Phrenesy – Fears Apocalypse
Phrenesy – Fears Apocalypse
Self- Released
Release Date: 05/08/2022
Running Time: 41:14
Review by Victor Augusto
9/10
Once again, I must start my writing with an apology for being often repetitive with my words. The reason I am saying this is to enforce what makes me still try to do something to support Heavy Metal bands, especially in Brazil. Basically, I do it because I love them and it is a therapy that keeps my mind sane! Of course, there are many good retribution and gratitude as a consequence from the bands on the receiving end! When I talk about Brazilian Thrash Metal band Phrenesy, everything goes even further considering we became great friends much before I started to write reviews.
I first met them when they were releasing their first and incredible album “The Power Comes From The Beer” in 2014. We immediately became friends and many concerts and hangovers have happened so far. For a fair few of their concerts, I can only remember the hangover, but it happens (a lot). I must say that these guys are so great, that our friendship extended to our families, wives and kids. Considering that few bands really do what they preach about friendship and about having the Heavy Metal community as a place to embrace all different tribes, Phrenesy is a rare example of a group of people that really put it in practice. To make everything even more perfect, their music is as great as their hearts, and it is exactly what I will try to talk about.
The second Phrenesy album carried the title of “Beer Apocalypse”. Although I still have difficulty singing the title track as ‘Fear Apocalypse correctly’, this title change came for a good reason, considering all the darkness we suffer as a South American citizena. Things like poor families becoming an easy prey to few famous priests from this country and also all the poverty in the cities forgotten by the politics. This kind of scum like the religious leaders, can easily manipulate these poor people to give their few bits of money to them, fooled by the promise that it is the path to leave all the suffering behind. As a consequence, Phrenesy decided to change the album’s name to mention this kind of absurdity that still happens in our country.
Musically they still play good Thrash Metal more oriented in the Kreator and Anthrax Style, even adding few Death and Traditional Heavy Metal elements to it. The arrival of Fabrício Rocha to the line-up has brought a new style for the solos, considering his experience of being part of Hell Bound, which is a Traditional Heavy Metal band. There are solos from different styles, not only played by Fabríco, like you can hear on ‘Bring It On’, when the guest musician Felipe Chendes (Alto Extermínio) played in a very Andreas Kisser way. The Classic Metal style appears at the second solo of ‘Lost Generation’, when there is a beautiful solo that brings a kind of hope for what the song talks about, played by Rodrigo Shakal (MOFO). Sara Abreu (Estamira) also made a contribution on ‘Mistakes, as well as Marco Mendes (Device) on ‘The Truth Is All There’. Overall, Fabrício could put his identity, despite joining the team very recently.
The main guitarist Tiago Teobaldo is a riff machine as always. It is even hard to separate his adrenaline on stage to the compositions after seeing him playing several times. The drummer Josefer Ayres chose a more live sound on the recording and he created drums fills that will sound like a grinder destroying everything, as you hear at the end of ‘The Truth Is All There’. Aluisio Lima has a very present bass sound that was dates back to when they had only one guitarist, before Fabrício was invited to the band. ‘My Hate Is Gonna Speak For Me’ intro is a good example of what I am saying.
Wendel Aires’ vocal style is a mix of anger with a bit of melody. For me, he really surprises on ‘Vultures’ where he really explores his vocal capability more extensively, using melodies and higher vocal ranges. As I said before, there is a lot of anger that inspires us to scream aloud and this album shows a sample of all the chaos we live in.
We must highlight the cover art which shows a few details of Phrenesy hometown, like the tower with a clock, that is from a subway station from the band’s neighbourhood. Here, it is all destroyed after a world collapse. Still in this cover, there is a flyer glued on a wall that is also real. It is from a traditional festival that the band played in 2019, the “Headbangers Attack” festival, also with a few logos from the bands from Brazil. This cover was well thought through by Jacqueline Sales, wife of one of the members, which enforces that Phrenesy is a family where everyone helps in some way.
And where is the beer that they always worshipped? Look at the flowers on the cover art. They are hop flowers, used to brew beer. On the music, they play ‘The Party Won’t Stop’ and the closing song ‘War for Beer’. For me, this last one is like a new hymn for them. It is like the anthem that the song ‘The Power Comes from The Beer’ (from the previous album) became. I realised it a few days ago at a live concert, when they finished the show with this blend of the new and old ode to beer. There I could see many Metalheads going crazy, even dancing whilst Phrenesy was destroying everything on stage.
“Fears Apocalypse” is a new chapter on the history of this amazing band. It is natural how they’ve conquered and captivated their fans with a good Thrash Metal, beer and a real friendship celebration after many years. If you have the opportunity, grab a beer and enjoy this brutal offering!
Cheers!
‘Fears Apocalypse’ (Lyric Video)
TRACKLISTING:
01. Fears Apocalypse
02. Bring It On
03. Fuck The Pain
04. Lost Generation
05. Mistakes
06. My Hate Is Gonna Speak For Me
07. Vultures
08. The Truth Is All There
09. The Party Won’t Stop
10. War For Beer
LINE-UP:
Wendel Aires – Vocals
Tiago Teobaldo – Guitars
Fabricio Rocha – Guitars
Josefer Ayres – Drums
Aluisio Lima – Bass
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Victor Augusto and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
