MX

ALEXANDRE DA CUNHA

MX from Santo André in São Paolo is a Brazilian thrash metal band that formed back in the mid eighties. They debuted in 1988 with Simoniacal and the follow-up Mental Slavery was released in 1989. After that the band went on a hiatus but MX returned a few years later and released their third album Again.... They then released The Last File in 2000. After that album MX broke up for over a decade, but they released a new album with re-recorded versions of their old songs in 2014. It was titled Re-Lapse. I have interviewed MX's drummer Alexandre Da Cunha who has been in the band since day one. Over to Alexandre...

We can start with a small presentation of MX.

Ok, MX is back and we're at an embryonic state after a fifteen year long break and our lineup are Alexandre da Cunha on Drums, Dumbo and Décio Frignani on guitars and Morto on the bass.

Can you explain where the name MX comes from?

The name comes from an American missile made famous at the time for being the most powerful existed, our singer, the late Beraldo (R.I.P.) came up with the name.

You debuted in 1988 with Simoniacal, how was that time?

It was harder to record an album in Brazil during those days, everything was very backward compared to Europe or the United States. But the metal scene was very strong and united and Simoniacal was a bestseller at the time.

MX - Mental Slavery (1989)

You opened up for Testament when they came to Brazil in 1989, how was that experience?

Well, the show was pretty cool, but I can not say the same about the backstage. We (MX) and the producers themselves were not used to the greatest bands of requirements and they did not warn us of certain things. Just to summarize, we use the same backline as Testament after many unfriendly negotiations. Things got really tense until Chuck Billy arrived and he agreed with us.

Mental Slavery was released in 1989, what do you think of it in retrospect?

No doubt a more mature album than the previous, but the budget was small and the same goes for Simoniacal too. We were recording in another state, which became more expensive. It was recorded very quickly and did not have time to go into details. It was like, GO, GO, GO, WE DON’T HAVE THE TIME!!! !!!!

Mental Slavery (1989)

Why did you split up after the release of Mental Slavery?

Our guitarist Decio wanted out to live a more "normal" life and at the same time our bass player at the time Chico Comelli left. After that we were stopped playing.

Your old vocalist Beraldo was murdered. What happened there?

We're not sure what happened, it may have been a robbery followed by death, or drugs involved. He was not in the band then, but we stayed in contact with him.

You also opened up when Exodus came to Brazil, It was in 1997 when Paul Baloff fronted the band, is that correct? Did you meet him?

Yes, we talked a lot with Paul. We went out for a drink with the whole band. We did three shows together at the time, it was fantastic. Paul was a very simple person, but at the same time he commanded respect as frontman. We have great memories of those shows, for us was very important and Exodus played at the time with an almost original lineup. We opened up for Exodus again last year, this time Exodus had reunited with Steve 'Zetro' Souza and we opened up for their show here in São Paulo.

Have you got any plans to record a new album?

Yes, we're working on it!

MX - Live!

Your latest album Re-Lapse is an album with re-recorded songs, what can you tell us about the album?

As I said before, our first two albums were recorded in primitive conditions. We wanted to re-record these songs in the right way.

What has a band like Sepultura meant to the brazilian thrash metal scene?

Meant and still means a lot, Sepultura paved the way for many Brazilian bands. For us in MX they are a source of pride even more because we played together so many times, we had much contact before they signed up with Roadrunner.

What bands are you influenced by?

The bands of the Bay Area without a doubt!!

Simoniacal (1988)

Have you got any funny story to tell, if anything weird has happened while touring or recording?

Once we were attacked by bats, it was an indoor-festival and I think that the bats was bothered by us. We all had to rush out, it was ridiculous!!! I think Andreas Kisser was at this show, not with Sepultura. I think he was not yet a part of Sepultura. He was replacing a guitarist in another band this evening.

Any last words to our readers?

Thank you all, see you on the road

By/Ruthless

(01-04-2015)