Year: 2022
Total Time: 31:32
Label: Shinigami Records
RATOS DE PORÃO have been around since 1981 and they are one of the key factors in the shaping of the Hardcore Punk sound and, later, of Crossover Thrash Metal. Highly politicized and politically active, they are once again drawing their anger and rage from the current far-right government of Brazil, using the title “Necropolitica” (Necropolitics in English terminology), a term first used by the Cameroonian historian and political thinker Achille Mbembe to denote the use of social and political power to dictate how some people may live and how some must die. The deployment of necropolitics creates what Achille Mbembe calls deathworlds, or “new and unique forms of social existence in which vast populations are subjected to living conditions that confer upon them the status of the living dead.”
Most of you will surely remember the name RATOS DE PORÃO from the jamming they performed with SEPULTURA, in “We’re A Fucking Shit” in 2000. Truth be told, there are a lot of elements of the Cavalera brothers’, with the Thrash riffs succeeding each other at a very fast pace. Artfully straddling the line between Thrash and Crossover, they give us short songs, bursting with ideas and rage. We have the slower moments, such as “O Vira-Lata”, but also the faster and ultrasonic ones, such as “GDO” and “Aglomeração”, but the fact remains that we don’t find a great variety of compositions.
João Gordo’s voice remains at high standards, spitting the lyrics with raw power, as he expresses his disgust and hatred for the situation in Brazil, with fellow Cappadocian and co-founder Jão on guitars, Boka on drums and their former roadie, Juninho, on bass, which gives them a solidity. We will also find nice melodic solos in “Neonazi Gratiluz”, which closes the album, as well as rhythmic guitars in “Passa Pano Pra Elite” with that Punk/Rock aura. The lyrical concept, as I mentioned above, draws its inspiration from the actions of the current Brazilian government and criticizes its attitude in dealing with the COVID19 pandemic, as well as its attempt to impoverish the lower social strata, using clever puns in Portuguese (I have to thank my old friend Nuno for helping me understand the lyrics).
“Necropolitica” shows that RATOS DE PORÃO remain strong and active to the fullest extent, despite the eight years that have passed since the release of “Seculo Sinistro” (2014). Now that I think about it, “Necropolitica” could be compared to MINISTRY’s “Rio Grande Blood” which, along with “Last Sucker”, is Al Jourgensen’s “tribute” to Senior Peligro. A record that is pleasant to listen to in everyday life, but better to listen to in a live performance, with endless dancing and excessive energy!
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: RATOS DE PORÃO – Facebook Page
