Jack The Joker is a modern progressive metal band with a twist, hailing from the Northeast of Brazil. The band consists of Raphael Joer (vocals), Felipe Facó and Lucas Colares (guitars), Gustavo Pinheiro (bass), and Vicente Ferreira (drums). What sets Jack The Joker apart is their ability to incorporate traditional cultural influences from their homeland, infusing elements of maracatu, forró, baião, and frevo into their sound. Their music draws inspiration from the iconic Brazilian novel of the same name, navigating the metaphysical backlands where human will clashes with the raw forces of nature. Their instrumental approach mirrors this thematic landscape, using regional rhythms as a foundation for dense, complex arrangements and layered compositions that fuse tradition with the intensity of progressive metal. The band has already made a name for themselves in the modern prog scene with their 2024 singles, generating buzz with their blend of cultural authenticity and musical innovation. One highlight is Denied, structured on the rhythmic patterns of maracatu, an Afro-Brazilian tradition marked by both resistance and celebration. The result is a pulsating, immersive atmosphere. As the band described their single Sun: “Sun” refers to the vengeful star that both gives life and takes it away: an allusion to an abusive relationship, in which emotional dependencies are fed by crumbs of affection and countered by emotional abuse.” Produced by Adair Daufembach (Angra), The Devil To Pay In The Backlands is an ambitious, genre-blending journey that will delight fans of technical metal, groove, and melody alike. Jack The Joker bring a fearless and refreshing perspective to the progressive metal genre.