The 13th Sepultura studio album, 7th with Derrick Green and the studio début of drummer Eloy Casagrande, is inspired by Austrian filmmaker Fritz Lang’s classic 1927 movie ‘Metropolis’ with socio-political lyrics by Andreas Kisser and Derrick Green. Musically it pulls in pretty much all elements of their back-catalogue for their earliest death metal to thrash then tribal rhythms of the mid ’90s, it’s all in here.
“Trauma Of War” begins the album with a bit of static that explodes into a flurry of guitars and drums that remind me a little of Fantômas in their intensity. Then Derrick’s vocals roar into existence keeping pace with the drums and thereby adding to the speed of the song.
After the decidedly Gothic organ and bell opening sequence, a tribal drum tattoo quickly becomes blasting as the blistering pace of the guitar riffs on “The Vatican” are let loose like priests in a playground over the demonic sounding screamed and shouted vocals.
Andreas’ guitars have a scratchy sound to them on “Impending Doom” as the plod along to the steady beat, the lead break is full of bends and squeals and remains in the reigned in pace set by the drums.
There’s a brief solo by original bassist Paulo Jr. on the intro to “Manipulation Of Tragedy” as the intricate riff works its way into your ear. The tribal Brazilian drumming during the manic lead slows down as the guitars increase their speed until they break out on their own as the song climaxes.
On a theme of natural disasters the drums on “Tsunami” come crashing down with the odd off-beat while its steady riff marches along until they fade into familiar percussive rhythms for “The Bliss Of Ignorants” while the lead is full of harmonics and anger.
At the opposite end of the emotional spectrum “Grief” is full of haunting guitar tones and Derrick’s soulful baritone as he sings at a near whisper before growing to a slightly more anguished unanswered plea. Truly beautiful.
I personally enjoy the fact that we live in this time of science and reason while for some “The Age Of The Atheist” may be more than they can handle, as they don’t always want the truth when a lie can be so much easier to swallow.
“Obsessed” has guest drummer Dave Lombardo beating the sense out of his drum kit in his distinct style while the rest of the song is trademark Sepultura with riffs full of triplets and aggressive changes and even angrier roared vocals.
The album ends with Andreas on vocals for the cover of Chico Science and Nação Zumbi’s “Da Lama Ao Caos”, meaning “From the Mud to the Chaos”, for their thrashy take on the Manguebeat original.
There’s meant to be a hidden track on here, but it’s not on the promo I have, so I guess you’ll have to listen for it on your own album when you get it.
(8/10 – Marco Gaminara)
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