Since forming in 2017, São Paulo-based Urdza has evolved from a cover band into one of Brazil's most promising heavy metal acts. With a debut album, "A War with Myself", that blends traditional heavy metal and thrash influences with their own distinct style, the band has already shared the stage with legends like Saxon and opened for Angra's "Temple of Shadows" – 20th Anniversary Tour. In this interview, founding members Heitor and Hugo reflect on the band's journey, their creative process, the role of family synergy, and what fans can expect from Urdza in the near future.

Marcelo Vieira

Urdza started out in 2017 as a cover band. At what point did you feel it was time to focus on original compositions, and how was that transition?

[Heitor]: Funny enough, we had become a bit stagnant just playing covers. We felt something was missing, we wanted more. At that time Hugo wasn't even part of Urdza yet, and he already had some of his own material. When he joined, it was a huge addition to the band. For me, the real turning point happened when we played at a motorcycle club—I can't remember exactly where—and the flyer had our name but a picture of Iron Maiden. That really bothered me. People would come up saying things like "Bruce looks different tonight," and I kept thinking, "But that's me up there!" That made me reflect a lot on what I actually wanted as a musician. After that, we had a band meeting and realized we already had some ideas composed. Then the pandemic hit, and since we lived close to each other, and with my brother at home, it became easier to record demos and start writing. The transition was smooth: one Sunday I was playing a bunch of songs that weren't mine, and by Monday I could only sing ten—but they were ours.

Being brothers as well as bandmates, how do you deal with creative differences within the band? Does the family bond make things easier, or can it complicate the process sometimes?

[Heitor]: Honestly, it's incredible. Sometimes we just look at each other and already know what the other one wants to say or express. The synergy is almost funny—it just flows naturally. And when one of us has a bad idea, the way we criticize it is so unique that it often ends up in laughter and jokes. That dynamic is a big part of what makes the band sound the way we want. I think it's sensational.

For those who are just discovering Urdza, how would you describe your sound, and what do you think sets you apart in today's Brazilian heavy metal scene?

[Hugo]: Our sound is basically the result of what we've listened to for so long—it just came out naturally: heavy metal with a touch of thrash. What sets us apart might be the natural way we write. We don't aim to sound like anything specific, but the songs still come together cohesively. Another thing is that we don't see many new bands today doing this style. Most are going towards the extremes or more niche genres like symphonic, power, or death metal.

Urdza was formed in São Paulo, a city with a strong but competitive metal scene. How do you see the opportunities for original bands today, and what would you like to see change?

[Heitor]: The scene is incredible—you can go out on the same night and see a massive stadium band and also a new band starting out in a small club. Everyone has their space. I also see a lot of unity among bands, with people helping each other, exchanging ideas, breaking old paradigms, and sharing knowledge to avoid mistakes. That sense of community was long overdue. But I also think it's essential to know how to focus on your material and promote it properly. I see amazing bands with great music, but they struggle to get it out there. I get it—music isn't our primary occupation, we all have jobs to sustain this dream—but it's important to invest more in reaching new listeners, especially on social media. Maybe that's what's still lacking: more self-promotion.

"A War with Myself" is Urdza's first official release. How does it feel to finally share this original work with the public?

[Heitor]: It's a mix of nerves and fulfillment, knowing we did the best we could! The song "A War with Myself" is nearly 15 years old—I wrote the lyrics when I was a teenager—and now I feel like its cycle is complete. I'm proud of the journey with my friends and brother. In less than a year we've already experienced so many great things. If you asked me a year ago, I'd never imagine all this happening. The feeling is amazing, though I still get shy when someone says, "Hey, I listened to your record."

In the press release, Hugo said the album reflects your influences but done "your way." Which bands or styles left the strongest mark on this work, and where did you try to innovate or break away from the obvious?

[Hugo]: British heavy metal from the '80s—especially Iron Maiden and Judas Priest—and thrash metal, with Megadeth and Metallica, are the main influences. Of course, there's a long list of others, since in our case, we write "naturally," without forcing a style. So the result is a blend of everything we've listened to. We weren't really worried about avoiding the obvious, since heavy/thrash has been around for over 40 years—it's hard not to resemble something. But even so, we managed to create original songs.

You worked with two very respected names in the Brazilian scene: Thiago Bianchi and Leandro Caçoilo. How did that partnership come about, and what was most valuable about their contributions?

[Hugo]: Once we realized the album had real potential, we decided to invest in a proper recording and sought a big name to produce it. Through recommendations, we found Thiago Bianchi. With him, we did pre-production, tracked the instrumentals, and handled mixing and mastering. He gave us invaluable tips—from song structure changes to how to operate in a professional environment, since until then we were just a garage band. We also did our music videos with him, which helped a lot with promotion. Vocals were recorded with Leandro, and that partnership was essential for the results we have today.

