While nobody would really claim that Brazilian Death Metal band Infamous Glory will be the next big thing, with ‘Algor Mortis’ they have definitely delivered a worthy piece of massive and heavy Death Metal. The album has a distinct echo of certain established Swedish Death Metal acts, yet the band has enough sense for outstanding song writing and melodicism to claim their own place in the international Death Metal scene. And, if anything, ‘Algor Mortis’ is miles ahead from their earlier releases in terms of sound and musicianship. Altogether, enough reason to ask guitarist and founding member Kexo a few quesions…
Hi Kexo & Infamous Glory, welcome to The Whispering Darkness, thanks for the time you took to answer these questions. You have freshly released your latest album, ‘Algor Mortis’. I think this is easily your best effort so far, how do you look upon the album yourself?
Cheers and thanx for having us! Well, it’s kind of cheesy but, in my opinion, I also think it is our best effort. It was the first time that we really planned an album. Writing the songs without rush, taking our time until everything was the way we wanted. So, I’m very proud of the result.
When compared to your previous recordings, it is obvious that ‘Algor Mortis’ sounds way heavier and more intense. What have you changed in the run-up to the recording of this latest album compared to your previous plan of action?
As far of songwriting we didn’t change anything on purpose, but I’m sure that André (our new guitarist) had a lot to do with that. He likes to write a lot, and that helps me, it’s been a long time since we had another composer in the band, so I appreciate that. And, of course, his background and tastes only add to our style. Also, it was the first time since 2005 that we recorded and mixed in a different studio. I used to do all the production, recording and mixing. These guys that we recorded and mixed are way better then me (hahah). That algo helped the album to sound more intense, I think.
But also, music-wise a few things seems to have changed when it comes to ‘Algor Mortis’, the previous work is more Thrashy and the new tracks are more melodious. What made you change the musical formula when you started to write and record this new album?
As I said, I think this have a lot to do with André. I loved that I could share this job of writing the songs, it’s always more productive and diverse this way. He is from a more Brutal Death Metal background, so he has other ideas and styles to play and to write, we try to combine that. He would write a riff, or a hole section of a song, then send it to me and I would learn his song and kind of fit that into our own style and add a riff here and there. That way we got a more intense and diverse sound, not going too far from our roots.
It might be obvious, but in my review I drew comparisons with bands like Dismember and Gorement, but also the German Nightbearer holds some apparent resemblances for instance. What would you mention yourself as the main sources of inspiration for Infamous Glory anno 2024?
Well, Dismember and Gorement are obviously a big influence for us. I don’t know Nightbearer, maybe Tonhão and André can speak about them, I’m sure they know it (hahaha). As for me, my influencies are kind of the same from 20 years ago. I always think of my favorite bands and riffs when I’m trying to write a song. Things that always come to mind are: Benediction, Morbid Angel, Infernal Majesty, Hypocrisy, Gorefest and many, many more.
Now that I have mentioned it, what would you say is the biggest difference between Infamous Glory now and the band that was founded some 25 years ago? You all have grown older (and wiser?), so that must have done something to your perception of the music you play and the scene you are a part of?
We are completely different in many ways. Yet, still the same in others. I definitely feel wiser about music and the scene. Back then we were just drunk kids playing metal and trying to have a good time. Now we are more self-aware of our band, our sound and our place in the scene. We don’t have dreams of living out of this music, so we do things only for ourselves, but the passion for playing metal remains the same.
Speaking of local scenes, how do you, as an insider, experience the current state of the Brazilian extreme metal scene? Are there any bands that you think are worth checking out or are criminally underrated?
Brazillian extreme metal scene is always on fire, since the 1980’s. There is a lot of great bands here and I can’t list them all, coz for sure I will forget someone. But I will give a shout out to some that comes into my mind. Podridão, is a really nasty Old School Death Metal band that is definitely worth checking out, Vazio is a Black Metal band with a very gloomy atmosphere and Sutura is a very interesting mix of Old School Death Metal with Old School Swedish Black Metal. Highly recommend all of them. And, like I said, there is a ton of other great bands, I can’t list them all, unfortunately.
You are (or were) all a part of various other bands as well. Gaining experience with other musicians and bands naturally broadens your view on (extreme) music. What would you say that you all take from those other bands into the current music of Infamous Glory?
I can only speak for myself but, playing in other bands, other styles always bring something new and exciting. I am very prolific in my taste in Metal. And I tried to play them all, at least once. So, I had Black Metal and Doom Metal projects, I’m working on a Traditional Heavy Metal project as well, I try to cover all the things I like. And for sure that brings me new ways of playing and especially new ways of writing music. Every style has a different way to write music, on the way you play it or the structure of the song and so on. So, all of this, for sure can be reflected in a more diverse music for Infamous Glory.
You have released your music through a wide range of smaller underground labels, with ‘Algor Mortis’ being put out by a slightly larger one, Black Hole Productions. How did you end up with Black Hole Productions and do you have any ambitions to get your music released by a bit bigger label that has a better and wider distribution? To me, I think you’d fit on a label like Chaos Records, Memento Mori or FDA Records for instance…
Well, we always were kind of a low-profile band. In the early days it was because we were lazy and drunk, nowadays we do it on porpose. We don’t have the time or money to leave our jobs and families to do tours and all that, so we stay in our underground bubble. We know Black Hole for decades, but we never got in touch before, in fact we were writing songs for an EP, through the pandemic, just to pass the time and Kaka, from Xaninho Records got in touch asking if we had some material to release. Then the plan to record a new full length was born, and through Xaninho we got in touch with Black Hole. For us it is nice to have more “place in the sun” but in the end, at least for me, that’s not why I do this. And as for the labels that you mentioned, I agree, I think we would fit nice on any of them. We actually wrote to some of them in the past, with no response, so I don’t know. And there is also that thing I mentioned earlier, that we are not the kind of band that will tour for a long time, or travel across the world and all that, so maybe we are not that profitable for them.
The last album dates back to five years ago, so you are not quite the most prolific bands around. That leads to a bit of a standard question, but a logical one nonetheless: what can we expect from Infamous Glory in the upcoming time?
We are not. As I said, we try to fit the band in our lives the best way we can. It’s not always easy and things get in the way, the secret is not to worry about it and go with the flow. So the future is the same, we want to play more, in different places and not take years to release new music. Let’s see what happens.
Alright, that is it for now, Kexo, thanks again for your answers. In proper tradition, I’d like to give you the chance of rounding off this interview with some final words of your own…
I want to thank you very much for the space to share some words with you guys! And hope you all dig our new album, it was made with a lot of passion and devotion for Death Metal. And also hope you all dive deep into the Brazilian scene, there is a lot to discover here. Cheers!
