Alvacast
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Montevideo , Uruguay |
Area served | South America, Canada |
| Products | Heavy metal music albums |
Alvacast is a heavy metal group that originated in Uruguay in 1985. Recognized as one of South America's most impactful metal bands during the 1980s, they stand alongside notable contemporaries such as Cross and Acido from Uruguay, Hermética from Argentina, Massacre from Chile, and Sepultura from Brazil. Initially performing in English, the band later relocated to Canada to further their career.
Origins in Uruguay
The band was established in 1985 by Gustavo Rea on bass, Gustavo "Tycho" Artigas and Clement "Bhilo" Lopez on guitars, Jorge Villar on drums, and Charly D. Lopez handling vocals. They started playing shows around Montevideo and neighboring regions, rapidly cultivating a loyal following.
Their first demo, titled "Campos de sangre," was recorded in 1986 and featured the track "Campos De Sangre." That same year, Alvacast took part in the Montevideo Rock Festival alongside groups from Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. In 1987, they secured a contract with Orfeo Records and released their debut album Al Borde del Abismo on vinyl. This release was followed by a sold-out concert at Montevideo’s Odeon Theatre. The band embarked on an extensive tour throughout Uruguay, solidifying their status within the national rock circuit. Later in 1987, they appeared on Argentina’s television program "Rock de Primera" sharing the stage with prominent artists like Charly García and RIFF, and performed at Buenos Aires' Rock Theatre alongside Kamikaze.
In 1988, guitarist Clement "Bhilo" Lopez left the group and was replaced by Leonardo Lamela. That year brought international recognition as European music magazines featured Alvacast. They continued touring vigorously, appearing at Montevideo Rock II and performing in Buenos Aires clubs with support from acts such as Dr. Jekyll, Retrosatan, and Hermética. December saw the band playing two shows in Santiago de Chile: one at Estadio Manuel Plaza marred by technical difficulties, and a larger event at Chile Stadium before an audience exceeding 4,000 people, which attracted notable media attention.
The band's sophomore album Inocente... Hasta que se Demuestre lo Contrario was released in 1989 through Orfeo Records. Their growing fan base in Argentina prompted Radio Tripoli to distribute the album locally, followed by releases in Chile and Venezuela where their debut had also been introduced. In Argentina, Alvacast performed at Halley nightclub with bands such as Rata Blanca, Lethal, and Jaf Alakran. By 1990, they became the first Uruguayan metal act to sell out Buenos Aires' Estadio Obras Sanitarias.
Move to Canada
The departure of guitarist Lamela to Canada in 1991 triggered Alvacast’s initial dissolution. Over the next two years, several members relocated to Canada as well. Lopez arrived in Montreal during summer 1992 and soon joined Canadian heavy metal band Boize as a second vocalist. While recording and performing with Boize, he also connected with Aquarius Records. After the last member of Alvacast settled in Montreal, Lopez exited Boize. By December 1992, Alvacast reassembled as a Canadian band focusing on English-language material.
Their first Canadian performance took place at Station 10 on Sainte Catherine Street in Montreal as they adapted to a new market environment. During this period, Perro Andaluz Records issued Alvacast para Coleccionistas, a tape compilation recorded back in Montevideo. In 1994, Sondor rereleased their second album with English vocals under the title Black Testaments. Despite these efforts, commercial success proved elusive due to the band’s strong Hispanic influences and Lopez's Spanish-accented English vocals not resonating well within Montreal’s predominantly francophone audience. Consequently, Alvacast disbanded once more by late 1994.
Reunions
In late 1999, Alvacast embarked on a farewell tour spanning Canada and Uruguay, culminating in their final performance on December 29 at La Factoría in Montevideo before an audience of approximately 1,000. The opening act for this event was the band Chopper. The group came together again towards the end of 2014, leading to a series of concerts throughout 2015.
At present, three out of the five band members live in Montreal, one resides in Alberta, and another has relocated back to Uruguay.
Discography
- Al borde del abismo (1987)
- Inocente... Hasta que se Demuestre lo Contrario (1989)
- Para coleccionistas (1992)
- Black Testaments (1994)
- Inocente... Hasta que se Demuestre lo Contrario (2008 reissue by Bizarro Records)
- Black Testaments (2011 double vinyl LP reissue by Dies Irae, Brazil)
- Al borde del abismo (2015 CD reissue by Bizarro Records)