Their first album was released in 1983 and was titled Crucificados pelo sistema. Released on the Ataque Frontal label, it was one of the best-selling hardcore albums to come out of the country, and was soon considered a punk classic worldwide. The line up was João Gordo (vocals), Mingau (guitar – later in many punk and pop bands in Brazil, currently playing in Ultraje a Rigor), Jabá (bass) and Jão (drums). Soon after, with the fall of the São Paulo punk scene (because of associated gang violence), the band split up and since then João Gordo has been accused of selling out and betraying the DIY ethics of the hardcore punk movement for several alleged reasons; he has said, "I'm a traitor since 1983, because I told the guys I played hardcore, not punk. Then, I got labelled.(...)That's a stigma".[1]
Initial crossover thrash era
In 1985, RxDxPx came back, but with a different line up and sound. They brought thrash metal to their music, influenced by bands such as Slayer, Exodus, Kreator and hardcore bands around the world that were also transitioning to a more thrash metal sound, like Suicidal Tendencies, D.R.I., English Dogs, Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front and others (including Brazilian bands such as Lobotomia and Armagedom). Jão switched over to playing guitar, and an old punk named Spaghetti (who later adopted a thrash metal sound) replaced him on drums. Subsequently, they released the Descanse Em Paz album on Baratos Afins in 1986.
With their new sound, they began to associate more with heavy metal bands, becoming friends with longtime RxDxPx fans Sepultura and other bands of the Brazilian 1980s metal scene, including Korzus and Anthares. Their next studio release with Baratos Afins Records, 1987's Cada Dia Mais Sujo e Agressivo, was also released in an English-language version (Dirty and Aggressive) (the band feared that their English was so grammatically inaccurate that many of their native English speaking fans might ridicule their translated lyrics).[citation needed] This release continued the band's D-beat drum tempos.
In 1989, they signed to Roadrunner Records at the urging of Igor Cavalera of Sepultura, who played one of the band's tapes for the label's executives. RxDxPx then went to Germany to record their next studio LP, Brasil. With Harris Johns of Voivod and Tankard producing, the band's production quality improved substantially in contrast to their previous releases; the instrumentation was noticeably more technical.
In 1990, they returned to Germany to record their last album with the 'classic' line-up of João Gordo, Jão, Jabá and Spaghetti. With Harris Johns acting again as producer, their next album titled Anarkophobia was met with criticism by some fans for being the band's most metallic release to date, having considerably more complex and lengthy song compositions and more technical musicianship. Nevertheless, Anarkophobia increased their profile within the worldwide metal scene of the early 1990s.
But in mid-1991, they had their first line-up change in years, with Spaghetti leaving the band, citing that he had "been tired of the musical life".[citation needed] They auditioned several drummers to replace him, including Beto Silesci from Korzus, but the band decided that Silesci's style was too metal for the new direction they were planning to pursue. Silesci was in turn replaced with Boka of the Santos Beach thrash/death metal band Psychic Possessor. In 1992, RxDxPx released its first official live album, called Ao Vivo, with a corresponding music video for the song "Aids, Pop, Repressão" receiving heavy air play on Furia Metal of MTV (the Brazilian equivalent of Headbangers Ball).
At the decline of the thrash scene, under tension and personal problems (Jabá left the band and they had a heavy drug problem), they entered into the studio in 1994 to record their only 'all lyrics in English' album, called Just Another Crime In Massacreland. The album suffered a thin production and a low promotion by the label, and it was a hard time in the life of RxDxPx.[citation needed]
Return to hardcore punk
After the departure of Jabá, the band had several different bass players and recorded a studio album with only punk and hardcore covers called Feijoada Acidente?, a play on the Guns N' Roses album "The Spaghetti Incident?". (Feijoada is a traditional food from Brazil, a stew based on beans and pork.) There were two versions of this album: one covering only Brazilian bands such as Olho Seco, Lobotomia, Garotos Podres, among others; and one covering only non-Brazilian bands such as G.B.H., Black Flag, Anti-Cimex, Minor Threat, among others. At this time, Walter Bart (who used to play in a punk band called "Não Religião") and "Pica Pau" (Portuguese for woodpecker), who stayed in the band until 1999, played bass.
