Torture Squad began in 1990 and in the beginning we were in 3, that formation stayed until the beginning of 92 when the other ones two integral for indifference in playing heavy sound they had to leave and only remaining me of the original formation. Already in the begining of 1993 Torture Squad was already with a new formation, when the guys entered there were some six or seven ready music and in August of this same year we recorded the demo " A Soul in Hell ", the CD came in 95. We recorded the 4 musics of the demo, but the CD got ready just in 1998. The delay was because of several setbacks we had with dishonest people.

What is the origin of the name TORTURE SQUAD? What does this name symbolize for you?

In the first rehearsals we had a provisory name " Jason Alive " but we had to change it because at that time a band with the same name appeared, at that time we were listening the album Ignorance of Sacred Reich a lot (I listen that album a lot until today) and the music Death Squad really impresses and than we had the idea of placing the name of Death Squad to our band, but we also took the risk of finding some band with this name,so we decided to change "Death" for "Torture", after all the two words are equally aggressive and they combine with our music.

Your sound send us to the eighthies thrash/death, it reveals influences European bands scene, like DESTRUCTION and KREATOR, and at the same time bands of the Brazilian scene of the eighties like CHAKAL, SARCÖFAGO and MUTILATOR. How do you see the Brazilian scene of those golden years?? And now, what do think of the movement Brazilian metal??

It didn't change a lot, after all, today the scenery of metal is stronger than never concerning the shows, available material for who collects this kind of music (before it was rare and expensive) and that without speaking in the quality, at the last times we had the opportunity to see bands we never imagined we would see. Many of the bands of 80s are still loyal to the heavy metal, it exists many great new bands appearing as abroad as here in Brazil, there are hundreds of fanzines in the whole Brazil addressed to the heavy metal, the scenery of the heavy metal in general is very strong, but sincerely if I could I would go back to the eighties, the longing is very big.

The TORTURE SQUAD seems to worry very much with the the lyrical aspect, and it seems to have a predilection for criticizing the religious fanaticism, and the empty promises of sects and churches (see the letters of "A Soul in Hell" and "Dreadful Lies"). How do you see GOD?? Do you Believe in such fource?? And, which is your opinion about the satanism divulged for many bands of BLACK METAL???

Vitor and Castor (they write the letters) they were never concerned in criticizing any religion, letters as "A Soul in Hell" and "Dreadful Lies" speak about people that use a sacred image to take advantage of another that go by fardels in that situation, we are not against any religion nor in favor of it, each one follows the way that to find better. I think GOD can have several different meanings, along the human history how many types of GODS did us have???, still today people is always dying in wars because of religion. For me, to believe in GOD doesn't mean to have a religion.

The satanism divulged for many black bands, death and even thrash metal bands I am in favor because it is the magic of the heavy music, it is conected to the sound of the music, but the true problem is that many people confuse amusement with attitude, and they are impelled by pure fleeting rebelliousness, on the other hand I can't stand bands with having gospel proposed.

How is the composition process of the band's musics??

The most natural possible, we don't force to compose a music, it has to come naturally, doesn't matter if it spents months without composing a music. Till today we just have 22 ready musics.

Your music looks for strong references in the eigthies thrash, is because of it that you were called like dated??

Just for those who doesn't love and never loved real heavy metal, but "laboratory" music.

The guitar soils of TORTURE SQUAD are one of its more personal and creative marks, being always short, direct and full of feeling. What do you think of melodic metal bands as STRATOVARIOUS and DREAM TEATHER that use the music as an instrument to express its virtuosity, creating endless soils?? In which guitarists does Cristiano Fusco look for inspiration to mold its style??

Those bands of the called "melodic heavy metal", as Stratovarius, I sincerely don't like and I don't collect anything of these copies of " Helloween " that you see around, because, as you said, it is too much virtuosism and those guys forget to put their souls in the music, those bands generally sin for technique excess.

In my case I don't have inspiration in any guitarist especially, I like Michael Denner's style (Mercyful Fate), Rocky George (Suicidal), Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt (Exodus), John Ricci (Exciter), Chuck (Death), Glen Timpton (Judas Priest), Alex Lifeson (Rush),Tommy A. (B. Sabbath), Spike Cassidy (DxRxI), "Roobo" Robertson (ex Motorhead), T. Azagoth (Morbid Angel), Steve Morse (current Deep Purple), Tommy T. Baron (Coroner), Andy La Roque (K. Diamond), Dave Murray (Iron Maiden) and it go on...

How has been the reception to the album SHIVERING in Brasil and abroad?? Is the band already composing material for a new CD??

We can say that the CD "Shivering" pleased 100%, we ordered material for more 120 fanzines in the whole Brazil and the CD was very well eulogized unless for 1 or 2 exceptions. Abroad we ordered material for more than 30 countries in all the continents and that includes recording, stamps, dealers, radios, magazines and zines but the popularization still continues in spite of having remained few copies, but we asked for more copies, something about 600 copies by the stamp DESTROYER record's.

Today we already have material to record more two CDs and in the end of this year it is already scheduled for we throw the 2o CD "Asylum of Shadows" for the DESTROYER record's.

We would like that you could give your opinion about the following bands:

*BLACK SABBATH - All the albums are great, that band is an example!

*CELTIC FROST - The best riifs I already heard! Hear the work "Morbid Tales".

*KREATOR - Great band, I like it very much.

*WASP - One of the first heavy bands I knew, great!

*KISS - I took of the hat for those guys

*IRON MAIDEN - Responsible for one of the heavy metal best disks of all the times for me - " Power Slave "

*SLAYER - Destruction always, I grew listening a lot of that, this band means a lot for me.

*SONIC YOUTH - Very eccentric, it isn't heavy sound. A garbage!

*SEX PISTOLS - I never was interested in!

*YES - The best Progressive, great band, do you remember the program "Realce Baby"?

*MARYLIN MANSON - It is lamentable to know that exists things like this!

*SOULFLY - I don't know anything of them, but the good tongues say it is a shit.

*TIAMAT - The first three albums are good, the last ones are a pity!

*DEICIDE - One of the biggest and more aggressive bands of the world, great!

*OASIS - I don't want this evil to anybody!

*RAIMUNDOS - This disease passes, ridiculous!!!

*METALLICA - Until "And Just for All..." it is an excellent band, but then, for me it is pure deception, they should have changed their name.

*DIMMU BORGIR - For me the keyboards destroys that band.

*AMORPHIS - I don't remember their sound.

*MANOWAR - They are loyal to the heavy metal, they deserve the public that they have, I like a lot.

Does TORTURE SQUAD has been getting spaces for shows?? How is the underground movement in São Paulo??

Here in São Paulo always appears plenty of shows, the public gives a good support for the bands, but this year we are intending to play more for the interior of São Paulo and other states to disclose our sound more closely of the headbanger public of São Paulo.

What projects does the band have for the future??

To continue making what we really know and like, because we always were a band of death metal and we will always be. We make it with the soul, we intended to play a lot for the future generations of headbangers, it has been very gratifying for us in almost 10 years of Torture Squad. We will meet each other!