Biography
Deaf Kids emerged from Brazil as an experimental rock outfit whose sound fuses heavy metal, noise rock, psychedelia, Latin and African traditions, and hardcore punk into one distinctive whole. Guitarist Douglas Leal, born in Volta Redonda near Rio de Janeiro, launched the project in 2010 as a solo d-beat endeavor. Working alone in the studio, Leal maintained an unusually high output. His first release, the self-titled album, came out in June 2011 and was followed soon after by the EP 6 Heretic Anthems for the Deaf. A split EP with O Mito da Caverna appeared in September 2012, then the limited-edition single Truth/Freedom arrived in April 2013. The second album, The Upper Hand, surfaced in October 2013, while the cassette-only I Am the Sickness closed the year.
In 2014 the lineup underwent a decisive shift. Leal moved from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo, and Deaf Kids expanded into a full band with the arrival of bassist Marcelo Dos Santos and drummer Robinho, the latter quickly succeeded by Mariano de Melo. With live performances now feasible, the group’s reputation grew within international metal and underground circles as online attention spread their music globally. The 2015 release Ao Longo dos Dias Um Tanto Danificado earned favorable notices, and the European tour that followed was captured on the 2016 LP Live in Slovenija.
Blog enthusiasm and strong notices for the 2016 cassette Configuração do Lamento prompted Neurosis guitarist Steve Von Till to investigate the band, after which he became a committed supporter. Von Till reached out, brought Deaf Kids to his Neurot Recordings imprint, and oversaw vinyl and CD editions of Configuração do Lamento. He also invited them to open Neurosis’s inaugural Brazilian concert, an opportunity that directly led to a headlining South American tour.
In 2014 the lineup underwent a decisive shift. Leal moved from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo, and Deaf Kids expanded into a full band with the arrival of bassist Marcelo Dos Santos and drummer Robinho, the latter quickly succeeded by Mariano de Melo. With live performances now feasible, the group’s reputation grew within international metal and underground circles as online attention spread their music globally. The 2015 release Ao Longo dos Dias Um Tanto Danificado earned favorable notices, and the European tour that followed was captured on the 2016 LP Live in Slovenija.
Blog enthusiasm and strong notices for the 2016 cassette Configuração do Lamento prompted Neurosis guitarist Steve Von Till to investigate the band, after which he became a committed supporter. Von Till reached out, brought Deaf Kids to his Neurot Recordings imprint, and oversaw vinyl and CD editions of Configuração do Lamento. He also invited them to open Neurosis’s inaugural Brazilian concert, an opportunity that directly led to a headlining South American tour.
Albums
