Torture Squad

Infobox musical artist
Name = Torture Squad


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Origin = São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Genre = Thrash metal, Death metal
Years_active = 1990–present
Label = Paradoxx
Associated_acts = Eternal Malediction
Infector
In Hell
Krisiun
Zoltar
URL = [http://www.torturesquad.com.br/ www.torturesquad.com.br]
Current_members = Castor
Vitor Rodrigues
Amílcar Christófaro
Augusto Lopes
Past_members = Marcelo Dirceu
Cristiano Fusco
Marcelo Fusco
Fúlvio Pelli
Mauricio Nogueira

Torture Squad is a Brazilian death/thrash metal band. The band has been around since 1990 and to this date they have released five studio albums and one live album. The band released their newest album,titled "Hellbound" in 2008.

Biography

The band's "professional" line-up (MK II) started sometime in 1993 with founder Cristiano Fusco playing guitar, Wagner "Castor" as the bass player, Amilcar Christofaro as drummer and Vitor Rodrigues as the frontman and vocalist. This more stable configuration allowed them to rehearse and dedicate their time to find places where to play. Their touring circuit started in and around São Paulo and soon they composed enough material for a demo, released in the same year (A Soul in Hell). Their influences include musicians like Rush, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Motörhead, Slayer, the avant-garde Swiss metal band Coroner, and other acts like Sadus, Death, Terrorizer, Morbid Angel, Napalm Death and Deicide. In their songs their themes vary, covering things like war, torture, death, civil unrest, politics, religion and UFOs.

hivering

Their first CD, Shivering, caused a minor sensation in Brazil's underground scene. Despite the intense and heavy songs in the CD, it suffered from poor production (as it was recorded in an amateurish mobile studio in Vila Mariana, in the south end of São Paulo).

Asylum of Shadows

Torture Squad's break-through came with Asylum of Shadows, a CD that more clearly showed that they are a talented band bent on putting together the best moments of many Metal acts from the past while making a record that is both innovative and dynamic. The reviews were very positive and so was the feedback from listeners.

The Unholy Spell and the first tour in Germany

So after more concerts around São Paulo and other major urban centers in Brazil, they gathered more momentum with The Unholy Spell (2001) which catalyzed their best moment thus far. That record came shortly after Torture Squad's first tour in Germany, with their friends from Stuttgart, GRIN. The record defined the band as a major force in Brazil's metal scene, attracting the attention of new fans and media.

Cristiano's departure and the first Brazilian tour

Then in 2002 Cristiano left the band (his last performance was recorded as a TV appearance in São Paulo's public state broadcaster, TV Cultura), as he chose to pursue a career in insurance brokerage. They ended up hiring old-time friend Mauricio Nogueira (a seasoned studio musician who played for Krisiun as well as other local bands like In Hell and Zoltar). Once Mauricio was made a full-time member of the band, they went on their first Brazilian tour, playing in most urban centers and state capitals.

Pandemonium

Pandemonium was released in 2003, once again produced by Marcello Pompeu (Korzus) and it made a splash in the underground (reviews of the CD from metal-archives.com were very positive). The CD was further supported by a TV video clip for "Pandemonium" and "Horror and Torture". The band played once again all over Brazil, making new fans and consolidating their presence among older fans as well.

European tour and Wacken metal battle in 2007

Then in 2006 Torture Squad embarked on a European tour, headlining in 16 towns in Germany and 4 in Austria, ending their tour in Altenmarkt-im-Pongau, about 60km from Salzburg. After such successful tour, they played in more cities in Brazil until they participated in the Brazilian pre-selection for the famed Wacken Open Air festival. They eventually won the final in Brasilia and that gave them the spot to represent Brazil at Wacken Battle of the Bands 2007.

Victory on Wacken metal battle, a new contract

So they went ahead and won the Battle of the Bands in Wacken, having competed against 15 other bands. That meant they had a new contract, this time around with Armageddon Records (Germany) as well as a brand new Dean guitar and a Marshall pre-amp (since Mauricio also won the "best guitar player" award during the competition).

Hellbound

Their next album, intitled "Hellbound", was released in May 2008 by Armageddon.

Before that, Mauricio Nogueira left the band for personal reasons and Augusto Lopes (Eternal Malediction) was announced as the new guitarist.

As of April 2008, Torture Squad has embarked on a 60-date European tour starting on April 4 in Darmstadt, Germany and finishing on August 30 in Wachtebeke, in northern Belgium. They will also play at Wacken Open Air.

Discography

* "Shivering" (1995)
* "Asylum of Shadows" (1999)
* "The Unholy Spell" (2001)
* "Pandemonium" (2003)
* "Death, Chaos and Torture Alive" (2004)
* "Chaos Corporation" (2007)
* "Hellbound" (2008)

Videography

* "Death, Chaos and Torture Alive" (2004)

Band members

Current members

*Amílcar Christófaro (1993-present) - Drums
*Castor (1993-present) - Bass
*Vitor Rodrigues (1993-present) - Vocals
*Augusto Lopes (2008-present) - Guitar

Former members

*Mauricio Nogueira (2002-2008) - Guitars
*Cristiano Fusco (1990-2002) - Guitars
*Marcelo Fusco (1990-1993) - Drums
*Marcelo Dirceu (1990-1993) - Bass
*Fúlvio Pelli (1993) - Guitars

External links

* [http://www.torturesquad.com.br/ Official website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ6KKlU4WtI YouTube - Horror and Torture - Official Videoclip (2003)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOHSD6ZrigM YouTube - Abduction was the Case - Live Broadcast @ TV Cultura (2001)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6w21-t_a1Y YouTube - Live TV appearance @ Sleevers (2004)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MPQL0G9JdA YouTube - The Unholy Spell - Live at Musikaos Festival (2006)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vVci0LGlwM YouTube - Pandemonium - Official Videoclip (2003)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnADc3QrHF0 YouTube - Live at Metal Rebellion Festival - Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil August 12 2006]
* [http://www.myspace.com/torturesquadband MySpace Band Site]