Nepal (band)
Encyclopedia
Nepal was an Argentine
thrash metal
band from Buenos Aires
, originally assembled in 1984.
In July 1988, Nepal recorded their first demo at Cosmos Studios "Aquellos Bastardos". It was released as cassette, in a split with the band Dr. Jekyll. The demo reached number one in Argentine charts for the category "Most Important National Demos". With this, they obtained more publicity in radios and magazines.
In June 1989 they recorded their second demo "Nepal II", again at "Cosmos Studios" with a better sound quality and production. They participated in some concerts at Cemento, Arlequines theater and Larrañaga theater. By the end of 1991, they had changed their line-up. They recorded the song "La Señal del Metal" to be released in a split-album with other local bands.
In April 1990 the band recorded the song "Represor" (at "Sonovision" studios in Buenos Aires with the help of Alejandro Devetak) to be include in the compilation "Thrash Vol.1", edited by "Radio Tripoli" label. The band re-released the demo "Nepal II" with a live track, "Te Destruiré", in side B. This edition sold 1000 copies.
In January 1992 Dario Galvan joined the band, and they started to compose new material for an album. In November, they released their début album "Raza de Traidores
" under "Metal Command Records" in cassette format. It was recorded and mixed between May and August in "TMA La Escuelita" studios. They played an album release gig at Buenos Aires and opened for the German band Kreator
. The Uruguayan label Heavy Weigh Records released a South American compilation including Nepal's song "Represor". They first show in a foreign country was at Brazil (Timbo
) at the Mountain Rock Festival with the band Syndrome in April 1995.
In October 1995, they released their second album "Ideología
" under "Metal Command Records” with the support of "Monsters of Rock" in a limited edition of 1000 copies. After that, they signed with NEMS Enterprises
. They did some concerts at Buenos Aires to perform their new material. After the gig, the drummer, Dario Galvan, left the band and was replaced with Facundo Vega. They did two shows with Angra
in September 1996.
The band was invited to record the song "Love Gun" for a tribute album for KISS
with other national bands. The tribute was released in October 1996 under Sleaze Records. The Official Iron Maiden Argentine Fan Club organized a concert tribute at "Cemento" in May 1997. The band interpreted Wrathchild, Running Free
and Judas Be My Guide. The show was filmed to be shown to Iron Maiden
's members.
At the end of 1996, the band started making the songs for their third album "Manifiesto
". That was mostly recorded, and mixed at El Zoologico studios. This was released under Nems Enterprises in Argentina, and Rock Brigade Records in Brazil.
Manifiesto was recorded with Holophonics
3D Sound system, made and developed by the engineer Roberto Zuccarelli. With this technology, the audience can experience the sound three-dimensionally: listening to the album gives the impression of hearing the vocals and the instruments from outside, like in reality. This technology has been utilized by bands and musicians like Pink Floyd
, YES
, Roger Waters
, Vangelis
, Steve Vai
and Paul McCartney
.
The concerts for the release of their new album started in January 1998. In April, the band played as support for the band Moonspell
. On 22 August, they did so for Blind Guardian
in Buenos Aires at "Cemento". The same year they participated in the "Metal Rock Festival II".
The producer of "Rock and Pop International" invited Nepal to open for Megadeth
in 4 October 1998. The same month they played in "Cemento".
In January 1999 the drummer Dario Galvan left the band to start a project of progressive music. He was replaced by Marcelo Ponce. The band played with Almafuerte
in Obras Sanitarias
for 5000 metalheads. At the end of May, Nepal played again in "Cemento" with two new songs ("Genosiglo" and "Sobre el Filo") that were ready for the fourth album, never released.
The band split-up in 2000. Larry Zavala started with a solo project, and Beto Vazquez started with a band named Beto Vázquez Infinity
.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band from Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, originally assembled in 1984.
Biography
Nepal was formed in 1985 by Beto Vázquez and Javier Bagala. Later on Claudio "Larry" Zavala joined. The band participated in some metal festivals performing a new music style called "Power Black Metal".In July 1988, Nepal recorded their first demo at Cosmos Studios "Aquellos Bastardos". It was released as cassette, in a split with the band Dr. Jekyll. The demo reached number one in Argentine charts for the category "Most Important National Demos". With this, they obtained more publicity in radios and magazines.
In June 1989 they recorded their second demo "Nepal II", again at "Cosmos Studios" with a better sound quality and production. They participated in some concerts at Cemento, Arlequines theater and Larrañaga theater. By the end of 1991, they had changed their line-up. They recorded the song "La Señal del Metal" to be released in a split-album with other local bands.
In April 1990 the band recorded the song "Represor" (at "Sonovision" studios in Buenos Aires with the help of Alejandro Devetak) to be include in the compilation "Thrash Vol.1", edited by "Radio Tripoli" label. The band re-released the demo "Nepal II" with a live track, "Te Destruiré", in side B. This edition sold 1000 copies.
