Crypta

Few bands in modern death metal have made an entrance quite as dramatic as Crypta. When bassist and vocalist Fernanda Lira and drummer Luana Dametto parted ways with Brazilian thrash metal band Nervosa in April 2020, the metal world watched closely. Within weeks, the pair announced the formation of Crypta, a band rooted in the death metal style they had always felt most drawn to. What they did not reveal at the time was that the band had quietly been taking shape since June 2019, making their public debut a long-anticipated unveiling rather than an impulsive reaction.

Completing the lineup with guitarists Sonia Anubis, a veteran of Burning Witches and Cobra Spell, and Tainá Bergamaschi, formerly of Hagbard, Crypta wasted no time establishing their ambitions. Napalm Records announced a deal to release their debut album in June 2020, giving the newly formed band immediate credibility and a powerful platform. The signing signaled that the industry recognized something special in Crypta from the very beginning.

Recorded in early 2021 at Family Mob, a studio owned by Jean Dolabella of Ego Kill Talent and former member of Sepultura, the band's debut album Echoes of the Soul arrived on June 11, 2021. The record was mixed by Arthur Rizk, known for his work with Code Orange and Power Trip, and mastered by Jens Bogren, whose credits include Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, and Sepultura. The album's cover art, crafted by Wes Benscoter, a visual artist celebrated for his work with Slayer, Kreator, and Black Sabbath, gave the record an unmistakable visual identity. The lead single, From the Ashes, drew on the mythology of the phoenix, a fitting symbol for a band that had risen from professional upheaval into something fiercely its own.

The band's live journey began on November 20, 2021, when Crypta took the stage at the Porão do Rock festival in Brasília, performing to both an in-person crowd and a global online audience. It was the start of a touring chapter that would bring them to some of metal's grandest stages. However, 2022 brought significant changes when Sonia Anubis departed amicably to focus on Cobra Spell. Jéssica di Falchi stepped in as her replacement, initially for scheduled tours before being officially confirmed as a band member in October 2022. That same announcement confirmed that a second studio album was on the horizon.

Tragedy struck on March 31, 2023, when the roof of the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, Illinois, collapsed during a tornado while Crypta was sharing a bill with Morbid Angel, Skeletal Remains, and Revocation. The collapse claimed one life, and in a heartbreaking detail, the victim was the only audience member who had purchased a Crypta shirt that night. Lira later spoke about the tragedy in a televised interview, reflecting the profound impact the event had on the band.

Despite this devastating experience, Crypta pressed forward. Their second studio album, Shades of Sorrow, was announced in May 2023 and released on August 4 of that year. Preceded by singles including Lord of Ruins, Trial of Traitors, and The Other Side of Anger, the album demonstrated a band growing in confidence and depth. Each track arrived with a music video, showcasing the visual storytelling that has become a hallmark of their artistic approach.

Further lineup shifts followed when di Falchi departed by mutual agreement in March 2025. The band subsequently welcomed American guitarist Victoria Villarreal, formerly of Chaos Rising and Syrebris, as an official member in April 2026, after she had already proven her chemistry with the group during a 2025 touring stint. With Villarreal now anchoring the guitar alongside Bergamaschi, and new studio material in development, Crypta continues to evolve. From their origins in São Paulo to stages at Wacken Open Air and Rock in Rio, they have carved out a place as one of death metal's most vital and resilient forces.