Doomed Confessionary: Ricardo, Vasco & Pedro (Madmess)
Emerging from the heart of Porto, Portugal around 2017, Madmess created a unique sound in the realm of heavy psychedelic rock. Drawing inspiration from the iconic sounds of the 70s, their music transports listeners on a mind-altering voyage through unknown dimensions.
Once a well-kept secret in Europe’s psychedelic music scene, their anonymity may soon fade. The single »Velvet Nebula«, the first preview of Madmess’ new album, offered a taste of what’s ahead, following a year filled with touring highlights, including performances at Krach am Bach (DE), ArcTanGent (UK), Freak Valley Xmas (DE), and Sonic Blast (PT).
»The Third Coming« just dropped today via Kozmik Artifactz, Glory or Death Records and gig.ROCKS! Join Madmess on this mesmerizing quest, where the boundaries of reality blur and the mind finds solace in the infinite expanse of sound as they continue to push the boundaries of sonic exploration.
Madmess are Ricardo Sampaio (guitar, vocals), Vasco Vasconcelos (bass) and Pedro Cruz (drums).
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Hey Doomed Nation! We’re MADMESS, a power trio from Porto – Portugal, formed in 2017. Our sound is a modern take on the 60s/70s prog/psych rock greats; we’re huge fans of that kind of music but still very influenced by what’s going on today.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Around 2022, we faced our biggest challenge when our previous drummer left the band and we had to play Sonic Whip in the Netherlands and a few more shows with a substitute drummer. It was a hard time, but we did it and it went pretty well in the end.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Our proudest achievement till now is our first European tour that we did last year during summer. It was one month on the road crossing 6 countries. Our first ever EU tour was booked for 2021 but got cancelled due to the pandemic, so it felt great to finally make it in 2024.
What was your biggest regret?
No regrets, we learn with every mistake and move forward.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
The best concert was Krach am Bach in Germany, last summer. Our set was at a really good pace and in a great slot, and the crowd was wild. Also, our buddies TRAVO were there and we had a lot of fun together.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The Portuguese underground rock and psychedelic scene is rich and eclectic but often underappreciated, and in the last few years, there’s been a lot of Portuguese bands rising in the scene, like MAQUINA. that are touring like crazy or our mates TRAVO who just recorded a KEXP, and nailed it.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
UFO, Black Sabbath, Earthless, Budgie, Captain Beyond, Stepenwolf, Elder, DeWolff and many many more.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Keep your expectations low, but dream big, good things will follow.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I guess we can say our guilty pleasure is the cheesy 80s music classics, always great for a good laugh/party (laughs).
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Porto?
The music scene in Porto is quite vibrant, with a lot of bands coming up lately and there’s a really tight community in between all the musicians. It’s a great city to live as a musician, probably the best in the country, as Lisbon has become too touristy and does not have the community vibe Porto has to offer.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
11: We’ll be hitting Europe once again this year in May, but also planning a bigger tour later this year in the fall/winter.
This is what we have so far:
10.05 – Socorro – Porto, PT
20.05 – Wurlitzer – Madrid, ES
21.05 – El Bunker – Alicante, ES
23.05 – Sideral Festival – Capbreton, FR
24.05 – La Grange Baffignac – Castres, FR
27.05 – La Ley Seca – Zaragoza, ES
28.05 – DioBar – Barcelona, ES
29.05 – La Rauyela – Miranda de Ebro, ES
30.05 – Rock dos Romanos – Coimbra, PT
What are your plans for the future as a band?
A release tour by the end of the year. We love to play live! And a new record by the end of 2026. We simply can’t stop!
How can people best support your band?
By coming to our shows, buying our merch and letting us know new places to play and new connections, so we can grow as a band. Sending pictures/videos of our records being played at home is also very pleasant!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Hope you dig our sound and enjoy the new record, and if you can, come to our shows – we play heavy but we’re very light guys 🙂
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well