I have an old college roommate (and still a good friend) who is a thrash/speed metal man. During our stint rooming together,there was one day that we sat around drinking a few beers and he broke out Sepultura's Chaos A.D. It was fantastic to say the least. When I'm in the mood for something that makes me feel like I want to drive 100+ mph, Chaos A.D. is quickly in hand. I also bought and listened to Roots but not nearly as much as Chaos. After Roots, Max Cavalera was out of the band and I didn't really follow Sepultura anymore. Oddly enough, I didn't latch on to Max's new bands Soulfly or Cavalera Conspiracy either.

I had heard from my friend that Sepultura really went back to their thrash roots after Max's departure. I'm sure that's true but I'd say with A-Lex they're walking a line somewhere between full-on assualt and the heavy melodic power of Chaos. A-Lex is a concept album based on A Clockwork Orange and I believe it shows through pretty well. A-Lex, by the way, is a modified form of the Latin phrase for "without law" (ab+ lex).

All of the songs titled as "A-Lex" (i.e. I, II, III, and IV) begin with electronic intros, lead into a pounding instrumental, and then transition back out with some electronic sounds. It's almost as if these pieces serve as segues between different portions of a musical storyline and they do so pretty successfully. My only gripe is that the album starts off with one and it was a big of a stutter start to the album. After the first track, "Moloko Mesto" is some blazing thrash. THIS is more of what I expected. The album has a great flow to it. Most of the songs are short and to the point while keeping your blood pumping. The tracks go from thrash to some more melodic metal to a concept song to thrash, etc., etc. When I say more melodic metal, think Pantera's "Walk". The screaming is there. The energy is there. And this ain't no Metallica Black Album. These guys mean business. Then they throw in another "A-Lex" track to remind you that it's a concept album.

There were some songs on here that had a bit of a different feel to them. "Sadistic Values" is the longest song on the album at 6:50 and it has about three minutes of a dark and mellow electronic intro followed by some thrash. "Metamorphosis" seems to have aimed for a much darker sound than many of the other songs. "Filthy Rot" gives you some of those classic Sepultura drums like "Refuse/Resist" did on Chaos. "The Experiment" sounds like it was lifted right off the Chaos album. The only song that really sticks in my side is "Ludwig Van". It has orchestral strings with the occasional guitars thrown in an attempt to make it sould like Beethoven if he wrote for a metal band. My issue is that it ends up sounding more like one of those lame Trans Siberian Orchestra commercials. It flat out bites.

"Ludwig Van" aside, I really like A-Lex even if the title tracks break it up into pieces. I made the comparison earlier in the review and I'll expand on it here. I believe if you take out the "A-Lex" tracks and "Ludwig Van", you have an album that's got a pretty similar feel to Pantera's Far Beyond Driven or The Great Southern Trendkill. You'll see mosh pits in your mind without the music ever getting monotonous in the way that some thrash does. If you liked Chaos A.D. or the Pantera trilogy of Vulgar Display through Trendkill, I'd highly recommend A-Lex to you.

1. "A-Lex I" 1:53
2. "Moloko Mesto" 2:09
3. "Filthy Rot" 2:45
4. "We've Lost You" 4:13
5. "What I Do!" 2:01
6. "A-Lex II" 2:18
7. "The Treatment" 3:23
8. "Metamorphosis" 3:01
9. "Sadistic Values" 6:50
10. "Forceful Behavior" 2:27
11. "Conform" 1:54
12. "A-Lex III" 2:03
13. "The Experiment" 3:28
14. "Strike" 3:40
15. "Enough Said" 1:36
16. "Ludwig Van" 5:29
17. "A-Lex IV" 2:46
18. "Paradox" 2:15

This album is deservedly getting great acclaim world-wide, but I feel compelled to add another 5-star review to the growing amount that are out there already.
I can't say enough good things about the album. I think it's their best work since Arise (if not, dare I say, ever?).
The band have had their critics since Max Cavalera left; a lot of people instantly disliked Derrick Green upon hearing Against, and hence decided not to give the following albums a chance. If you are one of these people, I strongly advise you to buy this album. If you are one of those who kept faith in the band, then you are reaping your just rewards.
As much as I love the Derrick-era albums prior to Dante, I think this album is an amalgamation of all the best elements of its predecessors. It's thrashy, it's heavy, there's a healthy mix of alternative instruments (the use of Horns, I believe!) and it is really creative.
There's also something a little extra in Dante; it's dark. As a concept album, it draws inspiration from The Divine Comedy (the album is split into 3 sections; Hell, Purgatory and Paradise) both lyrically and artistically. There are some intense songs such as "Buried Words" in which you can decipher the book's influence (if you've read it of course!) The art-work also draws inspiration from The Divine Comedy, with some top-notch work.
In conclusion, this is an album that should have the begrudgers running back to the band in their droves (If you are one of them, there's no shame in it!) as well as putting Sepultura back on the radar of metal heavy-weights where they belong. ....this is simply a great album. Buy it!

