Coastal towns suffered from widespread flooding, with the water reaching the second story in places. Even neighborhoods that were spared from flooding were left covered in sand.
In Leiria, fallen trees blocked the railway tracks, suspending service between Lisbon and the northern region. There was even more serious damage near Coimbra, where part of the main highway linking Lisbon to the north collapsed due to an influx of seawater.
Above the thick cloud cover, the spring sun seemed like it was waiting impatiently to brighten the soaked earth and our spirits—you could feel the warmth whenever the clouds thinned for a moment. But the sky would immediately darken again and start dropping rain or hail.
Still, something uplifting did happen amidst all of this darkness. Primitive Reason, one of the most iconic acts in Portugal, held its 30-year anniversary concert.
Formed by a group of high school friends, the band rose in popularity quickly through word of mouth and in 1996—thirty years ago—released their first album, Alternative Prison. It won Best New Band and Best New Single Blitz Awards, Portugal’s top music prize.
The band became a symbol of the era, giving shape to Portugal’s subculture. The country’s music scene lacked diversity at the time, and Primitive Reason injected it with a fresh identity that didn’t fit into existing categories. The band gave raw expression to what we young people were feeling so intensely at the time.
At their height, the band traveled to the US and went on tour with the Misfits. They were said to have eaten at the pizza place Tarantino frequented, and have the then-unknown Linkin Park come to one of their shows.
But without the strong management support that the American bands had and little life experience outside music, reality was tough on the young, edgy musicians. Homesickness eventually set in, and the group returned to Portugal a few years later. Their fans welcomed them back with open arms, and they performed for a while before entering into a long hiatus, much to everyone’s dismay.
The band members went their separate ways, each building a separate life in a different country. They became music instructors, managers, and jazz musicians; some joined other bands, and one even earned a doctorate in music.
The year 2026 marks thirty years since Alternative Prison was released.
The members of Primitive Reason gathered once again in Lisbon for a reunion concert.
Tickets at Lisboa ao Vivo were sold out, with people still waiting outside hoping to get in. Both the band members and we fans now had streaks of gray in our hair—our bodies changed from the undeniable passage of the years. But our eyes shone exactly as they had back then.
The moment the intro blared through the speakers, the entire venue started shouting and jumping in unison.
We were packed in, passion everywhere.
Everyone was singing along, shouting at the top of their lungs.
We were bonded together through the band’s music, and I’d never felt such a feeling of unity.
The concert itself was like a massive storm.
