Paulo Ribeiro

Paulo Ribeiro — Brazilian bassist — was part of Mitrium, the São Paulo band that recorded Eyes of Time (1993). Mitrium existed between 1990 and 1994, in the most arid period of Brazilian metal. There was no label for the genre in the country, studio time was expensive, and the only means of circulation were cassette tapes and shows in small venues. Recording an album under those conditions was in itself an achievement. Eyes of Time is known today mainly for carrying Edu Falaschi's first recording; years later he would take over Angra's vocals. But the record documents something wider: a scene of musicians learning European melodic metal by ear and reproducing it with whatever resources they had. The band ended in 1994. The following year Angra released Angels Cry and proved a Brazilian band could reach an international audience — a change only possible because, before it, there existed a whole scene of groups like Mitrium.