Massacration is a fictional American heavy metal band created by Brazilian humorists and musicians Bruno Sutter (as vocalist Detonator), Fausto Fanti (as lead guitarist Blondie Hammett), Marco Antônio Alves (as bassist Metal Avenger), Adriano Silva (as rhythm guitarist Headmaster) and Felipe Torres (as drummer Jimmy the Hammer), all of them part of the comedy troupe Hermes & Renato.[1] Heavily influenced by the similar semi-fictional metal act Spinal Tap and self-styled as "a banda da galera" (roughly translated into English as "the people's/crowd's band"), Massacration is a light-hearted parody of heavy metal subculture and "metalhead/headbanger" stereotypes, lampooning the music and aesthetics of such famous metal bands as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Manowar, Sepultura, Angra, among others.[2] The band's music features humorous lyrics written in a combination of intentionally broken English and Portuguese, sung in an exaggerated falsetto by Sutter.

Massacration
The band performing in Fortaleza, 2017
The band performing in Fortaleza, 2017
Background information
OriginFictional: United States
Actual: Brazil
Genres
Years active
  • 2004–2012
  • 2016–present
LabelsFictional: Shusi Records
Actual: Deckdisc, EMI, Top Link Music, Shinigami Records
MembersDetonator (Bruno Sutter)
Red Head Hammett (Franco Fanti)
Metal Avenger (Marco Antônio Alves)
Headmaster (Adriano Silva)
Jimmy the Hammer (Felipe Torres)
Past membersBlondie Hammett (Fausto Fanti)
Websitemassacration.net

Although Silva and Torres are credited as rhythm guitarist and drummer respectively and appear in the group's promotional materials, they are not musicians; rhythm guitar parts were handled by Fausto Fanti (and later, his brother Franco, who replaced him as "Red Head Hammett" following his 2014 death)[3] and drums have been recorded by guest musicians.

History

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Fictional history

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MTV Brasil and Hermes & Renato produced a short, 10-minute mockumentary showcasing the band's fictional backstory in 2005 to promote the release of their then-upcoming debut Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death.[4][5] Massacration's origins trace back to 1979 (in a nod to the same year when Spinal Tap was formed) in the United States, when petty criminal and talented guitarist John "Blondie" Hammett (played by Fausto Fanti), after being arrested for the sixth time, became cellmates with quail smuggler and castrato singer David "Detonator" Sutter (played by Bruno Sutter); united by their mutual tastes on rock and heavy metal music, they soon developed a very strong friendship. Having renounced crime following their release from prison, the duo got acquainted with up-and-coming tambourine player Donald Polai (played by Lecuk Ishida, a producer for MTV at the time who occasionally made one-time appearances for Hermes & Renato's sketches) and they decided to form a band, Death Mania; the trio performed their first gig at a bar south of Phoenix, Arizona, but Death Mania only lasted for a day as Polai soon after committed suicide, apparently influenced by the group's "ominous" name.

 
Massacration in Atibaia in 2007

Crestfallen over the death of their friend, Detonator and Hammett sunk into a deep depression; they eventually became regular customers of popular Italian restaurant Massas Crézio (or "Crézio's Pasta"), where they would constantly binge-eat to the point of growing morbidly obese. Touched by their situation, the restaurant's owner, Italian Brazilian immigrant Crézio, intervened and conceded them a rent-free room at his house where they could live and rehearse until recovering their spirits, and so they overcame their depression and lost all the extra weight they had gained. Motivated to start anew and form another group, they put an ad in a local newspaper looking for personnel; coincidentally, the spots were filled by Crézio's employees Jimmy "The Hammer" Lombardo (played by Felipe Torres), Klaus "Headmaster" Bissonette (played by Adriano Silva) and Rick "Metal Avenger" Banday (played by Marco Antônio Alves). As a homage to Crézio and his restaurant the band was initially christened Massascrézio, but as time went by the name was changed to Massacrézio, Massacrétion and, finally, Massacration.

