APOKALYPTIC RAIDS was formed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1998 by Heavy Metal fans. The band's references are the 1980's, when VENOM emerges. Sons of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they united KISS' theatrics to the heaviness of BLACK SABBATH and the aggression of MOTÖRHEAD and Hardcore Punk. At that time, all the Power/Speed/Thrash/Death/Black Metal subgenres were created by great names such as HELLHAMMER, BATHORY, SODOM, ONSLAUGHT, and in Brazil VULCANO, DORSAL ATLÂNTICA, among many others. Since then, the world has changed, music has evolved, but the "eighties" or "old school" style became a recurring issue, showing that the most things change, the most they stay the same. Heavy music has no expiration date, from rebellious teens to critical maturity. Fast and visceral, yet heavy and introspective. But well produced in any case, vintage style; simple yet hard to reproduce. Obscure, existential, pessimistic, niestszchean themes. Bio details After many years looking for the right musicians, LEON MANSSUR “NECROMANIAC”, guitar and vocals, starts the band in 1998. It reflects his 25 year experience in the scene, including own songs from 1985 to 1998, that have been recorded since. The first recording was a self-financed rehearsal-demo in 1999. Tracks from it appeared in some samplers (Planet Metal magazine, In search of Weird Truth tape from Japan and Thrashing Rage CD-R from Germany, all sold out) and in the sold-out 7"EP MAXIMUM METAL MAYHEM, on Iron Bonehead from Germany, in 2001. First album "ONLY DEATH IS REAL..." was recorded in 2000 and released on CD by Demise Records and LP by Dies Irae in 2001. They were sold out and re-pressed on CD by Unsilent Records in 2007, with demo bonus tracks. In all, it was 3.000 copies sold, and soon will follow an LP re-press on Hell's Headbangers (USA). On the album's release in 2000 they opened Krisiun's first gig in Rio, for 1.000 people audience. In 2001, young Thrash Metal drummer PEDRO ROCHA, a.k.a. "SKULLKRUSHER" from FARSCAPE joins the band. Following this, they played some gigs in the 4 states of southeastern of Brazil, including opening to FRANK BLACKFIRE (SODOM, KREATOR), and also side by side with FARSCAPE and DOMINUS PRAELLI, to a mean audience of 500 people. In 2002 and 2003, the band went pro and produced and released the second full-lenght "THE RETURN OF THE SATANIC RITES" on CD and LP on Dark Sun and on cassette on Time Before Time from Poland, all sold out. There was a re-press on Unsilent Records in 2008. Just like its predecessor, the album sold 3.000 copies and will be re-pressed on LP by Hell's Headbangers. More gigs followed. They produced and played the comeback gig of VULCANO and CHAKAL in Rio, for an audience of 1.000 people, and played in more than 10 events, for audiences ranging from 500 to 1.500 people, some of the most relevant being with HEADHUNTER D.C., MAUSOLEUM, FARSCAPE, FLAGELADOR. The year 2004 was spent in composition for the third album, but in the end of the year VINÍCIUS CANABARRO "HELLPREACHER" replaces the first bass player A. AGUINAGA "SUB UMBRA" and then they play again in São Paulo opening to VULCANO. In 2005 they produced and released "THE THIRD STORM - WORLD WAR III" on Dark Sun Label CD and LP. In 2006, they have organized and played on SLAUGHTER FESTIVAL 2, in Rio de Janeiro, which included 10 of the most relevant bands in the scene, like COMANDO NUCLEAR, SODOMIZER, BLASTHRASH, WARDEATH and OVERLORD (Paraguay). They played with MYSTIFIER in Rio, and more than 10 gigs as headliners in many cities in the 4 states of Southeastern Brazil as well as in the capital Brasília in middle Brazil, to crowds that went from 500 to 2.000 people. In 2007, they were guests opening to KRISIUN again, this time with TORTURE SQUAD. In the middle of the year, drummer SKULLKRUSHER is replaced by MÁRCIO CATIVEIRO "SLAUGHTERER", for scheduled gigs with OCULTAN, COMANDO NUCLEAR and AGATHOCLES. In the beginning of 2008, the first brazilian tour celebrated 10 years of activities. It was a joint effort with FARSCAPE. There were 14 dates on every region of continent-sized Brazil in 50 days. In this tour VICTOR VASCONCELLOS "WHIPSTRIKER" played the bass and HUGO GOLON the drums. In the same year, after the tour, the gig schedule became more intense. NECROMANIAC, HELLPREACHER and SLAUGHTERER played to 1.000 people in the WACKEN selection in Rio, in Mato Grosso state (1 and 1/2 day road trip and a 3 hour gig - a record!), at Roça'n'Roll Open Ain in Minas Gerais state, and opened to POSSESSED in São Paulo. The latter two were attended by more than 3.000 people each. In 2009, while doing more gigs in Rio (one with FARSCAPE, other with MATANZA) and in São Paulo (2 times countryside and 1 on the capital), they have produced the fourth album, entitled "VOL. 4 - PHONOCOPIA", in partnership with some international labels. Now will tour South America.