Antidemon + HC4 at Gier Music Bar, Buenos Aires - 10/18/25 | Procedural Risks
In criminal procedural law, procedural risks are those relevant circumstances that justify, if they exist, taking different precautionary measures. Okay, I don’t want to bore anyone with legal issues and such, but what I experienced on the night of October 18 at Gier leads me to think, for some curious reason, about the need to avoid certain events that one naively thinks are a thing of the past. A grave mistake, but we’ll have time to analyze the purely organizational aspects later.
The important thing was that the Brazilians Antidemon once again set foot on Argentine soil, this time alongside HC4, a Brazilian hardcore band that was performing for the first time here in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was an excellent excuse to dust off feelings, memories, and all the best that Antidemon has left in the hearts of those of us who have known them for more than 20 years.
For various reasons, we were unable to see the performances of the other bands (100% Hate and Heroes), so we only arrived when HC4 was already on stage putting on a truly tremendous show. Their hardcore is aggressive, powerful, and devastating, enough to drill into your ears and move even the most timid. The guys from HC4 are currently promoting their latest album, “De Frente Para O Inimigo,” and yes, most of their setlist was based on that stuff. In about an hour, HC4 gave a lesson in hardcore that I, personally, really enjoyed. The band has a strong stage presence and a truly excellent stage show. The sound helped a lot, it must be said, and their songs, 100% sung in Portuguese, fit perfectly with their style. They surprised me in a good way.
After HC4’s set, the moment many of us had been waiting for arrived. Antidemon took the stage, playing a set list that quickly covered their long career and some of their latest album, “Convergence.” They played “Nâo Tardará”, “Insanos Condenados”, “Massacre”, and other classics from the band.
It seems as if time has stood still for Batista and Antidemon. Their sound is intact, and that intense mix of death metal, grindcore, hardcore, and more seems more effective than ever. Antidemon’s fury knows no time or era, and their sound has not undergone any changes or “modernization.” It’s raw and unrefined, but with songs that move the body, the ears, and the heart.
The experience of seeing Antidemon live is much, much more intense than listening to their studio albums. Batista’s powerful voice breaks through everything and reaches the depths of your being. Those who have ever seen Antidemon live know what I mean. On this occasion, in the absence of a guitarist, Batista fused the sound of the six strings with that of the bass, lowering the tone to a bass that made the lack of bass sound completely unnoticeable. Juliana’s work on the drums plays its part in the sound, hitting each drum with her soul and piercing every fiber of your being. The combination of the two makes Antidemon sound tremendously violent and fast, while maintaining the main essence of the band, for which they are known. This is no minor detail. In times when many prefer to tone down the intensity, do something more modern, “groove” or “cool,” Antidemon is the complete opposite. Not only has their sound stood the test of time, but it seems that their goal is always to add more aggression to their music, with enough intelligence and ability to avoid repeating themselves.
And so it was that after half an hour of Antidemon, and at the best part of the show, the referee ruled that time was up. We don’t know the reasons, but I suppose that the number of bands in the show and the venue’s own schedule meant that Antidemon had to end their set early. A pity. It’s not every day that we get to enjoy such a show and that a band travels almost 3,000 kilometers to play for only half an hour. We felt it was disrespectful to Antidemon’s career. Logically, this has nothing to do with the bands that were supposed to continue playing, but this is what happens when a show is scheduled with too many bands for the limited time available. A negative point for the organizers, who made several mistakes, but which mainly affected the most anticipated band of the night.
One can understand many things, but mistakes from the past continue to be made that I, at least, thought had been overcome. God willing, we will learn from our mistakes, and proposals like tonight’s (and Friday’s at “Primer Piso”) can continue to be put together much more effectively. The risk of falling into the same trap always exists, and last night proved it. We don’t want criticism to be destructive, but constructive. Of course, we encourage more shows like last night’s. With a few adjustments, it could be much more interesting. The risk of falling into the same trap always exists. Can it be avoided? We believe so. It’s just a matter of recognizing the issues.
As far as the music is concerned, it must be said that HC4 really earned my respect. Hardcore is not a genre that really captivates me, but I found not only their music but also their stage presence extremely appealing. As for Antidemon… what can I say that I haven’t already mentioned? Time doesn’t seem to have made a dent in their sound, and even with only half an hour on stage, Batista and Juliana devastated everything with their unique sound. The good thing is that Antidemon not only keeps their sound fresh, but their vitality suggests that the band still has a lot to give, and it’s clear that Antidemon isn’t stopping. They’re moving forward.
Antidemon’s paths are leading to new goals. Possibly Japan, Asia, and Finland are next for them, and maybe even a possible mini-tour of some Argentine provinces. More news coming soon!!!
