Interview with PODRE

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about PODRE (Members, Starting Year etc).
Podre is a grindcore/slam death metal band from Covilhã, Portugal, formed in 2024. The band came together in a very spontaneous way. Started as a random conversation on a stationery shop, quickly turned into a rehearsal on the same day, and from there things escalated naturally. The lineup consists of Miguel on bass, TóZé on guitars, Joel on drums and Ti Gonçalo on vocals, all coming from the same local scene and sharing a similar background in extreme music. We aim to create something aggressive and absurd, without overcomplicating things. The focus is on energy, impact and a strong visual identity that reflects the same chaotic atmosphere we grew up with. Less about perfection and more about intensity and fun.

Recently you have released on your YouTube Channel your new official music video "Banana Podre!". Tell us about this experience of making a video clip.
Making the “Banana Podre!” clip was an extremely fun DIY and hands-on experience, just like everything else we try to do. The idea itself was simple and slightly stupid. Take something ordinary, let it rot for way too long, and then deal with the consequences. We didn’t want it to feel polished or overly produced. The goal was to capture something real, the reactions and the absurdity of the situation, and translate that into something that visually matches all the our concept. The whole process was a mix of planning and improvisation. We had a basic concept, but once we started filming, things quickly became different. Some of the best moments came from that unpredictability of the crowd, real reactions and things not going exactly as expected. We just embraced it. We also experimented with green screen for the first time, which was tons of fun. It was a technique that was a bit outside of our technical comfort zone, but the final result turned out great.

And what about the lyrics?
For this track, there aren’t really “lyrics” in the traditional sense. It’s mostly built around the phrase “banana podre” (rotten banana) and a wide range of filthy vocal sounds and textures that fit the song. We do actually write lyrics. Ti Gonçalo puts real thought into them, even if they’re not always easy to understand in a purely auditory way. In this kind of music, the voice often works more as an instrument than a clear narrative tool. For “Banana Podre!”, the main concept was simple, the phrase itself became like a mascot for the track. Everything revolves around that idea, both sonically and visually.

Are you in searching for a record label? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
We really enjoy the DIY process and it’s a big part of who we are as a band. From the music production to the visuals, even down to things like making our own t-shirts with fabric paint and bleach, or putting together our own banners and stage props, we do it all. That hands-on approach is something we love, and we’d like to keep that spirit even if we were working with a label. The reality is that it’s not always easy to balance both worlds, especially when there are certain expectations and standards that come with being under a label. Ideally, we’d find something that allows both sides to coexist, keeping our identity and creative freedom while having the support that a label can provide. But for now, the focus is making music and playing shows. Everything else is a bonus.

Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
There are quite a few weird moments, but a big part of it comes from how we approach our live shows. We like to bring different outfits and concepts to the stage every time, just to keep things unpredictable and ridiculous. One of the most memorable ones was at Butchery at Christmas Time. Since it happens around the holiday season, we decided to lean into that in the worst possible way. The band went on stage dressed as Christmas elves, while our vocalist showed up as the Grinch. It was awesome! People didn’t really know whether to laugh or get into the pit so they just did both. That contrast is something we really enjoy, taking something familiar or even silly, and pushing it into an uncomfortable or absurd context. It makes the whole experience more memorable, both for us and for the people watching. At this point, weird situations just feel like part of the process.

Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
A big part of our influences comes from the local scene we grew up in. Being surrounded by grindcore, brutal death and all the bands that passed through our area had a huge impact on us. Bands like Raw Decimating Brutality, Serrabulho, Vai-te Foder, Analepsy, Dead Meat and many others from the Portuguese scene played a giant role in shaping our sound and presentation.
At the same time, we’re influenced by the overall feeling and freedom of the genre. It’s less about trying to replicate specific bands and more about carrying that same raw and direct energy into what we do. In the end, it’s a mix of everything we’ve been exposed to, but always filtered through our own way of doing things, keeping it simple and stupid.

Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
For us, it’s mostly about time and dedication. We don’t really see it as a sacrifice, because we’re doing it out of passion. We’re not big enough to fully understand what kind of sacrifices are needed to reach that next level. For now, we just focus on putting the time in and enjoying the process.

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
We just want people to have fun and get into the chaos with us, no matter if it’s a full room or just a few people. We’ve already felt that energy in smaller shows, and that’s what matters most to us. The dream is to play at Obscene Extreme, but we still have a long way to go.

What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
Whether we like it or not, AI is already part of the music landscape and it’s only going to grow. It has a lot of possible applications, especially on the technical side. But from an artistic point of view, it’s not something we really connect with. We feel like too much automation takes away the character and makes things feel artificial in the wrong way. We’d rather listen and produce something raw, imperfect and human than something extremely polished by machines.

From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Our main advice is simple: have fun. Don’t take things too seriously and don’t be overly self-critical — it kills the enjoyment. Being natural and honest is far more important than trying to be perfect. Leave precision and perfection to the machines.

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Portugal (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Portugal is small, but very much alive. The metal community has been growing steadily, and there are more festivals and shows than ever, covering all kinds of niches within the genre. The focus here is strongly on the underground, supported by people and spaces that are truly dedicated to keeping it alive. Associations like Neverlate Associação Cultural and Fora de Rebanho, along with venues such as X-Treme in Castelo Branco, Okulto in Braga, Trebavna in Lamego, Buraco Pub in Ovar, RCA in Lisbon, and Barracuda and Hard Club in Porto, are key places where you can experience some of the best underground shows in the country. On top of that, there are countless other spaces and an increasing number of festivals happening all over Portugal. The scene keeps expanding, not just in events but also in people. More and more young bands are forming and entering the underground. Bands like Yatana, Viledog and Overhated are just a few examples, but there are many more coming up. And of course, alongside the underground, there are also bigger and mid-sized festivals that help bring even more visibility to the scene. We strongly recommend checking out Caminhos Metálicos and Wall of Metal Portugal on Instagram to keep up with what’s happening in the Portuguese metal scene and to discover new bands. It’s great to see how things are evolving, the scene is growing, but still keeping that strong underground identity.

What does Gore means to you? And give us 10 albums & 10 movies that run in your veins.
For us, gore from an artistic point of view is something visceral and controversial. That’s why we connect with it so much, especially when it mixes with elements like absurdity, animation, or sci-fi. It’s not just about violence and horror but about exaggeration and impact.

Movies/series:
Predator
Alien
Celebrity Deathmatch
Happy Tree Friends
Invincible
Space King
MeatCanyon
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Friday the 13th
Herbert West - Reanimator

Albums:
Unleash the Gore – Dead Meat
The Wretched Spawn – Cannibal Corpse
Onset of Putrefaction – Necrophagist
Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious – Carcass
Scream Bloody Gore – Death
Atrocities from Beyond – Analepsy
Sperm to Grind Your Ears – Raw Decimating Brutality
Maggot Colony – Gutalax
Reek of Putrefaction – Carcass
Gorefilia – Holocausto Canibal

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
To be honest, we don’t know the Hellenic metal scene that deeply. But one band that keeps coming up a lot in our playlist is Suicidal Angels.

What are your future plans?
Our main focus right now is working on our next music video for a track called “Sumo de Sovaco” (Armpit Juice), which is going to follow the same absurd and disgusting direction we’ve been exploring. At the same time, we want to keep releasing more music on YouTube and playing as many shows as possible.

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
First of all, we’d like to thank Filthy Dogs of Metal for the interview and for helping spread this filth. We wish you all the best and a strong future with what you’re building. And of course, a special thanks to everyone who’s been following and supporting us so far, all the podridão out there. Next time… it’s going to be worse. And definitely more disgusting. 🤮🍌

Mail: grindpodre@gmail.com
SOCIALS:
Bandcamp: https://podregrind.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podregrind
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podregrind
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Podregrind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podregrind

By Steve the Filthy Dog.