Só quem viu o relâmpago à sua direita sabe
Kaatayra
2020
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Só quem viu o relâmpago à sua direita sabe, released in 2020 by Kaatayra, stands out as a unique and deeply rooted interpretation of atmospheric black metal, infused with the rich tapestry of Brazilian folk music. The work is notable for its 'non-electric' approach, where acoustic guitars take on much of the rhythmic and melodic weight, a choice that dramatically distinguishes it from the genre's conventional sound. This album offers an immersive and transcendental sonic experience, which evokes both the fury and serenity of Brazilian nature. Caio Lemos, the multi-instrumentalist behind Kaatayra, weaves a soundscape that is simultaneously aggressive in its cadence and gentle in its textures, using vocals alternating between guttural and clean to express a profound range of emotions. It is a work that challenges the conventions of black metal by integrating elements of indigenous and regional Brazilian music, creating a truly original and soulful sound. Its originality lies in how Lemos manages to combine the intensity of black metal with the melancholy and beauty of Brazilian folklore, resulting in something that has been described as psychedelic folk rock with a mystical and shamanic inclination.
Context
The album emerged in 2020, a period of intense political and social polarisation in Brazil, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a chaotic management of the public health crisis. This scenario of national turbulence, with heated discussions about environmental neglect and the human condition, forms a backdrop for the themes explored by Kaatayra. Só quem viu o relâmpago à sua direita sabe is Kaatayra's third album, the solo project of Brasília-based musician Caio Lemos. It followed No Ruidar da Mata que Mirra (2019) and Nascido Sob o Signo Incivilizatório (2019). While the first explored the deep connection and recognition of nature's magnitude, and the second channelled anger and dissatisfaction with human neglect towards the environment, this third work adopts a more dreamlike and spiritual approach. Lemos' trajectory with Kaatayra is marked by a deep passion for Brazilian folk music and childhood legends, elements he has progressively incorporated into his sound.
Recording
The album was conceived and recorded by Caio Lemos, the sole member behind the Kaatayra project, in his home studio. Lemos uses a typical home-studio setup, including monitors, an audio interface, a MIDI controller, and microphones. For this work, the approach was more constructive and less improvisational, a reflection of Lemos' growing interest in music theory. The album's characteristic sound, which blends atmospheric black metal with Brazilian folk elements, is achieved through the use of acoustic guitars for tremolo riffs and melodies, complemented by drums, electronics, and Brazilian folk instruments. This expansion of the sonic palette and instrumentation was a rewarding challenge for Lemos, who sought to explore new sonic possibilities, from the gentle sound of a marimba to the granular noise of a synthesiser.
Songs
The four long tracks of Só quem viu o relâmpago à sua direita sabe, such as "Chama Terra, Chama Chuva" and "Bom Retorno (De Volta às Origens)", do not follow conventional linear structures, but are like autonomous worlds of different songs that flow and intertwine. The lyrics, dreamlike in nature, are heavily influenced by Lemos' experiences with Ayahuasca and his glimpses of nature's pure and raw beauty. The opening track, "Chama Terra, Chama Chuva", is described as stunning, while the closing track, "Bom Retorno (De Volta às Origens)", culminates with slow, melancholic synthesisers, building intensity before returning to a sensual, yet unsettling, conclusion. The album's music is a profound microcosm of Brazilian music and history, with a progression that ranges from blackened acoustic folk and indigenous Brazilian musical elements to experimental psychedelia and electronic pop fusion. The compositions explore the demystification of the human being, proposing that humanity be surpassed by natural creatures, objects of the essence of a chaotic Earth.
Legacy
Só quem viu o relâmpago à sua direita sabe was acclaimed by critics as one of the standout black metal works of 2020. The album was widely praised for its fresh and innovative interpretation of folk black metal, especially for the audacity of using acoustic guitars for much of the riff's weight. Its uniqueness in combining fully acoustic black metal with indigenous, folk, and contemporary Brazilian music was considered an inspired and creative feat. Kaatayra's work, and specifically this album, generated considerable repercussions, being one of the highlights of Caio Lemos' prolific year of 2020, in which he released other notable works. Critics compared the album's sound to softer moments from bands like Agalloch, highlighting how well the blend of clean and harsh vocals integrated into the song structures. It is recognised as an album that paved new paths and enhanced the genre's properties, challenging the perception of an often conservative musical style.
Discogs
Só quem viu o relâmpago à sua direita sabe – Discogs
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