01. Lost (Intro) (0:59)
02. Dark Wood of Error (2:18)
03. Convicted In Life (3:09)
04. City of Dis (3:26)
05. Faise (3:34)
06. Fighting On (4:29)
07. Limbo (Intro) (0:44)
08. Ostia (3:06)
09. Buried Words (2:34)
10. Nuclear Seven (3:44)
11. Repeating the Horror (3:11)
12. Eunoé (Intro) (0:12)
13. Crown and Miter (2:11)
14. Primium Mobile (Intro) (0:29)
15. Still Flame (4:50)

Sepultura haven't made an album this good in 12 years. This album is much faster and heavier than against or nation. Anyone who doesn't believe in post-max sepultura needs only to listen to this cd. Derrick's vocals are in top form and he shows that he is a more powerful and dynamic singer than max ever was. Paulo's bass is more noticeable to me than ever before, with a scattering of really cool bass lines throughout the cd. Andreas' guitar work is faster than it has been in recent years, and, thankfully, the great solos are BACK! But the best part of this album is, of course, Igor's drumming. If that is any surprise to you then you must not know Sepultura.

Come Back Alive, Corrupted, Mindwar, Leech, The Rift, and Activist are all great, fast songs. Apes of God is a mid-paced song with a really good riff and some NASTY drumming. More of the Same, Bottomed Out, Urge, and As It Is are all more unique songs showcasing Derrick's clean and varied vocals. I think the only one I didn't mention yet is Godless. It's a fairly heavy song, kind of on the slow side, and it really grows on you. This whole cd is excellent and a GREAT comeback for Sepultura. I Urge everyone to check this out. You won't be disappointed. Standout songs are The Rift, More of the Same, Come Back Alive, and all the others.

How much longer do we have to listen to people denigrate the work of Sepultura after Max Cavalera?

If you can't hear the quality of the songwriting and arranging in this album, then you just aren't listening. Sepultura post-Max have developed into one of the most mature and intelligent thrash band on the planet; Derrick Green sings his ass off, Andreas Kisser's writing is world class and the overall production quality is given more attention than it ever did when Max was in the band. And above all, they aren't afraid to try new approaches, which many fans of the old line up seem to feel threatened by....

Too many people are obsessed with the cult of personality, and can't/won't accept that Sepultura can thrive, let alone exist, without Max.

If you want to hear Max, listen to Soulfly. If you wany to hear bleeding edge thrash, check this release out, but above all, try to keep your mind and your ears open.

1. "Come Back Alive" 3:06
2. "Godless" 4:22
3. "Apes of God" 3:36
4. "More of the Same" 3:59
5. "Urge" 3:17
6. "Corrupted" 2:33
7. "As It Is" 4:26
8. "Mind War" 3:00
9. "Leech" 2:24
10. "The Rift" 2:57
11. "Bottomed Out" 4:35
12. "Activist" 1:54
13. "Outro" (uncredited) 11:39
14. "Bullet the Blue Sky" (bonus, U2 cover) 4:31

I mean wow..This is easily the biggest surprise thus far for me in 2001. I was expecting a cd akin to Against, good but just lacking and uncomfortable feeling without Max.

Nation finds Sepultura trying not to emulate what they once held with Max Cavalera, which is part of why Against felt so odd to me.It is also a concept album about creating a perfect utopia, at times exciting and full of wonder, and at times frightening to think about the rule of a corrupt government. It is an eye opening and pleasant trip to be on. On the new album, Derrick Green proves he is a far greater vocalist than Max ever was, showcasing his beautiful singing voice on tracks like Water and The Ways of Faith to name a couple. He can also hold his own with Max as far as growling goes-just listen to Revolt or Human Cause. Andreas may not make solos as showy as on older albums, but I personally feel solos can become too cocky or masturbatory if done too showy or too often. On Nation, he does solos that dont take away from the others in the band, only adding more to the song. The rythymic section is intensely strong as well-Paulo creates some pummeling basslines and Igor is still a powerhouse on the kit. The songs are not complex thrash metal like in the days of Arise or Beyond the Remains, but they are GOOD. Songs are strong,with good lyrics and vocals and very talented music to back it. Best songs are Sepulnation, Border Wars, One Man Army, Who Must Die, and Water.

I felt this was one of Sepultura's most stirring albums-they support the belief and need to make a better world, a Utopia if you will, in the lyrics. You can feel that they believe it, in every word and riff and drum kick.

In conclusion, I think this is one of the finest albums by Sepultura to date, Max or not. It is also a high contender for album of the year for me, as it is constantly receiving play. For stirring music, look no further.

This album is Sepultura's best since Chaos A.D. and their most diverse ever, even more diverse than Against (which I also loved). Not to push my opinion on others but if you honestly think that Soulfly's 2 releases are as good as or better than Sepultura's 2 releases without Max...you must enjoy repetitive nu-metal a good deal more than I do. Soulfly has become something of a joke whereas Sepultura have become more diverse and heavier (heavier than Roots, that is...at times at heavy as Chaos A.D.) and more experimental, all of which has added up to two fantastic releases, of which this is the second.

