Venomous feat. Fernanda Lira & May Puertas – Nothing To Say

A Fierce Homage to a Brazilian Metal Landmark

Venomous revisit Angra’s “Nothing to Say,” a signature track from the 1996 album Holy Land, with a lineup that unites voices from across contemporary Brazilian extreme metal. Fronted here by Fernanda Lira (Crypta, ex-Nervosa) and May Puertas (Torture Squad), the session honors the song’s technical legacy while channeling a harsher vocal edge. The result pays respect to a formative classic and frames it through the weight and urgency of modern heavy music.

Why “Nothing to Say” Still Matters

Holy Land marked a pivotal moment in Brazilian metal, positioning Angra on the international stage with a blend of progressive ambition, power metal precision, and nods to regional musical language. “Nothing to Say” became a touchstone for its speed, intricate harmonies, and high degree of instrumental discipline. Any band stepping into this material contends with brisk tempos, quick shifts, and guitar arrangements that reward razor-sharp phrasing. It also presents an interpretive question. Do you preserve the crystalline sheen of the original, or lean into the grit of a new era?

Vocal Firepower, Recontextualized

Bringing Lira and Puertas into the fold reframes the track around focused aggression. Both vocalists are rooted in extreme metal, yet they approach heaviness with precision and control. Their timbres carve into the arrangement without obscuring the complex guitar figures that define the song. The duet format opens space for contrast, whether through alternating passages or shared intensity, and it highlights how a composition associated with melodic clarity can absorb harsher textures without losing its melodic spine. The articulation remains key, and both singers balance bite with intelligibility.

Guitars That Honor the Blueprint

The triple-guitar setup of Guilherme Mateus, Ivan Landgraf, and Gui Calegari underpins the cover’s success. “Nothing to Say” lives and dies by synchronized lines and bright, singing harmonies, so accuracy and tone discipline are paramount. The players keep those traits in the foreground, locking tight rhythm figures to melodic motifs and leaving room for lead statements to bloom. The interplay emphasizes clarity in picking attack and phrasing, which preserves the song’s neoclassical tilt while allowing for a modern weight in the mids and low end. The approach feels respectful to the original arrangement without sounding archival.

Rhythm Section Control and Momentum

Alex Bonal on bass and Lucas Prado on drums supply the forward thrust that the piece requires. The bass stays present and supportive, gluing the guitars and percussion while retaining definition in busy passages. Prado’s drumming aims for precision and punch, addressing fast transitions with clean accents and steady cymbal work. The performance avoids overstatement, opting instead for movement that keeps the arrangement tight and propulsive.

Studio Focus and Visual Framing

Recorded at Dual Noise Studios in São Paulo, Brazil, the session captures a balance of detail and impact. The mix by Rogerio Wecko emphasizes articulation, placing the guitars and vocals in clear relief without losing the drive of the rhythm section. The visual piece by Caike Scheffer complements that focus, framing the intensity of the musicianship and the interplay between the two vocalists. Production choices throughout keep the cover grounded in performance, with minimal distractions and a clear sense of purpose.

Context Within Brazil’s Heavy Lineage

This version reads as both tribute and translation. It acknowledges a cornerstone of Brazilian progressive and power metal, then filters it through a contemporary lens that reflects the country’s thriving extreme scene. Featuring members associated with Crypta and Torture Squad reinforces that continuum. The cover extends a conversation that began in the 1990s, reaffirming how durable songwriting can shift aesthetics and still communicate its core energy. For listeners who grew up with Holy Land, it invites a fresh look. For newer fans, it serves as a gateway to a foundational era.

Credits

Vocals: Fernanda Lira (Crypta, ex-Nervosa)
Vocals: May Puertas (Torture Squad)
Guitar: Guilherme Mateus
Guitar: Ivan Landgraf
Guitar: Gui Calegari
Bass: Alex Bonal
Drums: Lucas Prado
Recorded at: Dual Noise Studios, São Paulo, Brazil
Mixing: Rogerio Wecko
Video: Caike Scheffer

Contact: venomousoficial@gmail.com