[Heitor]: I've been a fan of Leandro Caçoilo since I was a kid! One of the first metal bands I heard was Eterna, thanks to Gustavo Corrêa (Urdza's guitarist). I must've been 12. Hearing Leandro sing shocked me. Now I'm his student, we're friends, and I'm still amazed at his heart as a person. He's my ultimate idol. When we showed him the album, the connection was immediate—he basically became the sixth member of the band. He attended rehearsals, gave feedback, pointed out what needed emphasis, and guided us in a fantastic way until the recording. His mentorship was crucial for me as a vocalist—I found my comfort zone and direction. For me, he's the best singer in Brazil, no doubt.

"A War with Myself" deals with inner conflicts, growth, and identity. How do those themes reflect the moment you're living as a band today?

[Hugo]: The album's themes don't necessarily reflect our personal moment, but the process of moving from a "garage band" to one with bigger ambitions was indeed complicated. There was tension balancing personal/professional life and band commitments, and that led to lineup changes at the time of the release. For some, the dream was only to record an album, nothing more. So yes, that conflict with ourselves reflected in real life too. But today, almost a year after release, things are much calmer. The conflicts stayed in the lyrics.

The world of Magic: The Gathering—which I've personally played for almost 20 years—inspired several tracks on the album. How did that connection happen, and how did the game's stories turn into songs?

[Hugo]: I've been playing Magic since 2000. I competed for many years, so it's really part of who I am. When we got to writing lyrics—the last step in our process—I looked for inspiration in Magic cards. Not necessarily tied to the game's lore, but cards that carried strong themes on their own and sparked lyrical ideas. Five out of the ten songs came from that, especially "Dark Ritual," "Wrath of God," and "Sign in Blood." We have references from other games too, but Magic was the most evident. That said, it's not meant to be Urdza's central theme.

You recently opened for Saxon in Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre, which must've been unforgettable. How was it stepping on stage before such passionate fans of a legendary band, while also presenting your own music?

[Heitor]: Believe it or not, that was maybe our third show as an original band! It was literally a step bigger than our legs, but having the people we love beside us made it special. Before going on stage, we even joked, "Look at us, opening for Saxon!" and just laughed—it felt so natural. The audience embraced us, they were fantastic in both cities. They talked to us after, asked about the band, showed genuine interest. And at one point, while we were playing, Biff himself was backstage watching. I froze for a second, but everything turned out fine! We also got to meet the Burning Witches in Porto Alegre and support them—an incredible experience seeing up close how an international band operates.

Heitor mentioned that Angra, for who you opened in Santo André during their "Temple of Shadows" – 20th Anniversary Tour, has always been an inspiration for you. Is there a specific album or song from them that directly shaped your musical path?

[Heitor]: Angra is always a reference, their legacy speaks for itself! I recently spoke with Luis Mariutti about his time in the band, and the stories were incredible. All their singers have been absolute legends—it's impossible not to have them as influences. For me personally, "Rebirth" (2001) was crucial. It was the first album I ever bought with my own money, and I still feel that excitement today. And "Carolina IV" from "Holy Land" (1996) always left me amazed at how it was composed, with so many layers and ideas. Angra is sensational, and I'll definitely get emotional being near them.

In such a short time, Urdza went from the studio to releasing a debut album and already sharing the stage with national and international giants. Looking back, what do you think contributed most to this fast growth?

[Hugo]: Even though the band itself is new, we've basically spent a lifetime dedicated to music, even if mostly on an amateur level. So the result comes from maturity as musicians and careful planning. Our contact with seasoned professionals like Leandro Caçoilo, Thiago Rahal, Thiago Bianchi, and others helped immensely.

Have these live experiences, opening for renowned bands, influenced how you think about the band's future? Are you already planning the next steps musically?

[Heitor]: Definitely. The band is tougher now in many ways, and this lineup is the best we've had—amazing musicians and great people. I'm convinced the next album will be much stronger. We're already working on some riffs and early drafts. Nothing ready to announce yet, but ideas are coming together. For now, we're still focused on consolidating the band's name and debut album, but yes—there's new material on the horizon.

Finally, what can fans expect from Urdza moving forward? Any shows, videos, or new releases coming soon?

[Hugo]: We have some exciting shows lined up in the coming months, but they're still being finalized, so it'll stay as a surprise for now. The plan is to capture live material to showcase Urdza on stage. We'll also be at the Conecta+ music fair this September in São Paulo, with our own booth alongside the [Luis] Mariutti Team. We'll be distributing material and running a giveaway for a very special item that fans will love.