
Bruno: I would say Dio, but once Nildo quoted his name first, I stay with Gary Moore.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Nildo: I enjoy the trips, concerts, interacting with people in different places and expressing myself in my songs. And I really hate when people treat music like competition.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Nildo: I feel like the streaming services don’t honour the work of the artists.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Nildo: Angra’s “Angels Cry”
Bruno: Aria – “Geroy Asfalta” (for real, listen to this amazing Russian band!)
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Nildo: Sitting down in front of a vinyl player and listening on a specific time for that, without interruption, is magical and unique.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Nildo: The most amazing experience was when I performed (with Steel Hands, which is another band I sing in) opening Sonata Arctica’s concert.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Nildo: I’d be teaching English.
Bruno: I’m a Mathematics teacher. I’m also reviewer and interviewer for Metal and Gothic music blogs (The Atmosphere and Diálogos do Escriba), so Journalism is a real option for a second graduation in the future.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Bruno: An evening with Damian Wilson and Joe Bonamassa would be great. That’s enough. Hahahahaha!
What’s next for the band?
Bruno: We’ve just released our self-titled debut full-length, so I do believe that this release will bring us new fans around the world and new opportunities to play live, something that we really miss.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Bruno: Heavy Smasher can be found on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Our music can be heard on all the music streaming services as well. Please, pay special attention at our Bandcamp and, if you don’t mind, you might help this humble band there with extra coins so we can buy more coffee. Hahahahaha!
www.facebook.com/heavysmasher
www.instagram.com/heavysmasher
www.heavysmasher.bandcamp.com/
www.youtube.com/HeavySmasher
www.open.spotify.com/artist/0uVwDFl2Iu34veKN1JeGOX
www.deezer.com/br/artist/11596931
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Bruno: This discussion is very similar to the Brazilian “É biscoito ou bolacha?” (Is this cookies or crackers?). So, I prefer to not take part. Hahahahaha.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Bruno: We’re so grateful to Ever Metal for this valuable space where Heavy Smasher can express themselves and introduce our music to everyone who wants to give us a chance. Health and peace to everyone! Listen to the Heavy Smasher Sound on all the music streaming services (and pay some coins for us in the Bandcamp hahahaha) and get in touch with us by our social medias to say what you think about our music.
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.