Bio
KOMODO is heavy metal from the heart of the americas
PROUDLY ESTABLISHED 2014 IN PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
FROM UNKNOWN TO BATTLING FOR THE WACKEN THRONE, IN ONE YEAR
Komodo began in 2014 as a cover project for bands like Megadeth and Metallica. The excellent chemistry among the members motivated them to continue and stay together under the name Komodo.
Starting 2015, Komodo premiered their first songs, Out of Luck and One More Fight, live at the 'Rock en la Cinta' Festival, leading the band to win first place in the competition among 45 participating national bands. Following this early success, Komodo released both singles, their first professional music production.
After winning in 2016 at the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle Panamanian Finals, Komodo represented their country in the Central American Finals in the Megametal Festival at San Pedro Sula, Honduras, their first international show. Central American victory, however, would have to come later.
FEAR THE KOMODO
Komodo released their debut album 'Fear The Komodo' in 2018, following their first music video for the title track directed by Tavo Chirivella, which features local Panamanian rainforest landscapes.
The launch concert was at the famous Hard Rock Café Panama, selling out all available tickets. Two professional live videos were released from this show for Scorpio and Death God.
KOMODO IN W:O:A
In 2019, Komodo qualified once again at the Panamanian Wacken Open Air Metal Battle Finals. The Central American Finals would be held this time at San Salvador, El Salvador in 2020.
Following the global events that year, the Finals were ultimately re-scheduled to Guatemala City, Guatemala in 2022, where Komodo would emerged victorious at last in a contest against 4 bands representing their own country in Central America.
This earned Komodo a spot in the World Finals for the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle 2022 held in Wacken, Germany. As a preparation warm-up tour, Komodo performed 3 shows in Madrid and Zaragoza, Spain, finally playing in front of over 10,000 people at W:O:A WET Stage.
During the pandemic times, Komodo released a music video for Insomnia and a live video for Black Sun, produced by Edgardo Quijada and Eufonía Audiovisuales.
A WACKEN-FUELED POWERHOUSE
After Wacken, Komodo adopted a faster pace, releasing 5 singles for The Lingering, Beneath Your Race, The Enforcer, Masochist and Perception of Things, each of them with music videos directed by Edgardo Quijada spanning 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Komodo debuted a self-produced music festival: 'Komodo Summer Fest' at the iconic GECU theater, University of Panama. The same year, they played at Sancocho Fest in Tuluá, Colombia, and were openers for Sepultura in their 2024 Farewell Tour. Great achievements for the band that pushed them to being nominated for categories such as 'Band of the Year', 'Best Rock/Metal Single' for The Lingering, 'Bassist of the Year' for Juan Manuel Díaz, 'Drummer of the Year' for Miguel Yau, 'Vocalist of the Year' for Hugo Andrade and finally 'Guitarist of the Year' for Carlos Owens [won], by Rockzany Magazine, the only organization doing formal Rock and Metal music awards in the country.
In 2025, Komodo were nominated once again, winning 'Band of the Year' and 'Best Metal Single' for Perception of Things, shortly before releasing their second album 'Battle Pass' and performing in Costa Rica for the first time.
Komodo is currently producing music for a third album, with aims to be released in 2026, followed by touring through Latin America and Europe, now as an established powerhouse.