Released in 1997, Carniceria Tropical marked a return to hardcore and Portuguese lyrics, and the band regained their former success. The same year, João Gordo started to work as a VJ for MTV Brasil.
In 1999, the bassist Cristian "Fralda", who used to play in the punk rock band Blind Pigs joined the band, and they entered into the studio to re-record their first album, and called this album Sistemados Pelo Crucifa (a play on the original album title, "Crucificados Pelo Sistema"). The front cover was designed by the Korzus bassist, Dick Siebert.
Return to crossover
In 2002, they released the Onisciente Coletivo album, and came back to be more friendly with thrash metal, mixing the 1980s with 1990s faces. The bassist Cristian "Fralda" left to join the old hardcore/crossover/thrash band Lobotomia. In his place entered an old underground musician, the bass player Paulo Júnior, who still plays with his hardcore band called "Discarga" and guitarist of "Point of no Return".
In 2006, they released Homem Inimigo Do Homem.
On 13 August 2013, Ratos de Porão announced on their Facebook page that they were working on a new album. Entitled Século Sinistro, the album was released on 27 May 2014.
Another eight years passed until the release of their upcoming eighth studio album, Necropolítica, on May 20, 2022.
Biotech Is Godzilla
Ratos De Porão Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Street People Kidnapped
Hid From View
"to Save The Earth"
Our Rules Met
Some Had Other
Secret Plans
Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Say What?
Strip-mine The Amazon
Of Cells Of Life Itself
Gold Rush For Genes Is On
Natives Get Nothing
Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Is Godzilla
Mutations Cooked In Labs
Money-mad Experiments
New Food + Medicine?
New Germ + Accidents!
Like Cubatao
"world's Most Polluted Town"
Air Melts Your Face
Deformed Children All Around
Bio-technology
Ain't What's So Bad
Like All Technology
It's In The Wrong Hands
Cut-throat Corporations
Don't Give A Damn
When Lots Of People Die
From What They're Made
Biotech
Biotech
Biotech
Is A.i.d.s. ?
Stop!!!
The lyrics to Ratos De Porão's song "Biotech Is Godzilla" address the negative impact of biotechnology on the environment and society. The first verse refers to the Rio Summit in 1992, where world leaders met to discuss environmental issues. However, some participants had secret plans that went against the goal of saving the earth. The second verse highlights how biotechnology companies are exploiting the Amazon rainforest and its native inhabitants. The third verse points out the dangers of playing with genetic mutations in labs for monetary gain, resulting in new food, medicine, and germs that could lead to accidents and deformities.
The chorus repeats the refrain "Biotech is Godzilla," drawing a parallel between the destructive force of the genetically modified monster and the devastating impact of biotechnology on society and the environment. The bridge suggests that biotechnology is not inherently bad but can be harmful if in the wrong hands. The final line, "Stop!!!," is a call to action for listeners to resist the harmful effects of biotechnology.
Overall, "Biotech Is Godzilla" is a protest song that addresses several ethical issues related to biotechnology, including environmental destruction, exploitation of native populations, and the dangers of playing with genetic mutations for profit.
Line by Line Meaning
Rio Summit, '92
Refers to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 where global leaders discussed various issues related to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Street People Kidnapped
Street dwellers were taken or hidden forcibly to avoid them from being visible to the delegates who came to attend the Rio Summit, who would thereby get to know of the rampant issue of homelessness and poverty in the city.
Hid From View
The act of taking street people out of sight to maintain an image of the city as a progressive and developed place that does not have any social issues like poverty or homelessness.
"to Save The Earth"
The 'Save the Earth' campaign adopted during the Rio Summit with an objective to conserve and protect the environment and natural resources from human exploitation and degradation.
Our Rules Met
Indicates that the participants taking part in the Rio Summit abided by certain laid-down regulations and were willing to work towards protecting the planet Earth.
