Duarte Fernandes, the person behind Maledict Records, has long been a supporter of all things metal. Ali “The Metallian” tracked down the man himself after a few back-and-forths. This led to Duarte stepping through the gates of Metallian Towers, ready to share his story. In this interview, let’s dive into his love for the metal scene, the journey of his label and more. Read on!. – 09.04.2026

METALLIAN: Duarte, welcome to Metallian Towers. Hope your stay has been comfortable so far and the serfs have served well. Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your background and locale?
DUARTE: Hey there Ali, first of all, thank you so much for this interview. I was born in the late ‘90s…1998, raised in Lisbon, but I’m living in Évora nowadays. It is a small city in the southern side of Portugal. I came here to study at the University and then I ended up staying here ever since.
Regarding my taste for heavy music, everything started the first time I listened to some hard rock classics alongside some thrash, NWOBHM, nu-metal and metalcore. Basically, many things were happening in metal around that time, between 2009 to 2012, I guess. (I was) constantly becoming more involved in the scene, always looking for things more extreme and underground, maybe as a way of trying to satisfy my natural curiosity. That spirit peaked when I founded my own record label in 2024, following a small experience organizing a local show with some of my friends’ band.

METALLIAN: Just so it is recorded in history, which bands appeared at this concert?
DUARTE: The bands were Unera, a metalcore band, Critical Hazard a melodeath metal band and ThrashWall, a thrash metal band.

METALLIAN: Are you also a musician?
DUARTE: Not really (smiles)… I used to play guitar a lot in the past between the ages of 14 and 20 or something like that. In the meanwhile, I started working and attending university at the same time. Sometimes you have to make a choice. My time was very limited back then, but I was still involved in the music and underground scene all the time buying records and zines, going to shows and festivals, following some labels, et cetera. Even though it would be nice to be in a band, I realised the most important thing for me was being involved with music. You might know what I’m talking about! I mean that feeling of wanting to do something more. I think that same feeling is something that’s transversal for us.

METALLIAN: Indeed. When and how did you exactly get into heavy metal?
DUARTE: I think I was 11, maybe around 2009 or 2010, when my grandmother offered me a Guns N’ Roses T-shirt. Don’t ask me why she did it. I think the reason was completely random. Anyway, I searched for their music on YouTube wondering what it would sound like once I got that T-shirt. To get romantic somewhat, it was like an epiphany when I heard the first chords of Welcome To The Jungle. I started to listen to similar music such as Bon Jovi, Saxon, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, ZZ Top and AC/DC later. Sorry for the name-dropping (starts laughing).
In terms of metal, if I had to choose an album that changed my musical tastes for heaviness the one would probably be Vulgar Display Of Power by Pantera. After that, several years and records later came Carcass, Bolt Thrower, Bathory, Death, Sepultura and Paradise Lost. My overall interest in music continues to develop through the discovery of both old and new bands, including from other genres. Bands like Depeche Mode, Supertramp, Nina Hagen, Seal and so on. Of course, metal is my ‘safe space,’ but the more we grow the more we understand what gives our passion a meaning and that is music as a whole.

METALLIAN: In that context, which bands or albums are your favourites?
DUARTE: The answer is always changing. I mean when you listen to a lot of music it’s always hard to choose two, three or even five bands or albums as your favourites. But here are five albums that, I believe, are responsible for my taste in music nowadays. Each one was instrumental at each stage of my life: Pantera’s Vulgar Display Of Power, Moonspell’s Irreligious, Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction, At The Gates’ Slaughter Of The Soul and Corpus Christii’s The Bitter End Of Old.

METALLIAN: And to be balanced, which metal bands or albums would you say you dislike or loathe?
DUARTE: Hmm… There are many albums I initially disliked and now I’m totally in love with like Mastodon, for example. Nowadays, I’m still not a big fan of them, but I think their debut album Remission is a great album. Even Slayer, I didn’t like the first time I listened to them; yet, now I have their whole discography and I think they are the definition of thrash metal. I was very young at the time. You know, life brings changes (begins to laugh again). But if I had to mention a band or album I never liked: Dragonforce!

METALLIAN: Alright, appreciate the frankness. Let’s get to Maledict Records. Would you fill the readers in on the background, philosophy and reason for its existence?
DUARTE: Well, personally, I don’t have a great answer for this one (laughs). I mean at the end of the day Maledict Records is just a natural consequence of my passion for music. Of course, I have to think about it ultimately as a business in order to make it sustainable. On the other hand, I think it was important for me to start the label by releasing bands of friends of mine. It had to be a good balance of work and friendship and I like to think of Maledict Records as a label from one friend to other friends. That’s what metal and the underground is for me.

