Recorded music can only do so much for the soul. It’s the roar of the crowd and the thunder of drums, surrounded by thousands of yous who breathe live music deep into their lungs like one whole immovable entity, that completes the circle of life. You don’t need me to tell you how much you, me, and others’ like us have missed the sweat infused atmosphere of a frantic rock show, the twitchy withdrawal symptoms still lingering on well over a year later.
Before live music can return however, Brazilian metallars Ignited have found a temporary if-not bittersweet solution to our musical addictions and aural appetites, with the prospect of a live album offering a fleeting fix. Recorded in 2019 and initially set for a now-postponed 2020 release, vocalist Denis Lima, guitarist Dalton Castro, bassist Sama Benedet and drummer Maurício Velasco, are set to release their live album later this year once production is complete.
The record follows in the shadow of the bands debut album, Steelbound, which saw the band explore their traditional heavy metal influences with a slithering modern edge. Speaking with Maurício on why now seemed to be the perfect time to release a live record, he had this to say:
“We recorded this album in 2019 on the Noturnall tour, with the producer of our album, Thiago Bianchi, where we were invited to open the show with the participation of Edu Falaschi [Angra] and Mike Portnoy [Dream Theatre & Sons of Apollo.] The show was recorded in audio and video, in a large concert hall here in southern Brazil. The pandemic soon came and delayed the entire production process, which means we’ll now release this year instead.”
They say music is a form of therapy, as the same song played on record in comparison with being played live can have entirely different impacts on the human psyche and it’s wealth of emotions. When asked about how the Ignited songs would benefit from being heard live and what difference the album would exhibit, Dalton believes that;
“A live moment demonstrates the true feelings of the band and it shows the people a more raw, more dusty, and straightforward sound. I like it that way, even though we had initially been focusing on reproducing the songs in the same way they were recorded as closely as possible.” Maurício states that he thinks “the band playing live really shows what it's made of. The exchange of energy with the crowd is what really makes the difference. For example, when I like a band, I try to watch a show of theirs to see the energy that is transmitted live. I believe that we will reach more people because of this, because they are looking for an Ignited show.”
Surprisingly, the band took a gamble that paid off, with recording the show from their first ever gig. A ballsy move even the most seasoned of musicians would hesitate at. Even though an ambitious feat it might’ve been, it just made sense to do so. “During the recordings of Steelbound,” explains Maurício, “our producer was negotiating this tour of Noturnall with Mike Portnoy. We practically recorded the album with the first concert scheduled. It was really something magical!” Thankfully the band’s live record is just one recent example of many that’ve come before theirs, and so the members have a wealth of samples in which to take influence from. As Maurício demonstrates, his top 5 answers are not surprising in the slightest; “Halford - Live Insurrection Judas Priest - Live Meltdown Iron Maiden - Live After Death Pantera - Official Live: 101 Proof AC / DC - Live At River Plate”
Recording the live record so early in their career was a beneficial move in hindsight, easily done for all members living on the same piece of land, before guitarist Dalton gets ready to pack up and move to Europe for a new job in Sweden. As troublesome as that may have been for any other band and the prospect of disbanding looking like the easiest option, Ignited choose to look at every situation as a glass-half-full scenario. Advantages are aplenty, and “it’s a great opportunity to expand our music abroad,” argues Dalton. “I prefer to focus on our goal, not on the obstacles. I mean, we will be working on music together and trying to introduce ourselves into the European market in a progressive manner. We will try to schedule the new album's production with someone who might take us to the next level and that is a big dream going into reality. We will give our best on this new journey.”
Homesickness isn’t even an option either for Dalton, confessing that even being parted from the Brazilian cuisine isn’t enough to warrant a slither of worry. “The classic 'X' burger that is sold across the Brazilian streets is a recipe I can maybe try to reproduce over there! But that is not a problem at all, I have an open mind regarding food. I ain't a conservative and nostalgic guy, definitely.” Whilst the pandemic has been keeping the airlines grounded and recreational flights off-limits, there’s still an excitement in the air when thinking about the options for travel once permitted. Dalton reminisces that “Brazil has a lot of beautiful places to visit, especially across the coast where I live with dozens of beaches and places for hanging out, having some beers and enjoying good weather as well. Unfortunately some places are too expensive. Also, whichever city you stay in, I recommend walking through some museums (after some Googling) in order to check out some Brazilian history if possible.”
It’s a new chapter for Ignited, rather than the premature end of the book, and the cliffhangers are in abundance. Taking into consideration the circumstances of the past year and the aspects moving forward, the band choose to carve their own path into the damply trodden ground and draw out their own map to greatness.
Steelbound is available now across all streaming platforms, and to stay up to date with band and touring information, including the release of the live album, head to their website here or follow their social medias linked below.
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