words & photos: Ricardo Silva
The evening opened with Manga Cava, a Porto-based quartet whose sound combines indie pop, punk and alternative rock. Characterised by contrasting vocal approaches, unpolished guitar textures and an impulsive songwriting style, the band brings a distinctly youthful perspective to the local underground scene.
Their debut release, Retrato da Menina Abandonada no Lixo, released in August 2026, captures this identity through songs that balance melodic immediacy with a playful, sometimes abrasive edge. Tracks such as Tás a Gozar Comigo?, Cabeçada and Botão de Autodestruição reflect the band’s irreverent approach to lyrics and its willingness to move between humour, frustration and introspection.
Manga Cava’s appearance provided an introduction to another strand of Porto’s independent music scene before The Black Wizards took the stage to present their latest album.
The Black Wizards returned to Porto on October 22nd to present their fourth studio album released on September 4th through British label Hassle Records, marking a new chapter in a career shaped by heavy psychedelia, garage rock and an increasingly direct approach to songwriting.
The RCA Radio Clube Agramonte in Porto hosted the live presentation that marked an important moment for the local trio, whose latest work represents a clear shift towards a rawer, more immediate sound.
Following Reflections (2019), the new record arrives after a seven-year gap between studio albums. During that period, the band went through significant changes, eventually consolidating its current line-up: Joana Brito on guitar and vocals, José Gomes on bass and vocals, and Helena Peixoto on drums.
The decision to embrace the trio format has helped define the direction of the new material, with the musicians prioritising the directness and physical impact of their music.
A More Direct and Confrontational Sound
On Force Majeure & The Acts of God, The Black Wizards move away from some of the extended psychedelic passages associated with their earlier work, favouring sharper arrangements, more immediate riffs and a stronger garage and proto-punk influence. The result retains the weight of their previous material while placing greater emphasis on rhythm, dynamics and concise songwriting.
Tracks such as Killing The Buzz and Loose illustrate this change in direction. The former confronts political spectacle and the growing frustration surrounding contemporary society, while the latter explores anxiety, repetitive thought patterns and the feeling of being trapped inside one’s own mind. Both songs demonstrate the band’s ability to connect personal concerns with a wider sense of social unease.
Beat, takes a different approach to composition, having been built around a drum pattern rather than the guitar riff that traditionally serves as the starting point for a rock song. This shift places Helena Peixoto’s rhythmic work at the centre of the arrangement, with the guitar and bass developing around its pulse.
Wishing Well and 9 to 5 where among the numerous songs on the setlist.
Joana Brito’s voice moves between melodic phrasing and a more abrasive, confrontational delivery, while José Gomes’ contributions add another dimension to the band’s vocal arrangements. Peixoto’s drumming provides the foundation for this interplay, maintaining a sense of forward momentum throughout the record.
The album was recorded at Arda Recorders in Porto with Cooper Crain, known for his work with CAVE and Bitchin Bajas, and mastered by Mikey Young, whose credits include Amyl and the Sniffers and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The production preserves the rough edges and immediacy that distinguish the new material, reinforcing the band’s preference for a sound that translates naturally to the stage.
The ten-track Force Majeure & The Acts of God balances muscular riffs and driving rhythms with lyrics rooted in the realities of contemporary life. Its approach reflects a band willing to reconsider its established formula while retaining the essential characteristics of its sound.
For The Black Wizards, the record represents more than a return after an extended absence from the studio. It documents the consolidation of the trio’s current line-up and a renewed commitment to making music that addresses the world around it without losing its sense of humour, energy or defiance.
Following the Porto presentation, the band is scheduled to continue its European activity around Spain, Belgium, Germany, Luxemburg, Croatia and Austria, including na iberian tour alongside French experimental rock band SLIFT, with dates in Porto, Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona.
With Force Majeure & The Acts of God, The Black Wizards reaffirm their place within Portugal’s independent rock landscape while pushing their music towards a leaner, more confrontational sound.
