Korzus

Following the fall of Brazil's extended military dictatorship during the mid-1980s, a once-suppressed and even subversive rock & roll movement surged forward with fresh intensity across the nation. Heavy metal soon gained dedicated standard-bearers in every major urban center, as Rio de Janeiro showcased early trailblazers Dorsal Atlantica, Belo Horizonte hosted the formidable Sepultura, and Sao Paulo, the sprawling metropolis, produced Korzus. The group displayed comparable early potential to the eventual superstars Sepultura despite delivering lyrics in Portuguese rather than English, yet repeated misfortunes paired with one devastating reversal ultimately blocked their route to worldwide recognition.

Marcello Pompeu on vocals, guitarists Silvio Golfetti and Eduardo Toperman, bassist Dick Siebert, and drummer Maurício Brian established Korzus in 1983. Brazilian youth at that moment struggled to align with global currents amid the shift from dictatorship to democracy. The landmark Rock in Rio Festival, which would unleash generational release on a national scale, remained two years distant, while recording contracts proved nearly impossible to secure except for the most mainstream pop performers. Consequently, a ferocious heavy metal outfit such as Korzus could secure only sporadic club performances, enduring near-total obscurity while awaiting any prospect that might arise. That prospect arrived in 1985 when the band contributed two tracks to the pivotal SP Metal II compilation, where they stood out prominently. Without resources or a label contract to cover expensive studio time, Korzus pooled limited funds to capture several live shows that formed the basis of their first release, 1986's Korzus ao Vivo. Toperman and Brian departed soon after, yet new drummer José Mauro "Zema" arrived in time for the second album, 1987's Sonho Maníaco, before taking his own life later that year and leaving the members stunned, with Korzus suspended during recovery from the loss.

The band eventually reassembled and resumed both live performances and recording with renewed force, delivering what many regard as their strongest and most polished effort with 1989's Pay for Your Lies. This marked their initial album entirely in English and introduced new drummer Roberto "Betão" Sileci alongside second guitarist Marcello Nicastro. By then Sepultura had already attained global success by crossing oceans, Brazil had joined the standard touring routes of most international headliners, and attention toward the increasingly dormant domestic metal community had faded sharply. Korzus, however, reached its creative height, releasing another widely praised LP with 1991's Mass Illusion even while lead guitarist Silvio Golfetti stepped in as a substitute for an injured Andreas Kisser on Sepultura's European tour. The remaining members soon followed a similar path, undertaking their debut international journey months afterward and including a poignant appearance at London's historic Marquee Club. Only the experience of performing abroad returned with them, as the group entered an extended break before resurfacing with 1996's KZS album. By that point multiple drummers had passed through the lineup, among them future Angra sticksman Ricardo Confessori, until Fernando Schaefer settled in, while Nicastro had exited and been succeeded by guitarist Marcelo Nejem. In 1998 Korzus, equipped with yet another guitarist, Heros Trench, and drummer Rodrigo, shared the stage with early influences such as Slayer and Megadeth at the Sao Paulo edition of the Monsters of Rock Festival; five selections from that performance later appeared on the 2001 Live at Monsters CD.