Against

Sepultura

Roadrunner Records, 1998

http://www.sepultura.com.br

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/06/1998

It would make a great Shakespearean play. Two brothers fighting and clawing their way to dominance in the world of heavy metal, only to split into two factions because of a woman. Instead of a play, it is what Sepultura has gone through since their last disc Roots. Brothers Max and Igor Calavera have gone their separate ways after Max's wife was fired as the band's manager. Max was presented with a choice and God-bless a solemn vow, he stayed with his wife. (Did you read that , Bill Clinton? Marriage means a commitment to your wife, not your 21-year old intern!)my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

The 21-year old intern Sepultura got to replace Calavera is . . .

Let's try again.

You'd think Sepultura would go out of their way to find a well-known vocalist. Nah. After sifting through tapes of wanna-be Sepultura vocalists, the band got a tip from a Roadrunner publicity rep that Green might be someone to whom it would be a good idea to listen. As for Max Calavera, the departed vocalist, he has gone on to form Soulfly, who, reallly, doesn't sound all that different from this album, which is a good thing to me.

Those that thought Max was irreplaceable are proven wrong song after song on this release. From disc opener "Against" all the way through "Drowned Out," Sepultura and Green seem like a perfect match, seamlessly churning out a pointed delivery. "Boycott" stands out as being Green's brightest spotlight with an unusually high intensity level. Drummer Igor Calavera handles the song's dynamics with fluency and power. His drumming, like on Roots, adds a tribal feel to most of the songs.

Compared to Roots, this release is perhaps slightly less interested in the Brazilian heritage of the band. While Roots rocked hard during the songs, the album was eventually mired by the tribal chants that popped up from time to time.

This time around, Metallica bassist Jason Newsted pops up for vocals on "Hatred Aside." Wisely, the band pushed the guest appearance to one of the later tracks, number 14, sending a clear message that this is a Sepultura album and should be judged for the Sepultura songs, not this special appearance. Hopefully, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich hear his performance and somehow incorporate Newsted's vocal style into Metallica. It's sad that one of Metallica's heaviest song since 1991 is on a Sepultura record!

Sepultura 1998 is as heavy as a load of bricks. Their blend of aggressiveness and musicianship is definitely still underground. Their upcoming tour itinerary includes dates with Slayer, which should be a killer double bill.

Rating: A

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