Interview with Yara Haag and Jonas Soares of Blades of Steel

Joining us are frontwoman Yara Haag and guitarist Jonas Soares of Sao Paulo-based Brazilian heavy metallers Blades of Steel who will take us across the Atlantic, narrating the journey
of the band from its creation to the present day, its ambitions, the first samples of its works, the debut album that is in the works, joining us in the Brazilian underground scene and ultimately giving us a broader picture of the conditions in Latin and especially in South America!

Greetings and welcome to Metalourgio. Thank you for your time! 

First, I would like to thank you for the invitation. I am honored and very happy to share my journey with Blades of Steel.

Starting from the beginning… When was the band formed and who had the initial idea for its formation?

To answer your question, I need to go back many years. I have always wanted to have a band, I have always loved singing, and I have always been passionate about rock and metal. However, I had difficulty forming bands because it wasn't something taken seriously in my region. Interestingly, the entire idea for Blades of Steel, from the cover to the lyrics, matured over the years. My desire was to really create something like we did, and I am excited to share our first complete album with you. In fact, the band was formed in 2022. I invited people I trust and who are excellent musicians to make this project really work.

What inspired the band’s name? Is there a hidden story behind it?

Choosing a name for a band is a very difficult task; it's something you need to be very sure about. The name really needs to convey the message you want to pass on. The band had a different name before, but I believe it didn't convey the true strength we wanted to express in our melodies. I was at the guitarist Rafael Romanelli's house composing the album, and while talking to him, I said, "We need a better name." So, we picked up several albums from bands we love, and one of these albums was from Satan. We looked at the song titles, and at that moment, we decided it would be Blades of Steel.

What were your motivations and influences to pursue the path of heavy metal?

My main motivations are how much I have always liked the genre, which conveys something good, positive, and true to me. I wanted to create something that could bring that same feeling to other people. The first metal band I ever listened to was Judas Priest. It was a one-way street, I would say—I love the band! From there, it opened the door to many others. I had been listening to rock since I was a child, and this only increased my passion.

How would you define your sound? And on this, how would you characterize the foundation of your sound that sets you apart from other bands?

I define our sound as traditional metal, heavy metal. We have various influences ranging from Judas Priest and Accept to Manowar. It's hard to pinpoint exactly because we like so many bands. Many national bands also inspire us, such as Viper, for sure. There are many influences that really reflect in our sound.

You have currently released three singles, Blades of Steel in July, Ruler of the Waves in September and Vengeance Is Mine in November, as part of your official debut album release! Could you tell us what the inspiration behind these tracks was and give us a first impression of your debut LP?

Blades of Steel: I wanted something strong that conveyed the essence of the band as it is. Every day, millions of people around the world face various battles in their daily lives. Despite the medieval theme, this song speaks to everyone. You need courage to live. Many paths may not have a way back, but you need to fight and move forward.

Ruler of the Waves talks about the story of a historical pirate who dressed as a man to fight on equal footing. Our song is about that, the fight on equal terms, strength regardless of anything, and it is also a tribute to her for her representation.

Vengeance Is Mine: The lyrics reflect the protagonist's determination and thirst for justice after witnessing the destruction of their land. They prepare for the final battle. This narrative honors epic struggles and sacrifices made in the name of freedom and honor. We sought a darker sound in our composition to perfectly capture the strength and darkness present in the lyrics.

Your album was recorded at Studio Casa Negra. The producer was Rafael Lopes, who had produced Crypta's second album (Shades of Sorrow). Could you share with us this experience and your feelings about this particular collaboration?

It was an honor to work with Rafael Augusto Lopes. He is extremely meticulous with the sounds, every note, every way of playing. He observed everything closely. Rafael is an excellent producer, and I would definitely work with him again. The experience was truly amazing, and we learned many things from him.

How long did the recording process take and what difficulties, if any, did you encounter?

The process was a bit slow due to logistics. Each band member lives in a different region, which made us take longer than expected. I was also in my final years of veterinary school, and as a scholarship student, I had to do everything not to miss classes and not to neglect my commitments to the band.

What are your ambitions as a band for both the immediate and distant future?

We would like to tour all over Brazil. Our country is vast, and organizing a tour here is really challenging. We also aim for an international record label and, hopefully, in the near future, to tour outside of Brazil. We are working very hard towards this, honestly and exhaustively.

What practical challenges does a newly formed Brazilian band typically face?

There are many difficulties. In general, when you are just starting out, many people don't believe in you and your work. It's hard to even get gigs because of this factor. And not to mention that we are a metal band, which in itself is a challenge, I would say. (laughs)

What is it like to be a woman, especially a frontwoman, in the Metal scene? What conditions and situations do you face in a predominantly male-dominated space, especially in heavy metal?

Many people today believe that it's easier for women, that we have more space now. But I can tell you it's not true; very few actually make it. There's always that story when we achieve something great, they say "she got it because she's a woman," not recognizing our true merit and struggle to achieve it. I've heard this several times in my life, not just in metal. I hope that together we can change this. We don't want to take anyone's place, but rather have the same opportunities and space.

You are part of the Brazilian underground music scene. What situation currently prevails in your country's scene?

The Brazilian scene has many particularities. We receive support from various people, and it's beautiful to see. Sometimes, I open my messages and get emotional. They are people just like us in the band, true metal fans, people who genuinely love all of this. I am extremely grateful and happy with this support. I think there is still a lot that needs improvement, like with anything, nothing is perfect. But overall, it is an honor for us to represent heavy metal in Brazil.

In a broader context, what is your general opinion about metal in South America, as seen from the perspectives of neighboring countries?

I have never had the opportunity to leave my country, but let me tell you what I see from my friends' profiles and our Latin brothers' profiles. It's extremely strong; we Latinos are passionate about metal. Speaking very seriously, I am extremely proud of our Latin people. Just from the messages and support we receive from our brothers, I can't wait to go out and play all over the Americas.

What is your opinion on heavy metal and metal in general in Europe in 2024?

My opinion is strong: you have many opportunities for large festivals. I also believe that you are united and passionate, just like us.

With bands would you ideally like to share the stage with on a tour, as well as which festival(s) would you like to play at?

Sincerely? All of them! Hahaha. Of course, it would be amazing to play with the bands we are fans of, but we simply love to play. Wherever we are invited, we’ll be there!

In which European countries would you like to tour if you had the chance?

We want to go everywhere on planet Earth, without distinction! Hahaha. If one day we have the opportunity, we won’t turn down any invitation. We love traveling and playing, and we want to experience everything we can.

One more question before closing! What is your opinion of Greece, and which bands have you had the chance to listen to?

Hi Jonas (*the other guitarist of the band) here... As Yara said, it's a huge honor for us to talk (write) to you guys. I think Greece is an incredible country and we are very excited at the prospect of visiting it one day and getting to know it better. Well, about the Greek bands, we like some of them such as Varathron, Firewind, Suicidal Angels, and recently we are listening to Triumpher.

Ending this discussion, what message would you like to share with the Greek and foreign readers of our webzine?

Thank you for reading this far. I hope that one day we can meet in person. If you could give us a chance to listen to our music, I would be extremely grateful.

The interview was conducted by Michalis Antonopoulos