Sarcófago
Brazilian extreme metal pioneers of first wave black metal.
Sarcófago was a Brazilian extreme metal band formed in 1985, fronted by Sepultura's original singer Wagner Lamounier and Geraldo Minelli. The cover art of their debut album I.N.R.I. is regarded as a major influence on black metal's corpse paint imagery, and the record itself is considered one of the first wave albums that helped shape the genre. The band broke up in 2000 after releasing the Crust EP.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Genre
- Thrash metal
- death metal
- black metal
- Years active
- 1985–2000
- Label
- Cogumelo
- Music for Nations
- Pavement
- Relapse
- Current members
- Wagner "Antichrist" Lamounier
- Gerald "Incubus" Minelli
- Eugênio "Dead Zone"
Facts from the source article.
History
Sarcófago, whose name means "sarcophagus" in Portuguese, got its start in 1985 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The band wanted to make the most brutal music possible, pulling from Finnish hardcore punk and early extreme metal acts like Bathory, Celtic Frost, and Slayer. Wagner Lamounier joined after a bitter split from Sepultura in March 1985; though he never recorded with them, he wrote the lyrics for their track "Antichrist." Sarcófago first appeared on vinyl in 1986 on the split album Warfare Noise I, released by Cogumelo Produções, contributing "Recrucify," "The Black Vomit," and "Satanas." The lineup then featured "Butcher" on guitar, "Antichrist" (Lamounier) on vocals, "Incubus" (Geraldo Minelli) on bass, and "Leprous" (Armando Sampaio) on drums. In July 1987, with new drummer "D.D. Crazy" — praised for pioneering blast beats — the band released I.N.R.I. The cover image of the band in corpsepaint, leather jackets, and bullet belts is seen as the first clear blueprint for black metal's look. Lamounier was unhappy with the recording quality and internal conflicts. After I.N.R.I., Sarcófago broke up for a short time; Lamounier went to study economics at the Federal University of Uberlândia, while Butcher and D.D. Crazy left. D.D. Crazy later played drums on Sextrash's 1990 debut Sexual Carnage. The reissue of Rotting stirred controversy because its cover, based on a medieval painting, shows a grim reaper licking what looks like Jesus Christ's face. Artist Kelson Frost refused to add a crown of thorns, which would have clearly marked the figure as the Christian messiah.
Musical style and influences
Sarcófago performed extreme metal encompassing thrash metal, death metal, and black metal. Inspired by Venom and Hellhammer, their early lyrics were openly Satanic, often employing curse words and crude scenarios, such as 'Desecration of (the) Virgin', a blasphemous take on the virgin birth. Lyrics mixed Portuguese and English; one English line, 'If you are a false don't entry', has been described as a catchphrase of cult black metal. By 1989's Rotting, the band's stance on Christianity became more agnostic than Satanic. The original vinyl release included a manifesto by Lamounier criticizing Catholicism's alienating effect on Brazilian society and questioning Christ's divinity. The album also featured 'Sex, Drinks and Metal', a hedonistic ode to the headbanger lifestyle. The Laws of Scourge focused on reality-based themes such as suicide and homicide. American censors forced omission of lyrics for the re-recorded 'The Black Vomit' and the entire track 'Prelude to Suicide' from the CD booklet.
Legacy and impact
Sarcófago is commonly cited as an influence on the emerging black metal genre, particularly the Scandinavian second wave. Terrorizer magazine stated, 'It is sobering to think of what wouldn't have happened had I.N.R.I. not been released'. Fenriz of Darkthrone included a Sarcófago track in his The Best of Old-School Black Metal compilation and said of I.N.R.I., 'you buy or die'. Euronymous of Mayhem corresponded with Lamounier and was 'obsessed with them because they wore lots of spikes and corpsepaint', according to Metalion. Satyricon covered 'I.N.R.I.' on their Intermezzo II EP, also featured on the Tribute to Sarcófago album. Key Gorgoroth members Infernus and King were influenced by Sarcófago. Finnish black metal groups were also affected: Beherit founder Nuclear Holocausto cited Sarcófago as one of 'the greatest influences', and Mika Luttinen of Impaled Nazarene said 'nothing tops Slayer's Reign in Blood or Sarcofago's I.N.R.I.'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which record labels has Sarcófago released music on?
Sarcófago has released music on Cogumelo, Music for Nations, Pavement and Relapse.
Who are the current members of Sarcófago?
The current members of Sarcófago are listed as Wagner "Antichrist" Lamounier, Gerald "Incubus" Minelli and Eugênio "Dead Zone".
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