Doomed Confessionary: Italo Guardieiro (Dowzah)
Photos by Andre Carvalho
Dowzah, a monolith of macabre sounds, emerges from the shadowy corners of Brasília, Brasil to channel the abyss and express it in its purest form.
Since their conception in 2022, Dowzah has been tearing apart the veils of reality with a unique blend of doom and sludge metal. Consisted of Italo Guardieiro (Device) on vocals, Luan Lima (Burial Temple, Kurgan, ex-Subterror) on guitars, Sandro Marra (Summa, ex-ITD, ex-Caligo) on drums, and Mário Alvez (ex-Scania) on bass, the quartet sows terror and melancholy in every chord, every beat, and every guttural lament.
Their themes revolve around narratives of despair and desolation, where the voices of madness find echo. Each composition is a journey to the heart of the unknown, where discomfort intertwines with morbid beauty, creating a mosaic of hopelessness and ecstasy, enveloping you in its cloak of darkness.
In March 2024, Dowzah released their debut single »Rotten Sorcery«, available now on all digital platforms.
Can you say a few words about your band?
4 friends playing slow and disgusting music from the third world.
What was the biggest challenge for the band last year?
Pass the songs to the new bassist, Mário. But honestly, it was very peaceful.
What can you be most proud of so far?
From the reception to our single »Rotten Sorcery«, with people buying merch and supporting us from the start.
What was your biggest regret?
Having given a vote of confidence to an old acquaintance to produce our first t-shirts, he disappeared with our money and never delivered the material. There was also the occasion when a studio lost the vocal tracks, we had to re-record (in another studio, obviously). It was a horrible headache!
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
We’re a new band, we had our first show last week. The next one is next month. So, it’s easy to choose. It was a fucking debut!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Italo: I believe in the unity of the scene again. Benefit shows for friends who have gone through some health or financial problem. Seeing new and old bands together for the same cause and taking a stand against any form of authoritarianism.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I’ve been listening a lot to Fistula, their discography is awesome. And the latest one from Necrot that just came out.
Can you say something more about the music scene in Brasília?
People dedicated are organizing around here. There’s still the old collusion of bands, and I believe it will always exist. But some new venues and producers are willing to change.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
For now, we’re playing next month here in Brasília and negotiating some dates in Goiás. We’re more focused on finishing some songs for a full album.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
After releasing the single, we’re focused on finishing other compositions for the first full work. We already have some songs that we only play live. The single only showed a glimpse of what we’re capable of.
How can people best support your band?
Spreading our sound, buying merch, going to shows, and buying us some beers. There’s no mystery.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Just a heads up. The absence of underground events is directly proportional to your lack of interest. Doom on!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well