10 Best Portuguese Heavy Bands Ever, According to Portugal’s Own Fernando Ribeiro of Moonspell
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.
2. Bizarra Locomotiva – O Album Negro (2009)
Bizarra is Portugal’s industrial Rock powerhouse and imo the best Portuguese band ever. Their shows are cruel and visceral like no other, so physical that one can’t help but being drawn to the first row and just let go to our societal ghosts and fears.
3. Ibéria – s/t (1988)
Ibéria were our “Mötley Crüe” and some really unsung heroes of Portugal’s short-lived glam rock scene. Born in the wrong country, Ibéria had a flair for commercial rock that was rare in Portugal. They also had to put up with a chauvinist society calling them a bunch of faggots because they wore eyeliner, oh Portugal, for F’s sake.
4. Tarantula – s/t (1987)
Tarantula was “just” the first Heavy Metal band hailing from Portugal that I ever heard. Every Lusitanian metalhead owes these guys a lot as they’ve been there for us since the ‘Eighties’80s and are still around. They should get a lot more credit in and outside Portugal but it’s always a great time to start.
5. Thormenthor – Abstract Divinity (1990)
These guys had everything [needed] to go big, but they were “the one that got away” – and no one knows why. Before Meshuggah, Opeth, Cynic, Death or almost anyone else, Thormenthor were mixing prog and ’70s rock create their own blend of death metal I f**kin’ loved them for that. Also, [they played at] my very first “underground” concert back in the day.
6. Heavenwood – Diva (1996)
Starting as a Death Metal band from Porto named Disgorged, they quickly evolved to Gothic Metal too and had this beast of an album released in 1996 at the heights of the style. They still enjoyed some success, being the first Portuguese Metal band to play Wacken but in a typical Portugal black magic trick, they had internal fights and vanished. They are still around but it’s a one man’s kingdom now and not as shining as it once has been. Pity.
7. The Coven – Into the Future demo (1987)
They might be a ghost from the past but they were one my favourites back then with their brand of doomed black metal which brought Candlemass to head. They were together for a mere 3 years until the compulsory army service, the egos, the lack of prospect or support brought the axe down like it happened to so many promising bands in Portugal. Their demo is pure gold, I have a copy and was fortunate enough to see them live. Song: LSD (Life is slave of Death)
8. Desire – Infinity … a Timeless Journey Through an Emotional Dream (1996)
Once upon a time Portugal had its own “funeral doom” and they were brilliant. But their talent was as big as their grudge against anyone else, something I never really figured out why, tnh. Goth knows. Long fkin songs, titles and lyrics that turned pages and a rivalry against imaginary foes and competitors damned their luck. The memory remains.
9. Thragedium – Lisboa Depois de Morta (2023)
Thragedium have everything a great band needs: talent, taste, ideas, musicality … but they ran out of luck. This particular album was released by my own label, Alma Mater Records, and it’s simply a beautiful record, full of depth and carried by the inception of Portuguese 12-string guitar, one of their signature instruments. I urge people to listen to it with care and attention, and maybe help a friend by getting their LP.
10. Okkultist – TBA (2026, we hope)
Another band I took under the umbrella of AMR and in whom I deposited my hopes for a blessed future of Portuguese death metal, I really do. They must thicken their skin, and recognise and fight for opportunity, relevance and self-belief. I truly feel that their artistry will take them further. Way further.
Note: There are many honourable mentions, like Sinistro, Sigilo, Analepsy and Sacred Sin – both contemporary and old school groups. One thing is clear: Moonspell owes a debt to all those bands and musicians, especially to the old-school names, because every time they released music, they helped shorten the distance – the huge gap, really – between Portugal and the heavy metal world. Obrigado.
The Bad Penny (beta) 
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