Holocausto Canibal

Holocausto Canibal
Holocausto Canibal 2014 line-up. Clockwise from top left: Diogo P., Eduardo F., Z. Pedro and António C.
Background information
Origin	Portugal
Genres	Grindcore, Goregrind
Years active	1997 (1997)–present
Labels	Bizarre Leprous Production
Website	Gorefilia.com
Members	Z. Pedro Eduardo F. Diogo. P. António C. Ricardo S. (session)
Past members	J. Lamelas Carlos Nuno T. Nuno P. Ivan S. C. Guerra

Holocausto Canibal (Portuguese for Cannibal Holocaust) is a grindcore band based in Rio Tinto, Portugal. Formed in 1997, the band has released one demo, four studio albums, two EPs, three splits and a compilation album and is considered one of the most well known Portuguese extreme metal acts in the scene today.

The band's sound is heavily influenced by such acts as Carcass, Impetigo, Dead Infection, Blood and Deranged, fusing grindcore with some death metal elements, while the lyrics are mainly focused on gore, sexual perversion and paraphilias, all written and sang in Portuguese.

Holocausto Canibal was established in the Fall of 1997 by bassist Z. Pedro, who recruited vocalist Ricardo S., guitar player Nuno P. and drummer J. Lamelas, forming the first official line-up.

Taking its name from Ruggero Deodato's cult horror movie Cannibal Holocaust, the band's logo was created by artist Christophe Szpajdel, who had previously designed the logos for Emperor and Arcturus, among other acts. By choosing this name the band intended to pay homage to the movie and its director, which were the main inspiration for their sound, aesthetics and live performances.

The first songs were created fast and Holocausto Canibal made their first live appearance on March 22, 1998 at the Discoteca Cairo in Oporto .

After a short run of shows throughout the country, the band gathered to record their first and only demo, named "oPus I", which consisted in a rehearsal recording of the band's current set. Released in 1998, "oPus I" received good reviews from the local and national zines and rapidly marked Holocausto Canibal's place in the Portuguese scene.

Still in 1998, Z. Pedro and Nuno P. visited the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Oporto for a photo session to be published in Loud! Magazine (Portugal's biggest metal magazine) first number when they met Prof. José Eduardo Pinto da Costa (a known Portuguese doctor and Professor in the field of forensics), a moment that crucially influenced the band's lyrical approach to gore and horror themes. The Professor gave them an atlas of medicine that has been the main inspiration to their lyrics ever since. These have become known in Portugal for the use of technical terms and subjects and for their complexity.