Centúrias typified the first generation of Brazilian heavy metal bands of the early '80s: underprivileged kids living in a country that was agonizing through the waning years of a stifling military dictatorship, armed with barely adequate instruments, and penning riffs and Portuguese lyrics based on what imported Deep Purple and Judas Priest albums they could get their hands on. The group first began rehearsing in 1980 and was playing its first gigs around their native São Paulo by the following year (with keyboardist Guina providing a Rainbow-like touch), eventually scraping up enough money to pay for some studio time and record a nine-song demo in 1983.