LAZARVS | VINYL RECORD (LP)

MALEDICTUS is a Portuguese metal band formed in Lisbon. Bringing together experienced musicians with a shared vision, the band creates dark, powerful and atmospheric heavy music. With a foundation of aggressive riffs, haunting melodies and emotional vocals, the band blends modern heavy metal with darker, more melodic influences. The group was formed by musicians seeking to explore a heavier and more expressive sound, combining technical musicianship with compelling songwriting and a cinematic atmosphere. Their music strikes a balance between intensity and melody, moving between crushing guitar passages, dynamic rhythms, and dramatic vocal performances. "Our music reflects who we are and how we process life and our own emotions. Music is life manifested through an artist's soul. We all process life with a sense of dark melancholy", comments guitarist Ben Stockwell. As history has taught us, Portuguese metal bands are known for their melancholic sound, which reflects their cultural identity. Since their formation, MALEDICTUS has been focused on creating music that reflects the darker and more emotional aspects of the metal genre. Drawing inspiration from classic and contemporary metal acts, the band aims to create a sound that feels familiar yet distinct, appealing to fans of powerful, atmospheric metal. Boasting a line-up of seasoned performers and a clear artistic vision, MALEDICTUS is developing new material and establishing it's presence in the Portuguese metal scene and beyond. Their debut album, "Lazarvs", is set to be released on Friday 13th of November. The album title draws heavily on the biblical story of Lazarus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus performs the great miracle of raising his deceased friend Lazarus from the dead after he had been in the tomb for four days. "We wanted it to have that poetic twist of a second coming," says the guitarist, hinting at the band members' past in SEVENTH STORM, who released their critically acclaimed debut album, "Maledictus", in 2022. Two years later, four members left to form MALEDICTUS. "The core of the music-writing team from Seventh Storm stayed the same, so we've kept the same sound in Maledictus. However, Peter Crushes brought a new style of rhythm section and melodies, which have contributed to the band's unique sound. "Lazarvs" is a spiritual follow-up to our previous work," states Ben Stockwell, who is totally satisfied with the final result. "We are extremely proud of all the tracks. The result exceeded our initial expectations. We knew it had potential, and as the good ideas came, so did the inspiration to raise the bar with each song." With Rez on vocals, the band has an exceptional singer with a distinctive, powerful voice. "He is undoubtedly one of the best out there having power, soul, range and timbre. Everything fits perfectly with our sound. We couldn't have asked for a better voice or frontman", says the guitarist. Rez's lyrics are another perfect addition to the band's dark, epic and partly progressive sound. The lyrical themes focus on life's darkest moments. "Death brings an opportunity for renewal, as do our most difficult struggles, which require part of us to die in order to be overcome."