São Paulo hardcore band Joker are back with new music, a new drummer, and plans to take their sound beyond Brazil. Since their last appearance on No Echo, the group has continued playing shows in and around their hometown while working on a five-song EP titled Streets Run Red.
Guitarist João Martin Jr. tells me the band spent much of this year recording the new material and welcomed longtime friend Emerson "Feijão" on drums. Two singles from the upcoming EP have already been released, with Joker currently looking for a label to help get the entire record out.
Musically, the band has adjusted its songwriting, putting greater emphasis on vocals and the heavier, mosh-driven sections of the songs. "I think that musically we all in Joker agreed to leave more room for vocals," João explains. "So we mostly dropped the guitar solos we had for the early demos of these songs, and made it more about the base layer for vocals and the mosh parts."
Merauder, Life of Agony, and Cold World remain important reference points, though the band has also experimented with a slower song they've recorded but haven't performed live. Though Streets Run Red isn't out yet, Joker have dropped two tracks from the forthcoming EP, "Only the Strong" and "Death's Door," which offer a taste of what the Brazilian combo has been cooking up in the lab:
Lyrically, the group continues to draw from the realities of living in São Paulo, addressing violence, depression, everyday chaos, and the political tensions surrounding Brazil's most recent election.
Joker's recent live activity has included an appearance at the afterparty for Festival Hardcore São Paulo, a four-day DIY event bringing together bands from Latin America, North America, and Europe. Another highlight was sharing the stage with High Vis alongside fellow Brazilian bands Arize and Peril. "It was a blast, a packed venue on a Monday," João recalls.
As for the local scene, João is quick to recommend several bands that deserve more attention. His picks include BIG, whose live performances he considers among the best in São Paulo, along with Peril, Fraca, Ultimos Diaz, Crimes de Guerra, Arize, and Obsoletion.
He particularly recommends Crimes de Guerra to fans of Totalitär, Shitlickers, and early Anti Cimex, while noting that Arize have new material on the way.
With Streets Run Red recorded and ready for release, Joker are now focused on finding a label and getting back on the road. A European tour in 2027 is high on their wish list, and João is openly inviting promoters, labels, and other bands to get in touch.
"If you want to book, release, share a van, drop a line," he says with a laugh.
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Joker on social media: Instagram
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