Release Date April 13th, 2026
Format Digital/CD/Vinyl
Genre Heavy Metal
Country Portugal
Sandmind formed in October 2022 out of São Pedro do Sul, Portugal. The lineup features Stefano Garrido on vocals, Ricardo Teixeira on guitar, Ricardo Merícias on bass, and Filipe Brandão on drums, alongside Marisa Almeida handling stage performances. The quintet focuses on traditional heavy metal foundations mixed with harsh, guttural vocals. They write all their lyrics in Portuguese. "13 Pragas Infernais" acts as their debut full-length album, focusing entirely on Ancient Egyptian mythology.
The music relies heavily on old-school riffing paired with a straightforward rhythm section. You get a decent dose of heavy metal riffs from Teixeira's guitar work, backed by a standard, stomping bass and drum combo. Sometimes the riffs lock in to deliver a cool groove. Other times they just cycle through the same standard patterns without much variation. The rhythm section keeps a steady pace, giving you something to headbang to, even when some sections drag on a bit too long.
Garrido brings a harsh, extreme vocal style that sits over the traditional metal riffs. Screaming in Portuguese about pharaohs and plagues isn’t a cool idea. Sometimes the guttural vocals clash awkwardly with the traditional heavy metal playing underneath. The delivery stays aggressive and loud across the entire runtime. The lyrics covering Ancient Egypt give the tracks a specific identity. You get songs like "Ira Dos Deuses" and "Osíris" bringing that historical subject matter front and center.
Playing "13 Pragas Infernais" top to bottom reveals some pacing issues. The transition between tracks happens without much dynamic shift. You basically get the same tempo and volume from the first minute to the last. Some of the songwriting needs tightening up. A few tracks blend together because the band sticks strictly to their one specific formula. The execution is decent, making it a functional listen.
Sandmind deliver an acceptable first strike with "13 Pragas Infernais". The Portuguese lyrics and Egyptian themes provide a neat angle. The harsh vocals mixed with traditional heavy metal riffs work sometimes. They miss the feeling other times. The band needs more variety in their songwriting to keep things interesting over a full album. It remains an okay listen for underground heavy metal fans, showing room for improvement on their next release.
Score: 6.5
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