Some Had Other
Despite agreeing to adhere to the established laws and plans, some delegates and countries had their own hidden motives and agendas.
Secret Plans
Unspoken plans to use the Summit ostensibly for the betterment of the environment but to advance their own interests and profit.
Biotech
Abbreviation for Biotechnology, which is the application of biological concepts and principles to create products, systems, and technical innovations useful for society.
Say What?
Expressing shock and disbelief towards how biotechnology and its advancements can harm the environment and people if not used ethically.
Strip-mine The Amazon
Refers to the mindless exploitation and depletion of the Amazon rainforest's natural resources, which is rich in biodiversity and ecological balance.
Of Cells Of Life Itself
The cells of Amazon's fauna and flora that are harvested and extracted for commercial use without consideration of the potential harm caused to the ecosystem.
Gold Rush For Genes Is On
Denotes the voracious race for discovering new genetic codes for commercial gain and profit, oblivious of the impact it can have on the indigenous communities and the environment.
Natives Get Nothing
Natives who live in the rainforests and have lived off its resources for generations stand to gain nothing from this exploitation and, in fact, lose their homes and resources.
Biotech Is Godzilla
Compares the impacts of Biotech to the monstrous imaginary creature Godzilla, which symbolizes the colossal destruction and havoc caused by human greed and recklessness on the environment.
Mutations Cooked In Labs
Manipulating and engineering the genes in the laboratories by the biotechnology companies without considering the long-term impact it can have on the environment and human health.
Money-mad Experiments
Biotech companies driven solely by profit and greed resort to reckless experiments by genetically modifying crops, animals, and microorganisms indiscriminately.
New Food + Medicine?
Biotechnology companies develop new strains of GM crops, medicines, drugs, and foods that can have unforeseen, harmful impacts on human health and the environment.
New Germ + Accidents!
The creation of new germs and pathogens in the laboratory pose a high risk to biosecurity and can potentially result in accidents or outbreaks that the world may not be able to control.
Like Cubatao
Cubatao, a Brazilian town known for its toxic waste site and air pollution that caused widespread respiratory problems and skin disorders among its residents.
"world's Most Polluted Town"
Refers to Cubatao's reputation as the most polluted town globally due to years of unregulated industrial growth and environmental degradation.
Air Melts Your Face
The air pollution in Cubatao was so intense that it caused physical harm to the residents, including disfiguration of the face.
Deformed Children All Around
Children in Cubatao were born with anomalies and deformities due to the hazardous chemicals and pollution caused by the industries located in the area.
Bio-technology
The field of biotechnology that has the potential to solve and address various global issues related to human health, food security, and environmental conservation.
Ain't What's So Bad
Biotechnology used ethically and responsibly can have significant benefits for humanity, including providing better medical treatment, ensuring food security, and reducing human impacts on the environment.
Like All Technology
As with any new technology, it is essential to take ethical, environmental, and social considerations to ensure that the benefits of the technology outweigh the potential harm it may cause.
It's In The Wrong Hands
Biotechnology in the wrong hands can have far-reaching, devastating impacts on the environment, public health, and socio-cultural fabric of society.
Cut-throat Corporations
Multinational corporations driven solely by profit, exploiting the resources and polluting the environment to ensure growth and expansion of operations.
Don't Give A Damn
Corporations that are not concerned about the long-term impact of their actions and are only focused on short-term profits by exploiting the environment and natural resources.
When Lots Of People Die
The disastrous consequences of the profit-driven actions of corporations and bio-tech companies can cause widespread diseases, fatalities and cause irreparable harm to the environment.
From What They're Made
The biotechnology products that are created by corporations and companies through unethical and malpractices that can have negative environmental and health impacts.
Is A.i.d.s.?
The reference to AIDS as a result of biosecurity accidents implies that the bio-technology companies' reckless and unchecked actions can result in disastrous outbreaks similar to the AIDS epidemic.
Stop!!!
An appeal to put an end to the recklessness of corporations and biotechnology companies in exploiting natural resources and engaging in unethical practices with far-reaching negative impacts on the environment and people.
Contributed by Hudson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.