Shortly after their very first show, Massacration was approached by world-renowned record producer Dick Dornelle (played by then-Hermes & Renato member Gil Brother), who had previously worked with bands and artists such as Queen, Iron Maiden and Michael Jackson. They then signed to his label Shusi Records and spent the following two months (due to the song's "high level of complexity") at a studio in North Carolina to record their first single, "Metal Massacre Attack (Aruê Aruô)", which was a critical and commercial hit, debuting at number one on Billboard Hot 100 – anachronistically in front of contemporary names like Usher, Maroon 5 and Gavin DeGraw – and awarding them a "Gremlin Award". However, success quickly went to Detonator's head and he began squandering the band's fortune on frivolities and inhalants (to which he became strongly addicted), what led to a deterioration of the relations between him and his colleagues. Following a racist joke made by a heavily intoxicated Detonator during a benefit concert in Somalia, the remaining members of Massacration expelled him from the band and returned to their former jobs at Crézio's restaurant, effectively ending the group's activities.

Many years later, Detonator, now a homeless beggar living in obscurity, ran into Hammett by chance; instantly recognizing themselves, they settled their differences and decided to reunite Massacration, recording the singles "Metal Bucetation" and "Metal Milkshake", the latter of which selling over 12 billion copies and awarding them both a "Sixfold Diamond" certification by the RIAA and the elusive "Nobel Prize in Music", which had only been previously given to Mozart, Beethoven and Frank Sinatra. Pleased by their massive success, the "God of Metal" decided to adopt Detonator as his legitimate son, and created for him and his bandmates the paradise of "Metal Land", where they continued to live since.

Amidst Massacration's 2012–16 hiatus, Bruno Sutter gave an interview to newspaper Folha de S.Paulo in-character as Detonator in 2014, explaining that, emboldened by the success of the TV series The Walking Dead, zombies invaded Metal Land and he was forced to escape (in an allusion to the plot of his then-recently released rock opera Metal Folclore: The Zoeira Never Ends...); he and his bandmates were separated, and Blondie Hammett was unfortunately killed during the zombies' raid.[6] When they reunited safely, in 2016, Blondie was replaced by his long-lost brother Red Head Hammett so that they could continue performing.

Real history

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Massacration (initially written as Massacrassion[7]) was conceived in the early 2000s by the Brazilian comedy troupe Hermes & Renato, who at the time had their own sketch comedy television show broadcast by now-defunct MTV Brasil. Even though the band's first televised appearance dates from 2002, it would not be until 2004 when they released their first actual song, accompanied by a music video, "Metal Massacre Attack (Aruê Aruô)"; the success of the music video prompted them to produce more, for the songs "Metal Bucetation" and "Metal Milkshake", and soon after they began performing their first shows, accompanied by then-Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera (under the pseudonym "El Covero") as a live musician.[8]

 
Bruno Sutter (as Detonator, left) and Fausto Fanti (as Blondie Hammett, right) during a performance

In July 2005 they announced their debut, Kings of Metal Fried Chicken of Death, whose title was subsequently changed to Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death;[9] it was initially made available for streaming at MTV Brasil's official website on October 4[10] and released physically through Deckdisc six days later.[11] The album counted with guest appearances by humorist Sérgio Mallandro and Ratos de Porão vocalist João Gordo[12] (who also produced it under the pseudonym "Rick Rubinho", parodying Rick Rubin),[13] and was critically acclaimed upon its release;[14] according to 2006 data, it sold over 40,000 copies.[15] Massacration's success then led them to appear in other MTV programs, such as the humorous football competition Rockgol and the animated series Megaliga MTV de VJs Paladinos [pt]; from 2005 to 2006 they also hosted their own music video program on the network, Total Massacration.

