The Firstborn’s roots go back to 1995, when the band formed – under the monicker Firstborn Evil – and recorded their very first song for a sampler CD entitled «Southern Assault Vol. 1». The demo-tape «Awakening Of Evil» follows a year later, as well as a participation in the (in)famous underground compilation «Sometimes... Death Is Better» (released through now defunct Dutch indie Shiver Records in 1997). Gathering momentum, «Rebirth of Evil» hits the shelves shortly. Originally intended as a re-release of the 1996 demo, eventually the group decides to record eight songs and the debut album takes form. By the turn of the century the band decides to shorten their name for the release of their sophomore full-length, «... From the Past Yet to Come» released in 2000. Incredibly intense live shows and a strong will to break the chains that kept them under the black metal tag sets The Firstborn as one of the most interesting and groundbreaking projects coming out of the Portuguese scene. After four years of silence and intense writing, «The Unclenching Of Fists» – a concept album based on the Tibetan “Book Of The Dead” – is finally recorded and released in 2005. Its thirteen songs represent a dramatic shift in both style and content for the band, digging even deeper into their own personalities. The record gets excellent reviews and, among other things, was voted the best Portuguese album of the year in the national leading metal mag, Loud!. Regardless of all the good press, distribution wasn’t up to par and the album remained an obscure underground classic.
Not ones to throw the towel when facing adversities and further exploring the Buddhist philosophy as a foundation for both lyrics and sound, the band starts working on a new album in the beginning of 2007. Exploring a concept dealing with the Buddhist Scriptures and the multiple paths to nirvana, «The Noble Search» represents further experiments in the direction first explored in «The Unclenching of Fists». Recorded and mixed at Foel Studio in Wales from January to March 2008 by Chris Fielding (who recorded the latest Primordial album) and mastered at Chicago Mastering Service by Bob Weston (Shellac), this collection of eight tracks is an incredible mix of fierce extreme metal, complex arrangements and enchanting ethnic oriental influences. Adding color to the overall picture guest musicians include Absu’s Proscriptor McGovern and Process Of Guilt’s Hugo Santos on vocals, a professional percussionist playing a wide array of instruments (Vorskaath from the greek cult band Zemial) and a sitar player, Luís Simões (Saturnia). Everything you hear on these tracks was played and recorded by the band and the people who collaborated with them, again showing that the portuguese pioneers are not willing to compromise an inch to reach their more extravagant goals. In a world where plagiarism is often mistaken for creativity, The Firstborn works like a breath of fresh air in a scene in desperate need of some individuality.
in Major Label Industries' press release.
"The Firstborn's adaptation of their spirituality to sound is absolutely crushing..." - 8/10 - Terrorizer Magazine
"A Metal album with style!" - 8/10 - Heavy-Metal.de
"They're certainly not your everyday Metal band, they are better." - PowerMetal.de
"Definitely one of the more unique efforts I've heard this year." - Teeth of the Divine
"This band is all about the quality and expression." - 8.5/10 - Transcending the Mundane (USA)
"... a surpassingly complex yet luminous listening experience." - Metal Storm
"A considered and mature album guaranteed to take them closer to musical nirvana." - 8/10 - Chronicles of Chaos
"... really special music." - 6/7 - Metal-News.de
"... one of the most musically fluent bands I've had the pleasure of listening to in a while." - 4/5 - Deaf Sparrow
"... The Noble Search represents a rich, rewarding listening experience." - 5/6 - Metal Review
Bruno Fernandes - Vocals
Rolando Barros - Drums
Miguel Santos - Guitar
Management / Promotio
n:
Booking:
The Firstborn
Genre(s)
Avant-Garde Black Metal
Lyrical theme(s)
Buddhism
Origin Formed in Current label Status
Portugal (Amora) 1999 Major Label Industries Active
Current line-up
Bruno Fernandes - Vocals (Nargothrond (Prt), Antiquus Scriptum, Nephtys, We Were Wolves)
Nuno Gervásio - Guitar (Nephtys, Mystical Fate)
Helder Malícia - Bass (Disharmony's Den)
Rolando Barros - Drums (Sacred Sin, Neoplasmah, Grog)
Miguel Santos - Guitar (The Broken Hourglass Project, Eternal Mourning (Prt))
Former/past member(s)
Gustavo Vieira - Keyboards (Antiquus Scriptum, Nargothrond (Prt), Sword of Akhron, D.O.M. (Prt), Claymore)
Paulo Vieira - Guitar (Nargothrond (Prt), Antiquus Scriptum, Time Out (Prt), Sword Of Ahkron, Collusive, Pestox, Sat On The Cat, Decreto 77, D.O.M. (Prt))
Daniel Cardoso - Drums (Sirius, Holocausto Canibal (Prt), Projecto Alpha, Head Control System, Arcane Wisdom, SinDRomE, Why Angels Fall, Reaktor, Twilight (Prt), Oblique Rain, Heavenwood, Kandia, Vertigo Steps, Scar For Life)
Additional notes
Formerly known as Firstborn Evil.
Compilation appearance(s):
"Empire of Shadows" on "20 anos de Tarantula (Tributo)" (Tarantula (Prt) covers/tribute album) on Recital Records, 2001
Discography
From the Past Yet to Come Full-length, 2000
The Unclenching of Fists Full-length, 2005
The Noble Search Full-length, 2008
The Firstborn @ Caos Emergente 08
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