Published on Oct 6, 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!)
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.