In 2007 the group began work on a follow-up album, Good Blood Headbanguers,[16] but after a series of delays it was only released on October 10, 2009 through EMI;[17][18][19][20] its cover art was officially unveiled to the public three days prior, alongside an outtake from Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death, "Anal Weapon War".[21] Good Blood Headbanguers was produced by Roy Z, known for his work with other metal artists,[22][23] and counted with a guest appearance by brega singer Falcão on the track "The Mummy"; however, it was not as well received as its predecessor.[24]

In 2012, coinciding with Bruno Sutter's departure from Hermes & Renato (then called "Banana Mecânica"), he put Massacration on hold, explaining that "one shouldn't keep on repeating the same joke".[25] At the time, fans speculated that Sutter's decision of leaving the troupe was influenced by his then-girlfriend (and future fiancée) Nyvi Estephan, who received the pejorative nickname of "Yoko Ono" amongst them.[26] Expressing his desire to focus on a more "female-centric" project, he founded in 2013 a new band based around his "Detonator" character, Detonator e as Musas do Metal, of which he is the sole male member;[27][28] their debut album, the rock opera Metal Folclore: The Zoeira Never Ends..., came out the following year.

On July 30, 2014, guitarist Fausto Fanti was found dead by suicide in his apartment.[29][30]

After a four-year hiatus, on May 20, 2016, the band reunited for an award-winning[31] McDonald's commercial promoting their Grand Big Mac hamburger, in which they performed a new song, "Grand Pedido" – a heavy metal cover of the chain's famous "two all-beef patties" jingle.[32][33] Fausto Fanti's brother Franco, who had replaced him in Hermes & Renato the year prior, also took his position as the band's guitarist under the stage name "Red Head Hammett";[3] Angra and Shaman drummer Ricardo Confessori, and bassist Marco Klein, also joined them as guest musicians under the respective pseudonyms of "El Perro Loco" and "El Mudo".[34] On December 20, 2016, Sutter confirmed that Massacration had officially returned to active, and that they intended to release more music in the future.[35][36]

On June 1, 2017, the band released a new single, "Metal MILF", alongside a music video which counted with a guest appearance by model and DJ Sabrina Boing Boing.[37][38] Later that year their first live album/DVD, Live Metal Espancation, came out amidst overwhelmingly positive reception,[39] being chosen by magazine Roadie Crew the best metal DVD of 2017.[40][41] Also in 2017, in-character as Detonator, Bruno Sutter was a guest vocalist on the single "Metal for Demons" by Florianópolis-based one-man band Xakol; the song was described by frontman Saulo Castilho as a tribute to Massacration.[42][43]

In November 2018, Massacration took part in a "mini-tour" through Southeast Brazil alongside Angra and Tuatha de Danann.[44]

2019 saw the release of another single, "Motormetal",[45][46] followed by "Metal Galera" in 2020.[47] To celebrate the Brazilian holiday of World Rock Day on July 13, 2023, the band released the single "Metal Is My Life",[48] and later that year, on December 1, "Metal Warferas" came out, which had its music video shot at the Beto Carrero World amusement park.[49]

On December 15, 2023, Sutter announced that Massacration began work on a third studio album, entitled Metal Is My Life, released on July 12, 2024;[50][51] four days prior, on July 8, the single "Revenge of the Bull" came out as a teaser.[52]

Band members

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Current members

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Actual members
  • Detonator (Bruno Sutter) – vocals (2004–2012, 2016–present)
  • Metal Avenger (Marco Antônio Alves) – bass guitar (2004–2012), lead guitar (2016–present)
  • Red Head Hammett (Franco Fanti) – rhythm guitar (2016–present)
Fictional members
  • Headmaster (Adriano Silva) – rhythm guitar
  • Jimmy the Hammer (Felipe Torres) – drums

Former members

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  • Blondie Hammett (Fausto Fanti) – lead guitar, rhythm guitar (2004–2012, died 2014)

