Alastor

Alastor is a foundational entity in the Portuguese black/thrash scene, formed in 1988 by JA and JF. The band's history is inextricably linked with Decayed, another pillar of the Lusitanian underground, sharing members and a split release in 1998.

Their sound is a deliberate throwback to the 'First Wave' of black metal, drawing heavily from the primitive energy of Venom, Hellhammer, and Bulldozer. Throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, they released a string of cult albums on labels like Barbarian Wrath, a stable known for championing uncompromisingly old-school extreme metal. Their aesthetic is defined by a 'no-frills' approach to production, often utilizing lo-fi recording techniques that emphasize the raw, abrasive textures of the instruments. Critical consensus views them as a 'musician's band' within the niche, respected for their longevity and stylistic purity. They occupy a specific cultural space for collectors of obscure European metal, representing the bridge between 80s speed metal and the second wave of black metal.