In January 1992 Dario Galvan joined the band, and they started to compose new material for an album. In November, they released their début album "Raza de Traidores
Raza de Traidores
-Track listing:# "Falsos Profetas " - 05:58# "Raza De Traidores" - 05:47# "Devorando Al Tiempo" - 04:10# "Justicia Maldita" - 05:19# "Represor" - 05:34# "La Señal Del Metal" - 06:00# "Aquellos Bastardos" - 05:11# "Te Destruiré" - 03:38...
" under "Metal Command Records" in cassette format. It was recorded and mixed between May and August in "TMA La Escuelita" studios. They played an album release gig at Buenos Aires and opened for the German band Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
. The Uruguayan label Heavy Weigh Records released a South American compilation including Nepal's song "Represor". They first show in a foreign country was at Brazil (Timbo
Timbo
Timbo is a town and sub-prefecture in the Mamou Prefecture in the Mamou Region of Guinea.It is located in the Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea, lying north east of Mamou, in a part of the country mostly occupied by the Fula people. It was formerly an important religious centre and is still...
) at the Mountain Rock Festival with the band Syndrome in April 1995.
In October 1995, they released their second album "Ideología
Ideología
-Track listing:# "Escenio" - 01:11# "Realidades" - 04:31# "Ideología" - 06:22# "Guerra Sucia" - 03:12# "Paredes De Hierro" - 03:46# "Enfriando Las Heridas" - 05:08# "Golpea" - 02:37# "Katmandú" - 02:38# "Herederos Del Miedo" - 04:55...
" under "Metal Command Records” with the support of "Monsters of Rock" in a limited edition of 1000 copies. After that, they signed with NEMS Enterprises
Nems Enterprises (label)
NEMS Enterprises is a metal Latin-American record label led by the Argentinian businessman Marcelo Cabuli founded in 1987 as a CD and vinyl distribution company. In 1995 Nems turned into a label company. The first band they signed was Angra...
. They did some concerts at Buenos Aires to perform their new material. After the gig, the drummer, Dario Galvan, left the band and was replaced with Facundo Vega. They did two shows with Angra
Angra (band)
Angra is a Brazilian metal band from São Paulo, Brazil known for its symphonic interludes, highly technical instrumental playing and Brazilian regional elements.- Biography :...
in September 1996.
The band was invited to record the song "Love Gun" for a tribute album for KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
with other national bands. The tribute was released in October 1996 under Sleaze Records. The Official Iron Maiden Argentine Fan Club organized a concert tribute at "Cemento" in May 1997. The band interpreted Wrathchild, Running Free
Running Free
"Running Free" was the first single released by Iron Maiden, released on 8 February 1980 on the 7" 45 rpm vinyl record format. It was written by Steve Harris and Paul Di'Anno...
and Judas Be My Guide. The show was filmed to be shown to Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
's members.
At the end of 1996, the band started making the songs for their third album "Manifiesto
Manifiesto
-Track listing:# "La Saga" - 01:45# "Perfil Siniestro" - 03:40# "Besando La Tierra" - 05:41# "Más Allá Del Asfalto" - 04:22# "Children of The Grave " - 05:16# "Lukumi" - 02:42# "Estadio Chico" - 04:12...
". That was mostly recorded, and mixed at El Zoologico studios. This was released under Nems Enterprises in Argentina, and Rock Brigade Records in Brazil.
Manifiesto was recorded with Holophonics
Holophonics
Holophonics is a binaural recording system created by Hugo Zuccarelli that is claimed to be based on the claim that the auditory system acts as an interferometer. The sound characteristics of Holophonics are most clearly heard through headphones, though can be demonstrated to be effective with 2...
3D Sound system, made and developed by the engineer Roberto Zuccarelli. With this technology, the audience can experience the sound three-dimensionally: listening to the album gives the impression of hearing the vocals and the instruments from outside, like in reality. This technology has been utilized by bands and musicians like Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, YES
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
, Vangelis
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
, Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
.
The concerts for the release of their new album started in January 1998. In April, the band played as support for the band Moonspell
Moonspell
Moonspell is a Portuguese gothic metal band from Brandoa, Lisbon. Formed in 1992, the group released their first EP Under the Moonspell in 1994, a year before the release of their first album Wolfheart...
. On 22 August, they did so for Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres...
in Buenos Aires at "Cemento". The same year they participated in the "Metal Rock Festival II".
The producer of "Rock and Pop International" invited Nepal to open for Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
in 4 October 1998. The same month they played in "Cemento".