Live/session musicians

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  • Straupelator (Fernando Lima) – drums (2004–2012, 2020–present)[53]
  • El Covero (Igor Cavalera) – drums (2004)
  • El Perro Loco (Ricardo Confessori) – drums (2016–2020)
  • El Mudo (Marco Klein) – bass guitar (2016–present)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums
Live/video album
Singles
Year Single Album
2004 "Metal Massacre Attack (Aruê Aruô)" Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death
2004 "Metal Bucetation" Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death
2004 "Metal Milkshake" Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death
2005 "Metal Is the Law" Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death
2005 "Cereal Metal" Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death
2006 "Evil Papagali" Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death
2009 "Anal Weapon War" Non-album song[a]
2009 "Hammercage Hotdog Hell" Good Blood Headbanguers
2009 "Sufocators [sic] of Metal" Good Blood Headbanguers
2009 "The Bull" Good Blood Headbanguers
2009 "The Mummy" (feat. Falcão) Good Blood Headbanguers
2016 "Grand Pedido" Non-album song
2017 "Metal MILF" Non-album song[a]
2019 "Motormetal" Non-album song[a]
2020 "Metal Galera" Non-album song[a]
2023 "Metal Is My Life" Metal Is My Life
2023 "Metal Warferas" Metal Is My Life
2024 "Revenge of the Bull" Metal Is My Life

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Eventually re-recorded for 2024's Metal Is My Life

