Blasted Mechanism

Blasted Mechanism emerged in the mid-nineties as an unmistakable presence in Portuguese music, their hybrid style weaving global sonic threads around a funk-rock core, their visual presentation shifting radically with each record, and their identities shielded behind both masks and pseudonyms. The project coalesced in 1994 around the only two members who would remain constant—lead vocalist Karkov and multi-instrumentalist Valdjiu—initially operating as a funk-metal outfit clearly modeled on the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Early gigs quickly built a modest yet fiercely loyal following while attracting initial media attention.

Recognizing the constraints of that direction, the musicians set out to forge a singular identity. Valdjiu introduced the bambuleco, his custom eight-string instrument that merged guitar and bass functions, while the group’s deepening fascination with world music supplied additional ingredients for a sweeping sonic overhaul. The decisive transformation arrived in 1996, when the band adopted a mutant-alien persona and began performing exclusively in masks, vowing never to appear publicly or allow photographs without them and withholding their legal names from the public.

This theatrical commitment immediately translated into arresting live shows that swelled their audience and intensified critical interest. A three-track EP issued that autumn drew widespread praise as the most original Portuguese release of the year. Sustained touring throughout 1997 and 1998, amplified by their masked spectacle, kept momentum high. At the close of 1998 the Balayashi mini-album expanded the earlier EP with two fresh tracks, heightening anticipation for a full-length debut. Plasma arrived in 1999, introducing stronger electronica elements and refined production values that earned near-universal acclaim; consistent with the alien mythology, the artwork unveiled an entirely new visual aesthetic.

Further electronic explorations surfaced in 2000 with the remix collection Mix 00, yet the band’s second proper album, Namaste, did not appear until 2003. Bolstered by loyal crowds accumulated through relentless touring and by tighter songwriting, Namaste became their first release to chart. That same year they earned one of five nominations for Best Portuguese Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Two years later, Avatara topped the national chart and received gold certification within its first fortnight. Valdjiu also unveiled his second invention, the three-armed kalachakra, which fused his original bambuleco with sitar and harp components. Sound in Light, the group’s fourth studio album, followed in 2007.