We all know that Brazil has always been one of the most prolific lands for old school metal, giving birth to dozens of great underground bands since the 80’s. One of those bands is the powerful MX, which started in 1985 in the region of ABC, in São Paulo, delivering an awesome thrash metal music in insane and now classic records like “Simoniacal” or “Mental Slavery”, besides being part of a memorable compilation called “Headthrashers Live”. After a long hiatus, in 2012 they decided to come back to the scene and are now ready to release their fifth full-length named “Relapse”, which presents some of their old classic songs re-recorded. So, let’s see what they have to tell us after this 12-year break.

1. Hello, my friend! It’s really cool to be here interviewing one of the legends of the Brazilian thrash metal scene, the mighty MX. Thanks a lot! How do you do?

MX: Alright my friend, we appreciate it!

2. Well, how is it be active again in the scene, doing live gigs, recording and getting in touch with everybody? How many years did MX stay inactive?

MX: We stopped for 15 years, and it is difficult, after so long really stopped, physically speaking, to reactivate a band. After all, we're young gentlemen now, HAHAHAHA!!!

3. What has happened when you decided to stop your activities? Did you had any personal issue, like family or work, or were you disillusioned about the scene?

MX: After Décio left the band, we were a long time trying keep it with a new line-up, but everything changed very quickly and we were not in the same path and vibration as before. We did cool things during this period, but the band ceased to be the focus for the members. Then, the rest you already know.

4. What about the new album, which is going to be called “Relapse”? Why did you decide to record old classic songs of the band instead of new tracks and how did you choose the songs?

MX: MX is remembered even today due to the first 2 albums, but the quality of their recording is very bad, so we wanted to show new headbangers who knew only the MX name our songs with better quality. We did a poll asking to old fans what songs should we record.

5. I’ve read somewhere that Katon de Pena was going to feature as guest in one track. Did this special partnership happen? How was it?

MX: Katon was in Brazil when we started recording and went to the show and talked about him singing some of our songs and he was very excited about the idea. So we sent him the file, but we had no response. Do not ask me what happened!!

6. You also had João Gordo as a guest in “Fighting for the bastards”. Is he an old friend of the band? I also think this is something that sounds good for me, because this shows that metal and punk have always been part of the same underground scene. Do you still believe that idea of metal-punk union?

MX: Yes, Gordo is an old friend of the band and it was sensational his participation in “Fighting for the Bastards”. As for Metal and Punk, well, in my opinion, music should never have any kind of rivalry.

7. Well, you got started in 1985, when things were pretty different comparing to our present days. How was to make a band back then? What was your idea at that time? Have you ever imagined that you would be playing thrash metal until now?

MX: Well, it was the decade that thrash metal was created and obviously there was no internet yet, nor MTV and in Brazil everything came too late, so everything was new. Looking by this side, it was really cool.

8. Your first demos are really great and sound perfect up to these days. Didn’t you think about the possibility of re-releasing this stuff?

MX: There are some record labels and distributors, including European ones, that already proposed this idea, we are thinking about it!

9. In 1986, the only way to spread music was by tape-trading by mail. Was MX into this practice too? Did you get in touch with people from other countries too or mainly with the Brazilian penpals?

MX: We were very immature at that time, different from a band like Sepultura for example, who were much more aware of how the business worked, so all contact with other countries was done by our label. After a long time, we found they had hidden many important information from us, including proposals for tours and etc... cool huh??

10. Can you still remember the countries with which you were in contact back then? And how did they react to MX’s music?

MX: I remember some European radio stations where MX was in the top 10, amazing! But as I said, we only learned later!

11. Your first demo, “The carrion of religion” (1986), has a version with 9 songs, almost as long as a full-length. It seems that you spent a long time doing your own songs, didn’t you? Didn’t you start making covers, as many bands use to do?

MX: From the beginning we wanted to make our own music, we played some covers, but it has never been our focus.

12. Listening to “The carrion of religion”, I have the impression that you had some death metal influences too, but we know that, in the 80’s, the boundaries among the genres was not clearly defined. Do you think that this indefinition explains my impression or were you really influenced by the first death metal acts that were born circa 1985, 1986?

MX: I do not know, never thought about it. We wanted to make a fast and heavy sound and we hardly listened to Death Metal bands, we liked more Slayer, Metallica, Exodus etc.

13. By the way, which were the bands that influenced you, the basic Bay Area/German thrash scheme or did you alredy have access to more underground bands?

MX: Yes, the bands I mentioned above and surely the German Metal also, like Destruction, Kreator etc...

14. The second demo, “Fighting for the bastards”, released in 1987, shows a more clean production and has a more professional aspect too. At that time, did you dream that you could make a living out of metal and have a career as musicians?

MX: It was the dream that we had!

