Release Date December 15th, 2025
Format Digital
Genre Sludge/Doom Metal, Hardcore
Origin Portugal
Buzarate is the solo project of Nelson Gomes, a veteran of the Lisbon experimental underground who cut his teeth in outfits like Avoidant and Earthly Beasts. After years of noise-addled exploration, Gomes retreated to Cartaxo to build something far more confrontational. This project was born in the shadows of personal loss and a DIY obsession, resulting in a sound that drags the weight of Madeiran roots into a collision with heavy, urban filth.
Buzarate is here to ruin your afternoon with "Gravitas". This isn't some over-produced studio project with a million layers of fake polish. It’s one man, Nelson Gomes, recording in his own space, fueled by a terrible year and a lot of pent-up aggression. The result is a four-track beating that mixes the slow, agonizing drag of doom with the spit-in-your-face attitude of old-school hardcore.
The most striking thing about this EP is that it’s all in Portuguese. Usually, heavy acts hide behind English lyrics because it’s easier, but "Gravitas" stands its ground. Songs like "Trono" and "Assombro" have a vocal delivery that sounds like a man reaching his breaking point. It’s rare to hear this kind of sludge coming out of Portugal that feels so rooted in its own skin. You can hear the influence of the islands and the grime of the Lisbon scene without it sounding like a tribute act to the American greats.
Musically, the riffs are thick enough to clog a drain. "Sibila" kicks things off by dragging you into a ditch, while "A Vala Comum... Extintos" shows off a groove that actually sticks in your head instead of just being noise for the sake of it. The production is raw, maybe a bit too raw for some but it fits the vibe perfectly. It’s got that home-made, jagged edge where you can practically hear the gear straining under the volume.
The songwriting is effective because it stays focused on the riff. Gomes isn't interested in showing off how fast he can shred; he’s interested in how much pressure he can put on your skull. It’s the kind of sound that fans of Kickback or Eyehategod will get behind immediately, especially with that thick, low-end rumble that dominates the mix. It’s a short blast of reality that doesn’t hide behind any fancy tricks or studio magic.
If I have any complaints, it’s that it’s over too fast. Just when you’re getting used to the weight of the sound, the digital file ends and you’re left sitting in silence. Still, for a solo effort handled entirely by one person, from the artwork to the mastering, this is a respectable display of power. It’s a punchy, loud, and honest representation of the Portuguese underground that deserves a loud playback.
Score: 7.0
Add comment
Comments