First we unveiled our list of the top 20 melodic death metal bands from Sweden in mid-December. The preponderance of popularity encircling that list led us to release a “10 Best Finnish Melodeth Bands Ever” rundown several months later. Around the same time, we interviewed red-hot Finnish hard-rockers the Feral Kids, and they gave us their own list of the best metal bands that Finland has ever produced. And just two days ago, Prime Creation chimed in with their list of Sweden’s top heavy metal bands.
It was at that point that we came to our senses: Top 10 lists are all the rage these days, and that fine and dandy – but the people putting together those lists should be the ultimate authorities on what they’re ranking. Ergo, we have reached out to bands from foreign lands to learn directly from them which musical acts from their home countries really belong on GOAT lists.
The latest edition in our series, which targets Portugal, should have the word “Ultimate” with a capital “U” attached to it. That’s because the musician who put together this top 10 list is, by leaps and bounds, the most talented and iconic metal musician in the history of his country. Like most leaders of metal bands – or at least melodic death metal bands, or at least melodic death metal bands hailing from Europe – Moonspell vocalist Fernando Ribeiro is sweet to the core, extremely smart, musically gifted and charismatic.
The Bad Penny is grateful for having interviewed Ribeiro three times now, as he reminds us of the good fortune we have to live in the present moment (and all the more time we have to listen to music, my dear). Ribeiro’s list of the 10 best heavy metal bands in Portuguese seems just about perfect, save one crucial error: Moonspell, the country’s greatest contribution to metal, isn’t on it. So if you had any doubts as to whether Ribeiro is one humble, rad dude, they’ve no evaporated.
Now let’s enjoy Ribeiro’s guided tour through the history of metal bands that Portugal has produced, shall we?
1. Gaerea – Loss (2026)
Gaerea is the pride of Portugal. A band from another cosmos, with such taste and personality that defies the gods. Their private concept of pain and release keeps getting more and more to the point and Loss just cristalizes that beautiful yet heart-wrenching tension.
The Bad Penny (beta) 