Turbulence at Full Throttle: Toxikull inaugurate a new era at the RCA Club
On April 24, 2026, the RCA Club, Lisbon, was the stage for a special night for national thrash metal, with Toxikull kicking off their new Turbulence release tour, precisely on the album’s release day. Joining this celebration were also Affäire and Xeque-Mate, completing a lineup that promised — and delivered — an intense, high-energy night.
Check all the photos at the end of this article.
Sleaze Rock Without Brakes: Raw Energy and a Crowd on Fire
Affäire, a Lisbon-based hard rock/sleaze rock band formed in 2011, were responsible for kicking off the night. This concert also marked the debut of new vocalist Sandro Marques, who quickly proved he was up to the challenge. With a confident and energetic performance, they warmed up the crowd from the very first minutes, setting the tone for a night that promised to be highly intense.
The set opened with “Devil’s Cross”, a single from the album At First Sight (2015), immediately getting the crowd reacting, with many singing along to its memorable chorus. They followed with several tracks from their most recent record, En Route (2024), with special highlight to “Eyes of the Cougar”, particularly well received by the audience, earning strong applause.
The show closed with the new single “Japanese Teaze ’89”, wrapping up a solid and engaging performance. The band left the stage with smiles on their faces, visibly pleased with the warm reception, not failing to thank Toxikull for the invitation to be part of this special night.
Weight and Tradition: The Legacy of Portuguese Metal Loud and Clear
Xeque-Mate followed, true founders of Portuguese heavy metal, formed in 1979 in Porto, stepping onto the RCA Club stage to continue an already highly animated night.
Their set opened with two tracks from their latest album, Entrudo (2025) — “Corre Corre” and “Entrudo”, the latter featuring bagpipes, adding a distinct and striking layer to the performance. The band then dove into their classics from Em Nome do Pai, do Filho… e do Rock N’ Roll (1985), such as “Ritual”, “A Prisão” and “Entornei o Molho” (1981), keeping the audience fully engaged.
There was also room for “Rastejantes”, from Não Consigo Manter a Fé (2022), a moment where the crowd sang the chorus in unison with enthusiasm. They continued with “Escrava da Noite”, as referred by Xico Soares on stage, introducing “Pequenez”, also from the latest Entrudo.
“Ás do Volante” and “(Sempre) Filhos do Metal” closed the set in high energy, with strong applause confirming the impact of a solid, history-filled performance.
In the Eye of the Storm: The Explosive Presentation of Turbulence
The most anticipated moment of the night finally arrived with Toxikull, a heavy/speed metal band from Cascais/Lisbon, celebrating a decade of activity. The occasion could not have been more special: the official presentation of the new album Turbulence, in a sold-out show that coincided with the album’s release day.
A few minutes before midnight, the intro echoed through the venue, announcing a turbulent journey about to begin. Without delay, the band launched into “Turbulence” and “Strike Again”, diving next into tracks from Warriors Collection (2022), such as “I Will Rock Again” and “Metal Defender”. Along the way, they also revisited different eras of their discography, with “Night Shadows” from Under the Southern Light (2024), and “Killer Night” from Cursed and Punished (2019).
Always highly interactive, the crowd responded in full force, driven also by the strong stage presence of Lex Thunder, tireless in his communication and ability to push the audience further. The set returned to Turbulence with “Dragon Magic” and “Hard to Break”, before a special moment where the vocalist reflected on the band’s ten years on the road, announcing “Around the World” — a track that quickly triggered circle pits, stage diving and crowd surfing.
This was followed by “Under the Southern Light” and another return to Cursed and Punished, keeping the intensity at its peak. Near the end, Lex Thunder announced the “fire of midnight”, leading the crowd to sing in unison the chorus of “Midnight Fire”, the first single from the new album, in what felt like the closing moment of the set.
However, the band returned for an encore with a special guest: Antim The Viking, former bassist of the band, who joined on stage for a powerful rendition of “Stand Up and Shout” by Dio. An explosive final moment for the first date of the tour, met with loud applause and clear excitement from the audience.
Alongside Lex Thunder, Michael Blade stood out on guitar, Infernando on bass — the newest addition to the lineup — and Tommy 666 on drums, all contributing to a performance marked by fast riffs, solid cohesion and an excellent stage presence.
A tour opener delivered in the best possible way, not only presenting Turbulence with impact, but also confirming Toxikull as one of the most consistent forces in Portuguese metal.
Text & Photos: Patrícia Veludo
Special thanks to Toxikull
Toxikull
Xeque-Mate
Affäire
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