Release date: Out Now

If you’ve been following the Brazilian metal scene over the past few decades, you might assume that the real gold lies in either the soaring melodies of Power Metal acts like Viper, Angra, Shaman, and Noturnall (okay, this one isn’t 100% Power Metal—before someone feels like complaining about it) or the unrelenting ferocity of Sarcófago, Sepultura, Korzus, Krisiun, and, more recently, Nervosa and Crypta. And honestly? I wouldn’t blame you. Growing up in Brazil, it almost felt inevitable that anyone starting a band in the last 25 years would gravitate toward what has worked so well for us: either the grandeur of Melodic Power Metal or the raw aggression of Death and Thrash.

In any case, I have some (old) news for you: we have a lot of kick-ass Traditional Metal bands – and always have! Some quick names I can throw in of bands doing a great job in this realm in the more recent years are Nightwölf, Chromeskull, Creatures, Hellway Train, Goaten, Trovão, Sinal de Ataque, RezakK, HellhoundZ (unfortunately, not active anymore), and even yours truly has a humble project leaning towards Classic Metal, called Paranoia Church. So, we are alive and kicking! Want more? Guess what, since 2023 our legion got more firepower with Wild Storm!

Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, Wild Storm is a rising force in the Heavy/Power Metal scene, delivering a thunderous blend of aggressive riffing, soaring vocals, and battle-hardened themes. Formed in 2023, the quartet has wasted no time in carving their mark on the Underground. Their 2024 releases, including the demos ‘Pig’s Betrayal‘ and ‘Revolution Machines‘, and the single ‘Legions of Freedom‘, showcase a band with a raw yet polished sound, channeling influences from classic Heavy Metal and modern Power Metal.

Line-Up
Claudio Santana (Vocals)
Emerson Aquino (Guitar)
Diego Cachigian (Bass)
Wagner Barbosa (Drums)

Review

Recorded at Mob Estúdio and mixed and mastered by Anderson Mattiello, their latest single, ‘So Close to Madness‘, is, in my opinion, a considerable leap in quality across all aspects—songwriting, production, performance… It’s kind of crazy to see such a difference, even compared to their last single, in just a little over a year and a half of existence.

This is clearly Traditional Heavy Metal, but with a more modern production and approach—and by modern, I mean late ’90s and early 2000s. This is definitely not a NWOBHM revival; while there are some subtle influences of it here and there, they’re extremely discreet. The bands that come to mind when listening to this track are names like Seven Witches, Mob Rules, and others from an era when Classic Metal and Power Metal blurred the lines in an almost incestuous way.

‘So Close to Madness‘ is packed with great guitar riffs, a heavy bass, and you absolutely have to pay attention to the drums—tons of variation and a top-notch performance (check it out around 4:22, during that Mercyful Fate-ish solo).

Claudio also delivers a strong vocal performance. Personally, I prefer when he stays in the lower register, where his voice sounds more aggressive and commanding. When he switches to his falsetto—which echoes one of my favourite singers of all time (and if you’ve read any of my other reviews, you know I’m talking about Mr. Bendix Petersen)—I feel it doesn’t quite mesh with Wild Storm’s sound. One possible reason could be the lack of vocal harmonies, something to consider for the future. Perhaps some layered harmonies could add more body to the falsetto. That said, I think the band is still shaping its own sound, and if this is the direction they’re aiming for, then that’s completely valid.

The single is wrapped in cover art by Caio Bakargy, adding a strikingly dramatic visual layer to its war-and-corruption-driven themes, and it is available digitally on Bandcamp, YouTube and on your least favourite streaming services.

Conclusion

With ‘So Close to Madness‘, Wild Storm is one step closer to the spotlight, showing great evolution from their previous material.

If I really have to point something out, from my personal perspective, the track is dynamic, with rhythmic variations, a bunch of cool riffs, and engaging vocal shifts—but it does feel a bit too long. Despite the changes throughout, its straightforward structure makes it feel somewhat repetitive over time. Ending it after the final solo at 4:47 would have been the sweet spot for me. That said, if the band had more to say, right on! I respect their choice.

If ‘So Close to Madness‘ is any indication of where these guys are going, their storm is only beginning to rage.

TheNwothm Score: 7/10

Links

Bandcamp: https://wildstorm1.bandcamp.com/music

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_storm_band/