Evil Desire

I recall my initial encounter with this band that hails from Orlândia, a quaint town in the heart of São Paulo. I watched a video shared by Melissa, the bassist/vocalist/lyricist and founder, and it sparked an immediate connection. Up until then, few dared to explore the realm of more traditional doom metal in Brazil.

Melissa and Victor Berg, the guitarist, originally hailed from a thrash metal background, having been part of a band called Mistery. For some reason, they decided to slow down. Given the challenges of crafting extreme metal in Brazil, imagine the audacity of diving into the world of doom metal. Yet, it's their eloquence and reverence for the old masters that infuse the story of these musicians with an irresistible charm.

Beyond contending with mainstream apathy towards their music, they epitomize the pure essence of do-it-yourself ethos—a trend echoed by other underground bands. Melissa single-handedly recorded all of Dirty Grave's material in her home studio, with the aid of Victor's great guitar skills. While some brazilian bands may not be the most professional in promoting their music, Dirty Grave defied the norm. The band made an extensive campaign abroad, successfully capturing the interest of international audiences that exhibit a greater appetite for this genre than the brazilian audience.

“We’re not here to innovate, we’re here to celebrate Doom” – their message is unequivocal. Their sound structure and influences boldly echo the legacy of Pentagram, Saint Vitus and Black Sabbath. They hold this influence with pride, paying little heed to being outliers in the scene.

The album comprises eight anthems drenched in obscure themes that haunt the human experience. In addition to the seven songs written by the band, they deliver the best cover version for Willie Dixon's "Evil (is going on)" I've ever heard. The solo guitar work and the vocals displayed here, mixed with the slow bluesy doom is just great.

Dirty Grave is a band that never had major support, and given the circumstances, the resulting material surpassed expectations in terms of quality.

The headbanger "Satan's Wings", the sabbathesque "Evil Desire" and the doomish "Remorse" stand as the highlights of an album that is enjoyable form beggining to end, capturing the essence of classic doom metal.