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "'Maior banda de metal do mundo', Massacration anuncia turnê pelo Brasil". UOL (in Portuguese). April 10, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Luciano Schneider (August 22, 2019). "Massacration: tosco, politicamente incorreto e absurdamente engraçado". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Marcelo Moreira (April 17, 2017). "Massacration está de volta: a piada é boa, mas é velha". Combate Rock (in Portuguese). Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Lucas Steinmetz Moita (April 2, 2019). "Bruno Sutter: a origem do Massacration e do Hermes & Renato". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "Rockstória do Massacration". YouTube. May 15, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Thiago Rahal Mauro (November 11, 2014). "Detonator lança álbum solo e diz que Massacration foi 'engolido por zumbis'". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "Metal Massacre Attack (Aruê Aruô)". YouTube. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Larissa Catharine Oliveira (June 24, 2021). "Quando Iggor Cavalera foi baterista do Massacration: 'Temos ódio dos metaleiros idiotas'". Wikimetal (in Portuguese). Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "Massacration lançará primeiro álbum de estúdio em outubro". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). July 12, 2005. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Bruno R. Pereti (October 4, 2005). "Ouça o primeiro álbum do Massacration no site da MTV". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death". Deckdisc (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  12. ^ Gustavo Maiato (August 4, 2022). "João Gordo diz que Fausto não gostava que ele metesse o bedelho no Massacration". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tudo de bom". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). October 17, 2005. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Rafael Carnovale (November 9, 2005). "Resenha - Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death - Massacration". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Massacration gravando clipe para 'Evil Papagali'". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). July 4, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  16. ^ "Massacration inicia as gravações do novo álbum - Rock Online". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  17. ^ Bruno Sutter (April 5, 2009). "Confirmado! Segundo disco do Massacration será lançado até o final do primeiro semestre!!!!". MTV Brasil (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  18. ^ Renato Tribuzy (June 8, 2009). "Massacration assina contrato com EMI". Collectors Room (in Portuguese). Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  19. ^ Rodrigo Monteiro (October 9, 2009). "Massacration lança novo álbum amanhã". Omelete (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  20. ^ Diego Marques (October 9, 2009). "Massacration volta com disco novo: Good Blood Headbanguers". Cifra Club News (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  21. ^ Fábio Martiniano (October 7, 2009). "Massacration, divulgada capa de segundo álbum, e música inédita". Besouros.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  22. ^ "Novo álbum do Massacration já tem título". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). May 30, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  23. ^ Carlos Eduardo Correia (May 31, 2007). "Novo álbum do Massacration será produzido por Roy Z". Delfos (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  24. ^ Amauri Stamboroski Jr. (October 21, 2009). "Massacration repete a piada com Good Blood Headbanguers – veja lançamentos". G1 (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  25. ^ Itaici Brunetti (April 16, 2015). "Detonator fala sobre Saci Pererê, Alexandre Frota e de sua nova transformação: o DetonaThor". Vírgula (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  26. ^ "Repórter do BBB 20, Nyvi Estephan foi noiva de humorista de Hermes & Renato". Extra (in Portuguese). January 17, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  27. ^ "'Filho do Deus Metal', Detonator come morcego e fala sobre novo CD". UOL (in Portuguese). July 10, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  28. ^ Sílvio Essinger (August 1, 2013). "Apoteose e glória de Detonator". O Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  29. ^ "Fausto Fanti, humorista do Hermes & Renato, é encontrado morto em SP". G1 (in Portuguese). July 30, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  30. ^ Samuel Coutinho (July 30, 2014). "Massacration: humorista Fausto Fanti é encontrado morto". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  31. ^ André Luiz (December 23, 2016). "Massacration: prêmio de marketing por campanha do McDonald's". Metal Revolution (in Portuguese). Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  32. ^ "Massacration retorna pelo Grand Big Mac". Meio e Mensagem (in Portuguese). May 20, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  33. ^ Tony Alex (May 21, 2016). "'Grand Pedido': Massacration se reúne para comercial do Big Mac". Tenho Mais Discos que Amigos (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  34. ^ Jorge Almeida (October 11, 2020). "Massacration: 15 anos de Gates of Metal Fried Chicken of Death". Cultura & Futebol (in Portuguese). Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  35. ^ Damaris Hoffman (December 20, 2016). "Massacration: Top Link Music anuncia retorno do grupo". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  36. ^ Laís Ribeiro (December 21, 2016). "Uma boa notícia: Massacration voltará aos palcos em 2017". Tenho Mais Discos que Amigos (in Portuguese). Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  37. ^ Tony Alex (June 12, 2017). "Massacration lança clipe de 'Metal MILF' com Sabrina Boing Boing". Tenho Mais Discos que Amigos (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  38. ^ Jacídio Junior (June 1, 2017). "Massacration lança clipe inédito de 'Metal MILF'". Omelete (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  39. ^ Fernando R. R. Júnior. "Massacration - Live Metal Espancation". Rock on Stage (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  40. ^ "Massacration: Live Metal Espancation eleito melhor DVD de 2017". Rock Bizz (in Portuguese). March 15, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  41. ^ Damaris Hoffman (March 21, 2018). "Massacration: Live Metal Espancation eleito melhor DVD na Roadie Crew". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  42. ^ "Xakol: confira lyric video para 'Metal for Demons' (feat. Detonator)". Rio Metal Press (in Portuguese). September 4, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  43. ^ "Xakol - Metal for Demons". Portal do Inferno (in Portuguese). October 10, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  44. ^ "Angra, Massacration e Tuatha de Danann anunciam miniturnê pelo Sudeste". RockBizz (in Portuguese). September 12, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  45. ^ Pedro Henrique Pinheiro (May 13, 2019). "Massacration lança clipe divertido para a inédita 'Motormetal'; assista". Tenho Mais Discos que Amigos (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  46. ^ Diego Andrade (April 5, 2019). "Massacration lançará música 'Motormetal' para turnê inédita". Imprensa do Rock (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  47. ^ José Norberto Flesch (July 9, 2020). "Massacration mostra novo clipe com exclusividade na SuperLiveNerd Rock". Omelete (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  48. ^ Mateus Ribeiro (July 13, 2023). "Massacration lança vídeo de sua nova música, 'Metal Is My Life'; assista aqui". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  49. ^ Wagner Antonio Garcia Júnior (December 1, 2023). "Massacration: assista ao videoclipe de 'Metal Warferas'". Alternativa Nerd (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  50. ^ Gustavo Maiato (December 15, 2023). "Bruno Sutter confirma novo álbum de estúdio do Massacration após hiato de 14 anos". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  51. ^ Gustavo Maiato (June 18, 2024). "Massacration anuncia novo álbum de estúdio 'Metal Is My Life'". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  52. ^ "Massacration é vítima de suposto vazamento de single 'Revenge of the Bull'". Roadie Crew (in Portuguese). July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  53. ^ Samuel Coutinho (February 15, 2015). "Massacration: saiba quem é o baterista que tocava 'de verdade'". Whiplash.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved November 6, 2021.
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