Those privy to metal music history know that Brazil’s musical roots extend beyond its world-class bossa nova and samba traditions. In fact, during the ‘80s, the country went through its own thrash-metal movement and bred some of the genre’s most influential groups, like Sepultura. Nervosa, an all-female thrash death metal group, emerged from São Paulo in 2010 and set its sights on dominating the international metal scene.
Over the years, Nervosa has undergone several lineup changes, but guitarist and founding member Prika Amaral has steadfastly driven the project forward. Amaral aims to refine and revolutionize the group’s blistering speed riffs, technically demanding drum sequences and heart-pumping bass lines by recruiting and playing with well-respected musicians. And with a discography that includes five studio albums and one EP, Nervosa has cemented its stance as an undying force to be reckoned with.
On latest album Jailbreak, released via Napalm Records in 2023, Amaral’s talent goes beyond her guitar-shredding abilities as she takes on vocals. ”I never planned to be a singer … I never wanted to be a singer,” Amaral tells the Weekly. Could’ve fooled us. Her screeching high notes are enough to wake the dead and her low, guttural grumbles are enough to ease them back into their graves. Backing her on Jailbreak is Michaela Naydenova on drums, Hel Pyre on bass and Helena Kotina on guitar. And their collaborative efforts and brash creativity have resulted in one of the band’s most acclaimed collection of songs.
Besides Amaral’s presence on the mic, the second biggest change to Nervosa’s sound on Jailbreak is the addition of a second guitarist, which creates another dynamic layer of melody.
“Seed of Death” opens with a beautifully atmospheric and tuneful guitar line reminiscent of early Pantera, which soon grows and combusts into ungodly speeds, thundering range and solo riffage. The title track has an immediate gusto that showcases each member’s respective talents.
Jailbreak also features impressive guest appearances on “When The Truth is a Lie” and “Superstition Failed.” The contributions come from Gary Holt, the legendary guitarist from American thrash pioneer band Exodus, and vocalist Lena Scissorhands from Infected Rain and Death Dealer Union. These connections left the band in awe of how far they’ve come.
“Gary Holt was very accessible, very friendly and was happy with the invitation … we could not believe it ... this is a dream come true,” Amaral says. “And Lena, I’ve been following her since we played together in 2017—she’s super talented, and we were looking for a woman to participate because we always have been an all female band, so why not?”
Nervosa is now embarking on its first North American headlining tour in support of Jailbreak. The relentless excursion will stretch 40 shows across 47 days, including a stop in Downtown Las Vegas. Joining them on the road are Lich King, a band that Amaral met at 70000Tons of Metal—a five-day heavy metal festival that takes place aboard a cruise ship—and Hatriot, a metal quartet with whom Amaral shares mutual music friends, and considers herself a longtime fan.
“Nervosa, Lich King and Hatriot —we all have something in common, which is thrash metal being our roots,” says Amaral. “But we are more than thrash; we have the flexibility to use other elements. We are the new generation of metal—we’re like new old-school bands.”
NERVOSA With Lich King, Hatriot, Claustrofobia. September 11, 7 p.m., $25. The Usual Place, dice.fm.
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