METALLIAN: I understand what you are saying, but I also know that business and friendship often do not mix.
DUARTE: True, but for me having the respect of the bands and a good relationship with them is something essential.

METALLIAN: I have to respect that, Duarte. What are your goals here and is there a focus on Portuguese bands?
DUARTE: Not really. I would like to release more foreign bands. Of course, I know the Portuguese scene very well and there are many bands I would like to work with. On the other hand, I know the Portuguese scene is not so big and I don’t like to feel limited by it. I’m always thinking about growing somehow. I mean, I don’t want Maledict Records to be the next Nuclear Blast, Century Media or something like that, but I don’t want to be stranded in my own scene. Despite my limitations, I want the Portuguese bands to reach as huge a public as the foreign bands.

METALLIAN: Perhaps it’s a good time to ask why the name ‘Maledict’?
DUARTE: It’s a song by Theriomorphic, which is one of my favourite Portuguese bands. The band is also one of the first local bands I totally enjoyed when I listened to their music when I was younger. At that time, I was a bit obsessed with the Swedish death metal scene and their sound is very influenced by that subgenre. My interest in them naturally increased when I discovered that they were from my hometown. I thought the name could be a good homage!

METALLIAN: Let’s chat about the business side of things. Prevailing wisdom has it that no one buys music and revenue and profits are illusory. Yet, at the same time, there are a record number of labels out there. How do you see the situation?
DUARTE: I think it’s something very typical in metal. You know, the DIY philosophy. Even though, nowadays, every band could do all the work themselves, personally, I like to think of the label as a member of the band. Team work! On the other hand, with the internet, there are many bands and I think working with a record label is still a good indicator of quality somehow.

METALLIAN: One thing that bothers me about most labels nowadays is how they do very little for their bands. In fact, some, like Maledict Records, don’t even bother to have a website to promote their releases. Am I anachronistic?
DUARTE: Well, in my case, to promote Maledict’s releases I have the Bandcamp page and I think it’s good for now. I know there is a lot of work to do and a website would be great for our distribution service, for example, but Maledict Records is only me and my meagre financial resources. My time is also very limited. Probably in the future, if the label expands, I’ll do a website. Besides that, I’m seriously thinking about dedicating more time to our YouTube channel now. I think it would be better to publish singles or even full album streams in an official way.

METALLIAN: Are you saying that these releases would be available only for streaming?
DUARTE: No, I mean I founded the label to release music in physical format. The streaming could be only to help given how people don’t buy a record only based on the cover art. Usually they buy it by listening to the album beforehand. Personally, I really don’t like the way the streaming platforms work overall, you know? Low royalties and so on… But it is what it is. As a label, I think it can be helpful to promote the records, but nothing more than that.

METALLIAN: Thanks for clarifying. Let’s examine your candour and metal attitude next. André Ventura and Chega, heroes or villains?
DUARTE: I think both the question and the answer are more complex than a matter of heroes and villains. But if you want to know whether I share the same vision as Ventura and Chega, the answer is simple: no, they are exactly the opposite of my thoughts and beliefs.

METALLIAN: As much as I appreciate the point-of-view and your stance, Duarte, the point of the question was to establish that in metal we are brave and not afraid to take public positions. With that said, would you tell the readers what is next for you and the label and what the readers should look for next?
DUARTE: In terms of releases, for now my focus is on the new album of Dominance, … But TheThorns Remain and our merch stand during the next festival season this summer. There are several ideas on my mind and certain titles I would like to release, but nothing is certain.

METALLIAN: Yes, I believe I have heard this Dominance band you speak of. Which festivals will you be attending this summer?
DUARTE: Massacre Metalfest and Alvalade Arise in May, NADA Fest in June and some other local shows I use to present the Maledict merch stand.

METALLIAN: Pasteis De Nata: what makes a good one?
DUARTE: Good question! Unfortunately, I’m not an expert in that matter (laughs loudly). I mean I have a sweet tooth by nature, but I never thought about this in a deep way (laughs again).

METALLIAN: Duarte, appreciate your time, your work and the answers here. To conclude the conversation, everybody knows that Metallian is the only website that matters. What are your reasons for agreeing with this statement?
DUARTE: Well, if everyone says it, who am I to disagree (smiles)?

Duarte comes across as kind and sincere and both in that context, as well as his endeavours in the name of metal, one wishes him and Maledict Records well. The Bandcamp page he mentioned is here.