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The 90s were a golden time for fans of hard guitar music. Both the punk revival and the crossover wave, significantly triggered by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, also made their way to Brazil. Hardcore of the old school had never really gone silent there, and so RAIMUNDOS came along at just the right moment with their appetizing mix, rising to rockstar status within a few years and burning out at the peak of fame.
LAPADAS DO POVO, the band's fourth album, is my personal favorite: From the heavy opener "Andar na pedra," it goes nonstop under high pressure until the dark, angry conclusion "Baile Funky." Variety is guaranteed, with rap-metal to savor, pop-punk in the style of their namesakes RAMONES (including a cover in a cheeky translation), and fast-paced hardcore that will knock your flip-flops off. Everything is catchy yet confidently rocking, the album flows seamlessly like a bottle of sugarcane schnapps. The singer chatters at high speed the absurd to suggestive lyrics over broad guitar walls, while the slower pieces are brought to groove by effective riffs. The only thing I miss on the album is the cheerful Forró-Core of the early albums, where an accordion added a touch of northeastern folk music over the beat. Perhaps the band didn't want to be reduced to this gimmick and therefore consciously left it out this time. At the same time, guitarist Digão's brother had died in a motorcycle accident around the time of the album's creation, which likely contributed to the angry undertone.
Finally, it should be noted: What may seem like commercial calculation within the time frame is deceptive. Although they catered to several facets of the then-current rock mainstream and were ultimately absorbed by it, it was precisely the combination of styles that arose from a not uncommon love for all forms of rock in Brazil, which couldn't decide what it wanted to play most, and where any scene pretensions had to be set aside due to the lack of alternatives. For years, the Raimundos were avoided by radio stations for their explicit lyrics, and they struggled through an overwhelming world of hollow Brazilian dance music. This CD is, for me, alongside the unique debut, the highlight of a band from the provinces that has just landed on the top floor of fame and is determined to show the listener where one still shaves with a machete, alongside MTV, major deals, and groupies.