In January 1999 the drummer Dario Galvan left the band to start a project of progressive music. He was replaced by Marcelo Ponce. The band played with Almafuerte
Almafuerte (band)
Almafuerte is a heavy metal band from Argentina, formed by bassist and lead singer Ricardo Iorio in 1995 after the dissolution of Hermética.-History:In 1994, Hermética, a heavy metal band from Argentina, broke up...
in Obras Sanitarias
Arena Obras Sanitarias
Arena Obras Sanitarias, also known as Estadio Obras Sanitarias is an indoor arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Built in 1978, it holds 3,030 people, and 4,700 for concerts....
for 5000 metalheads. At the end of May, Nepal played again in "Cemento" with two new songs ("Genosiglo" and "Sobre el Filo") that were ready for the fourth album, never released.
The band split-up in 2000. Larry Zavala started with a solo project, and Beto Vazquez started with a band named Beto Vázquez Infinity
Beto Vázquez Infinity
Beto Vázquez Infinity is an Argentine metal band from Buenos Aires, formed in 2001.-Biography:After the split-up of Nepal, the Argentinean bass player and songwriter Beto Vazquez continued enlarging his musical horizons, always accumulating new ideas, and with the hope of finally making a group of...
.
Last line-up
- Larry Zavala - Vocals
- Beto Vázquez - Bass and backing vocals
- Javier Bagala - Guitar
- Marcelo Ponce - Drums
Guest musicians
- Ricardo IorioRicardo IorioRicardo Iorio is an Argentine heavy metal musician who participated in various of the most important metal bands in the country....
- André MatosAndré MatosAndré Coelho Matos born September 14, 1971 in São Paulo, Brazil. He is the oldest son of photographer Pedro Henrique Matos and Sonia Maria Coelho. André Matos was the former vocalist, pianist and composer for the power metal bands Viper, Angra and Shaaman. Since October 2006 Andre Matos has been...
- George BiddleGeorge BiddleGeorge Biddle was an American artist best known for his social realism, combat art, and his strong advocacy of government-sponsored art projects...
- Kiko LoureiroKiko LoureiroKiko Loureiro is a Brazilian Heavy metal guitarist who has worked with bands such as Angra, Silent Moon, and Blezqi Zatzas....
- Martin WalkyierMartin WalkyierMartin Walkyier is an English singer who began his career with thrash metal band Sabbat in the late 1980s, releasing two albums. After leaving Sabbat in 1990 due to differences with other band members, Walkyier teamed up with guitarist Steve Ramsey to form a heavy metal band with strong folk...
- Hansi KurschHansi KürschHans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch is a German musician, the lead vocalist and lyricist of power metal band Blind Guardian. Together with André Olbrich, he is also the principal songwriter for the band. He was also the bassist in Blind Guardian until the 1998 album Nightfall in...
Albums
- Raza de TraidoresRaza de Traidores-Track listing:# "Falsos Profetas " - 05:58# "Raza De Traidores" - 05:47# "Devorando Al Tiempo" - 04:10# "Justicia Maldita" - 05:19# "Represor" - 05:34# "La Señal Del Metal" - 06:00# "Aquellos Bastardos" - 05:11# "Te Destruiré" - 03:38...
(1993) - IdeologíaIdeología-Track listing:# "Escenio" - 01:11# "Realidades" - 04:31# "Ideología" - 06:22# "Guerra Sucia" - 03:12# "Paredes De Hierro" - 03:46# "Enfriando Las Heridas" - 05:08# "Golpea" - 02:37# "Katmandú" - 02:38# "Herederos Del Miedo" - 04:55...
(1995) - ManifiestoManifiesto-Track listing:# "La Saga" - 01:45# "Perfil Siniestro" - 03:40# "Besando La Tierra" - 05:41# "Más Allá Del Asfalto" - 04:22# "Children of The Grave " - 05:16# "Lukumi" - 02:42# "Estadio Chico" - 04:12...
(1997)
Cover songs
- "Love GunLove Gun (song)"Love Gun" is a song by the American hard rock band KISS released on their 1977 album of the same name. The B-side is the album track "Hooligan", a song written by drummer Peter Criss.The secret to the musical longevity of Kiss is its ability to marry the sonic muscle of hard rock to songs full of...
", by KISSKISS (band)Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,... - "Children of the GraveChildren of the Grave"Children of the Grave" is a song by Black Sabbath from their 1971 album Master of Reality. The song lyrically continues with the same anti-war themes brought on by "War Pigs" and "Electric Funeral" from Paranoid, adding in Geezer Butler's pacifist ideals of non-violent civil disobedience...
", by Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22... - "Lanzado Al Mundo Hoy", by V8V8 (band)V8 was an Argentine heavy metal band created in 1979, one of the first notable Argentine bands of that genre. After its dissolution former members have continued their careers starting other heavy metal bands, Hermética, Horcas, Rata Blanca, Logos and Almafuerte.-Biography:In the beginning of the...
- "Muy Cansado Estoy", by V8V8 (band)V8 was an Argentine heavy metal band created in 1979, one of the first notable Argentine bands of that genre. After its dissolution former members have continued their careers starting other heavy metal bands, Hermética, Horcas, Rata Blanca, Logos and Almafuerte.-Biography:In the beginning of the...