Andreas Kisser
Hubris I & II

"We all sin with hubris every day [...] It's the human sense of superiority over everything and everyone that leads us straight into a chaotic future", says Andreas Rudolf Kisser in an interview in a summer issue of Metal Hammer, not to talk about Sepultura but about his new double solo album made possible with the contribution of many friends, including percussionists, drummers, bassists, and singers (Andreas sings directly only on some tracks), among others, the new Sepultura drummer, Jean Dolabella (ex-Udora) who is behind the drums for the entire first album.

The usual compilation of flatness and lack of ideas that Uncle Andreas has been serving us since 'Against'? Not this time, if you approach this work with the right spirit. It is proper to speak more of "spirit" than "body".

"Hubris I & II" is definitely not a product of "body", a compact, hard product, metal has nothing to do with it this time, on the contrary, it is a dispersive product, a "calm chaos", 21 tracks of pure exaltation of Brazilian pride.

After all, Metal (and Hardcore) got into the heads of the various young Sepultura, Sarcofago, Korzus, Claustrofobia, Ratos de Porao, Overdose, Dorsal Atlantica, etc., during adolescence. Before that, in Brazil, you grow up with national music: tribal rhythms, ethnic excursions, classical guitars, percussion, at the peak of "aggression" rock.

This is the right spirit to capture what is good in these two records, relaxing music, music that seems to say "let's tie our hair for once and lie down on the water mattress to enjoy an ice-cold slushie instead of the usual (still ice-cold) beer".

By showing this "attitude", it will be understood that perhaps the problem that Sepultura has been experiencing since "Against", besides the obvious, enormous, and unbridgeable absence of Max Cavalera, is not entirely Andreas's fault, as he seems to still have creativity with this "Hubris"; sure, it's not metal, but the ideas are there and taken, I repeat, in the right way, they can even be captivating.

It is pointless to talk about the tracks, each album plays like one single piece (and for this, they should be listened to from start to finish), Part I features the rare vocal parts (with, among others, a "protest" song like "Eu humano" which has a really nice groove) and a more rock-tribal feel, while Part II is the typical "calm after the storm" album, mostly instrumental (except for the last one), very appreciable, in some ways this work could be compared to the solo albums of Marc Rizzo, former Ill Nino and then guitarist for Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy.

A last consideration is necessary: do we really have to resign ourselves to seeing Max and Andreas still so distant and in total communication breakdown? Because if, by chance, this new spiritual vein of Kisser merged with the latest demonstrations of violence and terror invading Soulfly's albums (and Cavalera Conspiracy's debut), it would be something to see; the new "Chaos A.D." is one step away, and the two still haven't decided (or rather, the leader of Soulfly has reached out to Kisser many times; he's like talking to a Wall!!!).

Having said that, I recommend this album for moments of relaxation for those more accustomed to chewing extreme genres, but in general, it could be enjoyable for everyone; one extra star (compared to the actual value) for the Surprise after years of disappointments from an artist who has given so much to the world of metal in the past and who, we hope, has some surprises in store, a sort of retribution for the future.