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Rating: It's a strange feeling to see Sepultura on stage again, one of the heaviest names, in every sense, in the worldwide metal circuit. Acclaimed for their masterpieces of the nineties, after a few too many departures, the group found themselves facing a long period of anonymity, with albums unable to hold up against the historic moments of their extensive discography, and at the same time, they witnessed a consistent departure from that unique and recognizable sound that had decreed their success in their golden days. Paradoxically, in the last decade, specifically since Igor Cavalera decided to follow in his brother Max's footsteps and effectively leave the others overnight, the four from Belo Horizonte have started to climb back, with albums far from the splendor of the past, but generally well-received by fans and critics, proving that the historic group still has something to say.
It's almost surprising when, reading a large banner hung on an amplifier, it’s reminded that this year the eternal bad boys of Brazilian metal blow out the thirtieth candle of their career: they are still bad, but with a few more grey hairs. Over these years, the group never held back or lost heart, and with the helm firmly in the hands of veteran Andreas Kisser, the carioca at the Audiodrome in Moncalieri, near Turin, certainly did not hesitate when, faced with about two hundred attendees, they delivered a solid lesson in sonic violence. The recent "The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be The Heart," now released last October, received rather positive reviews from both the specialized press and the public, confirming the positive trend of recent years: the epoch-making works are now in the past, but Sepultura seems to be much more vital, both in studio and live, than many far more renowned colleagues. If indeed for too long bands like Slayer or Anthrax have been dedicating themselves to an endless recreation of their own myth, with setlists essentially updated to 1990, it's commendable how Sepultura brings even the most recent tracks of their career on tour, and the extracts from the latest work during the evening were certainly not few, almost emphasizing the state of grace the four are currently enjoying. If Andreas Kisser is the usual riff machine and Paulo Jr., as always, keeps more to himself, too busy weaving an enviable rhythmic foundation with Eloy Casagrande, Derrick Green continues to be both a blessing and a curse for fans: aggressive and with a strong hardcore attitude, with undeniable stage presence, but vocally distant from the thrash/death style that many miss. It's a matter of taste in the end, to each their own. The show kicks off right away with "The Vatican," taken from the latest work, moving on to "Kairos," the title track of the 2011 album.
The Brazilians, naturally, know their fans' tastes very well and it would be absurd not to bring back at least some of the classics that have made history in the genre: thus, pieces like "Propaganda," "Dusted," and "Dead Embryonic Cells" are blasted from the amplifiers, a clear demonstration that in the nineties metal had certainly changed skin from the previous decade but was far from being dead. If "Spectrum" and "Da Lama ao Caos" come from the more recent past, the latter even presenting a (nearly) unprecedented Andreas on vocals, the final crescendo is entrusted to tracks that practically any metalhead or, in any case, "frequent visitor" of heavy music knows, with an Audiodrome in total admiration. A great evening and big smiles, both on and off the stage, an evident sign that the four have now found their balance after rather tumultuous years and have quite a clear idea on the direction to follow. A participatory and happy audience, with the official stand literally taken by storm after the concert. Well done and until next time.
The VaticanKairosPropagandaImpending DoomManipulation of TragedyConvicted in LifeDustedAttitudeDead Embryonic CellsBiotech Is GodzillaSpectrumDa Lama ao Caos (Chico Science & Nação Zumbi cover)Inner SelfTerritoryAriseRefuse/ResistTrauma of WarRatamahattaRoots Bloody Roots
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