Sepultura
Chaos A.D. (Roadrunner)
by Paul Lee
During the past couple of years, my faith in the holy church of thrash has been left shaken. Once mighty bands like Megadeth and Metallica had put out their most tender and weak creations to date. Sure, a number of somewhat killer bands had sprouted from the bowels of the earth but, I wondered if they were doomed to becoming “accessible” as Megadeth and Metallica. Even Slayer hasn’t reared their monstrous selves from their tombs.
Well, to hell with all that because my zealousness has been rejuvenated with the coming of Sepultura‘s most recent masterpiece, Chaos A.D.. Thank God there are still mega gods like the Brazilian mega-moshers Sepultura.
You may remember Sepultura’s last pulverizing creation, Arise, came out in 1990 and that left some great scars on the moshin’ masses. They proved that they were way above the Slayer-clone accusations and were generating their own insidious and original metallic wares. Once they were labeled as death metal, but they’ve even burst from that label. Now Sepultura have brought forth an album that’s even better than the mighty Arise. They have planted their terrifying tree into the earth of rock ‘n roll that won’t be uprooted (OK, so it’s a weird analogy).
Chaos A.D. won’t be confused with genre labels like alerna-core or nouveau metal, this is pure beastly and adrenaline dominated thrash with some cool variations on the theme. Now Sepultura have put the ever-so distinctive and dangerous mark that will forever separate them from them rest of the pack. With their battering power chords enhanced with original sonic embellishments (translation: Andreas Kisser’s eccentric guitar solos and effects), furied and pulsating drumming by Igor Cavalera (who keeps getting better and more original) and the all- over wickedly creative arrangements. These guys have grown up in a brutal and unfriendly environment of Brazil and their genuine rage and hatred of injustice and corruption is mighty.
Doom, destruction, despair are Sepultura’s lyrical topics of choice but they do it so well and leave you feeling energized not depressed. There are some blatantly enraged political ditties like “Refuse/Resist,” “Slave New World,” and “Territory” (that has an amazing video shot in Israel of the Israeli/Palestinian struggle). There’s plenty of good stuff about political oppression and racism all over Chaos A.D.. There’s a unique acoustic piece entitled “Kaoiwas” done in South American folk-style about a tribe of Brazilian Indians who committed mass suicide to protest governments taking of their land. Even Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedy’s fame contributes lyrics to a mighty little ditty called “Biotech is Godzilla.”
One of the elements that makes Chaos A.D. so great is it doesn’t sound repetitive. Sepultura are diverse and distinctive, like assassins who use everything from daggers to high explosives. From numerous pace changes to off-beat chord structures and guitar effects, Sepultura keep everything fresh and cranium splitting. The only thing that doesn’t change is Max Cavalera’s berserker howls and growls which suit the music just fine. Even their musical adeptness and song writing skill have shown major improvements over the year with Chaos A.D..
Believe in the power of Sepultura and you too will be blessed (or condemned to hell depending on your preference). Sepultura are a special breed of thrash and will continue to tear up the metal scene much to the dismay of the weak and flaccid music lovers of the world. If you miss them when they come around the Boston area, you will surely be damned.
