Hades (band)

Hades is a Brazilian electronic music group that first came into prominence during the early 1990s. The band has been named after the ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, where Hades is the god of the dead and the king of the Greek underworld.
== History ==
=== Early years ===
Hades was formed in 1990 when some friends from São Bernardo do Campo (industrial region of Säo Paulo – Brazil) with common interest in synth-pop, Gothic rock and Electronic body music genres start making their own sounds in an improvised basement studio with some basic keyboards and gadgets for sampling emulation (tape recorders, video games etc.). In the very first moment still doing only instrumental songs, Alan Draht aka Alan C. P. (drums), Rogerio Barbosa (keyboards) and Vagner Santos (keyboards) started with the compositions and garage performances, influenced by minimalist bands like Poésie Noire or Fatal Morgana. Vagner left the band after 2 years to ground his own project (Analog Code) in another city.
In 1993 Sandro Couto (drums, keyboards) joined the band and Alan Draht assumed the vocals and lyrics composition. The band was brought to attention of local audience due to the unusual way of producing electronic music without any kind of programming or state-of-the art equipment. In a time of Cassette tape and letters to black/white copied fanzine writers, the first release of the band was the cassette tape Agony of Domination, which resulted in some gigs in traditional clubs appearances in the Zensor weekly FM radio show and reviews in the specialised media. In 1994 Alan Draht left the band to ground the EBM project Urban Citizen. A second tape, Mesmerize was released through the Brazilian label Cri du Chat Disques in 1994 with positive reverberation in the press. The band contributed to the empowerment of the electronic scene in the industrial region of Sao Paulo and was also included on the compilation Minimal SynthEthics 3 again through Cri du Chat Disques "the first Brazilian label totally dedicated to the independent electronic music production" marking a typical 80s mood on compositions. Both releases counted with vocals of Alexandre Pepeu during the short time he contributed to the band. After that period, Sandro then with Plinio Mattos on vocals and programming participates on a further independently released compilation CD (Clash and Behaviour) and gigs in Sao Paulo, always looking for new sonority in a very active scene. During this time, new songs are composed and recorded with better synths in professional studios. Two different releases in tape are issued in 1996 with plenty of new material. By the end of the century Plinio left the band to ground Further Southern afterwards and Hades starts a long period of incubation.
=== Contemporary years ===
After years with priority focused on family and professional life, Alan Draht and Sandro Couto started again with Hades in 2016 and new material is developed together with re-recording of old songs, always based in classic influences like Clan of Xymox, Front 242 and Depeche Mode. The essence of Hades remains the same: cold minimal compositions, dark lyrics and handmade soundscapes, which results in participation on compilations in Brazil and Belgium, besides achieving 6th. place in the "Music Store Song Contest 2020" in Germany. In 2021 Hades releases many singles in digital platforms either independently or again through Cri du Chat Disques / Universal Music Brasil.
Hades 	Hades
 	
Background information	Background information
Origin 	São Bernardo do Campo / São Caetano do Sul - Brazil
Genres 	Electronic music, Industrial music, Synth-pop, Darksynth, Gothic rock
Years active 	1990 - 1996, 2016 - present
Labels 	Cri du Chat Disques, Universal Music Brasil
Associated acts 	Urban Citizen, Further Southern, Analog Code
Website 	www.facebook.com/hades.darksynth
 	
Members 	Alan Draht (voices, programming, production)
Sandro Couto (synths, programming)
 	
Past members 	Vagner Santos
Rogerio Barbosa
Alexandre Pepeu
Plinio Mattos
== Discography ==
=== Releases ===
* Hades, demo-tape (1990)
* Agony of Domination, demo-tape (1994)
* Mesmerize, tape Cri Du Chat Disques (1995)
* Temporary, demo-tape (1996)
* 1996, demo-tape (1996)
*Spell box, demo-tape (1997)
* Morbid Action, single digital release – Bandcamp (2020)
=== Compilations ===
* Minimal SynthEthics 3, CD Cri Du Chat Disques - Brazil (1995)
* Clash & Behavior, CD independent - Brazil (1996)
* Temple of Souls vol.3, CD, Deepland Records - Brazil (2019)
* Underground Wave vol.6, vinyl, Walhalla Records - Belgium (2019)
* Back2live, digital release, RDC - Russia (2021)
*Undead and Open-minded vol.6https://electrozombies.com/releases/compilation/undead-and-open-minded-volume-6/, digital release, Electrozombies - Germany (2021)
=== Singles ===
* Times, digital release, Cri Du Chat Disques / Universal Music Brasil (2021)
* Moon quest, digital release, Cri Du Chat Disques / Universal Music Brasil (2021)
* Mourning, digital release, Cri Du Chat Disques / Universal Music Brasil (2021)
* Another Life, digital release, Cri Du Chat Disques / Universal Music Brasil (2021)
Category:Brazilian electronic music groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1990