JESUS ON FIRE were created in 1998 in the Portuguese citadel of Almeirim and already have 2001 demo Freak Out and 2003 EP Mind Switch on the way. The current line-up is Gonçalo (drums), Maia (bass), Carlos (guitar), Gaspar (guitar) and João (vocals) – and that is basically all I know about the band.
Musically, the band have firm roots in nu-metal à la SOULFLY or SLIPKNOT, which is mainly due to João’s vocals resembling Max Cavalera’s and the fact that the music is mainly derived from the above-mentioned bands and death/thrash, however adulterated by a number of typical modern metal influences.
Mind Switch consists of four tracks (pretty much in the same line), but the epilogue “Warning” is 3½ minutes of sheer industrial effects – something the Portuguese scene seems to have grown accustomed to. However, “Why Don’t You” very much sticks to KORN.
Overall, I cannot say JESUS ON FIRE will set standards – they are enough for Portugal, but they still have a lot to improve if they want to go international. It is another Floyd Records proposal, through which similar releases have seen the light of day (SHRAPNEL, NAKED SOUL, RETROACT or SEVENTENSPLIT).
https://www.myspace.com/jesusonfire
Jesus on Fire – Freak Out
Additional Information
JESUS ON FIRE emerged during the peak of the nu-metal wave that swept through Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Portugal’s metal scene during this period was still developing its international presence, with Floyd Records serving as one of the key independent labels fostering local extreme and alternative metal acts.
The band’s geographical origin in Almeirim, a small town in central Portugal’s Ribatejo region, reflects the broader democratization of metal music during the nu-metal era, when bands from smaller cities could achieve regional recognition through improved recording technology and distribution networks. The Portuguese metal scene of the early 2000s was characterized by bands heavily influenced by the American nu-metal explosion, particularly the Brazilian-influenced sound of SOULFLY, which resonated strongly with Portuguese audiences due to cultural and linguistic connections.
Floyd Records’ roster during this period included several bands attempting to bridge Portuguese metal with international nu-metal and modern metal trends, though few achieved significant success beyond national borders. The label’s approach of supporting diverse metal subgenres helped establish a foundation for Portugal’s later extreme metal developments.