15. Despite being recorded in a professional studio, I guess you had some problems to make a record like that in 1987. Can you tell more about that conditions of recording?

MX: They were poor, since there were no sound technicians who knew how to work with metal in Brazil. To give you an idea, we had to take a few albums from bands like Slayer or something for these people to understand what we wanted.

16. By the way, I saw the front cover of this 1987 demo and it has the label of the now defunct Fucker Records. Did they support this release financially or was it independent?

MX: Fucker Records always supported our expenses of recording, distribution and merchandise, we can not complain about that part.

17. Well, you also had a thrilling underground scene around the region of ABC, in São Paulo, with bands like Cova, Necromancia nd Blasphemer, with which you recorded the great compilation “Headthrashers Live” in 1987. How was this boiling scene? Do you still remember any good stories you lived with all this bands and metalheads?

MX: Yes, many stories, drunkenness, these crazy parties with many other bands.

18. The compilation “Headthrashers” is a classic nowadays and many people would fight to have it in their hands. Was it re-released later? Is there any chance that this could happen?

MX: We recently knew that was released in some countries in South America, but that would be with the Fucker Records.

19. How was the invitation for this recording back then? Was it a kind of dream coming true to see your name in a professional full-length?

MX: Actually, Fucker Records promoted that show with 4 bands and the one that would stand out more would sign a contract for an entire album.

20. What happened after the release of the compilation? Did it help to launch your career in the underground? Looking backwards, what is the importance of that compilation for the band and also for the Brazilian scene?

MX: Well, the band chosen was MX and then we recorded our first 2 albums!

21. In 1988, you released “Simoniacal”, another classic album in the history of the international thrash metal scene. Do you remember what this album represented for you at that time? Did it take your name really far?

MX: We knew it was a strong album, but we were surprised by its acceptance.

22. After this album, you recorded “Mental slavery” (1989). I have the impression that this album was not as successful as the debut, but maybe this happened because there was a reaction against thrash metal in the deep underground at that time, when bands like Metallica and Anthrax – and even Sepultura – started to call the attention of the mainstream and many freaks of the underground kind of stopped listening to thrash. Do you agree with this?

MX: Instead, the band continued to grow, leading some members to choose between life on the road or forming a common family, and so the second option won!

23. What about your third full-length, “Again”? It was released in 1997, when thrash metal seemed to be dead in the metal scene and black metal was in full ascension. Did this affect the result of the release in terms of popularity and acceptance in the underground? Why did this play take such a long time to be released?

MX: Constant changes in the line-up, and lso we did not have another label to help the release financially.

24. Do you also think that the fact that the labels and the media started to pay attention to grunge and other alternative rock styles during the 90’s helped to decrease the popularity of metal?

MX: No doubt!

25. Why did your last release has the name of “The last file”. Did you already know that the band would split up at the time of its release?

MX: Yes, secession was right, but the name has a double meaning, because the lyrics speak a lot about the decay of our planet, then ....

26. Why did you decide finally to come back in 2012? Have you tried to come back before this?

MX: We decided to come back, because we could count upon all the members who started with this band over 30 years ago. If we were not all together, we would not be back.

27. And which are the differences you perceive now? Is internet real bad or does it depend on the way we use it? And in terms of audience, do you notice too many differences?

MX: The internet is a wonderful thing, but it can also be your doom! It depends on how you use it.

28. Personally, what has changed in your mind since the 80’s in relation to the band and the scene? Do you think you have a different view nowadays? And how is your present view?

MX: We all change, not in essence, but we would not be back. Maybe nowadays we have a few extra pounds and less hair, but ok! HAHAHAHAHA.

29. You have been doing lots of shows from North to South in Brazil, including far away lands, like Manaus, for example. How have these gigs been? And how was the experience of playing almost in the middle of the Amazon Forest, where I know there is a huge and strong scene?

MX: We did our first show in Manaus in 1988, it is one of the best places to play in Brazil, it’s fantastic! I think we've played about 4 or 5 times there, and they all sold out. We are very surprised at the shows we're doing throughout Brazil.

30. Are you happy with this comeback? I mean, how is it to put such an important band on activity again? Do you still feel so enthusiastic as in the 80’s?

MX: Yes, we are very happy and came back to stay!

31. What can we expect from MX for the future? Do you already have new songs ready?

MX: Yes, we're writing and intend to go into the studio soon.

32. Do you wish to play out of Brazil? What about playing in Europe, USA or Latin America? Did you receive any proposal?

MX: Sure, today we can negotiate tours through the internet, as many bands do, but we want to do the right way and we will wait for the right moment.

33. Well, sorry if my interview was too long, but it is impossible not to ask about several subjects for a band with such a great and long history too. Thanks a lot for your attention and patience. Would you like to leave a message or say anything that I didn’t aske before?

MX: Thank you, see you on the road soon.

Cristiano Passos