This CD is only 52:25 in length but it seems much longer than that, which is a good thing. There are only two even mediocre songs here, they are tracks 11 and 14 (Politricks and Water); in addition, Reject sounds a bit weak but it's between mediocre and good because of the chorus. The rest of the CD is excellent, within each song it seems as though there's a surprise. Andreas, Igor and at times Derrick are proving themselves to be an outstanding songwriting team.

If I may:

"Sepulnation": kind of cheesy lyrics/title but the main riff is killer and the chorus is devastating. Nice drumming too.
"Revolt": at first I was mad because this song is only about :55 long but it's killer, it and "Human Cause" are the two short thrash songs on this record and they're both great.
"Boarder Wars": sounds like a Chaos A.D. song updated. Nice build to the chorus, which is crazy heavy. Good, good riffage.
"One Man Army": I didn't like this song upon first listen but now I really enjoy it, it's unlike anything Sepultura have ever done before (especially with the clean vocals)
"Vox Populi": GREAT main riff and heavy part toward the end, and a very energetic chorus.
"The Ways Of Faith": This is a good, simple song.
"Uma Cura": A little slow to grab ahold of but good, it's very slow and brooding.
"Who Must Die?": This is the best song on the record. It's so very hardcore, the main riff is so very good, and there are great, soft breakdowns interlaced throughout. Hopefully a concert staple for years to come.
"Saga": Another very heavy song, but the main riff is the same as the intro riff to "Hatred Aside" from Against, however some notes have been taken out. (I could be wrong; this is what it sounds like to me). Very fast and energetic though.
"Tribe To A Nation": I thought this would be mindless reggae and some of the lyrics I don't really like, but the main riff here is very heavy and also very evil. Love it!
Politricks (omitted)
"Human Cause": if one word had to describe this song I would choose "vicious" to be that word. Jamey Jasta (of Hatebreed fame) adds his now-infamous bark of a vocal to the first verse, which sounds killer.
"Reject": Eeh, this is pretty good. It's worth listening to for the start-stop of the chorus.
Water (omitted)
"Valtio": Probably Sepultura's most beautiful song. It's all orchestral and classical guitar and sounds like something from a movie soundtrack. A very moving song and an excellent way to end a CD (and also an excellent way to open their live shows, as they do so with this song).

Overall, one of the best records of 2001, IMO. If you are openminded about music you will probably like this CD, it strikes a rare balance between several different styles of heavy music as well as a lot of softer stuff, too, and little of it sounds out of place. Absolutely worth buying, at least chek it out if you're apprehensive.

1. "Sepulnation" 4:20
2. "Revolt" 0:56
3. "Border Wars" 5:10
4. "One Man Army" 5:27
5. "Vox Populi" 3:41
6. "The Ways of Faith" 4:53
7. "Uma Cura" 3:14
8. "Who Must Die?" 2:58
9. "Saga" 4:37
10. "Tribe to a Nation" (feat. Dr. Israel) 2:48
11. "Politricks" (feat. Jello Biafra) 4:14
12. "Human Cause" (feat. Jamey Jasta) 0:57
13. "Reject" 2:59
14. "Water" 2:44
15. "Valtio" (feat. Apocalyptica) (instrumental)) 3:20

Well, after spending the last two days studying this album closely, I just want to say I think the band deserves more credit than I initially gave them. So it doesn't sound like old Sepultura. Why should it? Without their mighty leader, without Max, of course they've had to change. The Roots/Chaos A.D. direction continues with Max in Soulfly, but Sepultura actually hasn't done a bad job here. The album is more simple than previous Sepultura releases, as far as its lack of frenetic guitar rhythms, pace changes, and solos is concerned. But the guys have compensated for that with more experimental ideas presented in a wide variety of textures: while there are some more subtle, relaxed instrumentals focusing on ethnic Brazilian and Japanese music such as "Tribus,Kamaitachi" and "T3RCERMILENNIUM," there are plenty of punk-based and groove-oriented songs, with a handful of thrash tunes featuring Jason Newsted and old friend Joao Gordo thrown in. Overall, this album doesn't have the intensity Sepultura flaunted with Max. But make no mistake, this is still metal. As for Derrick, I think it's amazing a guy from Ohio was brought into the world's most famous (formerly) Brazilian band. Guess they're 1/4 American now, huh? I bet he is honored and is trying very hard to earn his place in such a demanding role. Give him a chance. I think the lyrics he's contributed have even influenced the songwriting to create an American feel for some of the songs. He clearly has a strong set of lungs and can sing just fine for this kind of music. Please don't jump on him. If he's who the band wanted, don't you think they know what they were looking for in a vocalist? After all, it was THEIR decision, whether you like it or not. In sum, this is obviously not a technical speed fest like Arise or a slow-crunch/power chord work like Roots or Chaos A.D. But like I said, it doesn't need to be. "Against" marks a new era for Sepultura, apparently one with wide horizons and plenty of time and space for creative heavy metal, and the production is solid. If you don't like the new style, that's cool. But I'm finally getting what they've done here, and you know what? I dig it!

Strength in the face of adversity is certainly what Sepultura has shown by bouncing back from tragedy, and releasing one of their best albums. The loss of singer/guitarist/founder Max Cavalera was devastating and most fans thought the band would not be able to continue. However, Sepultura followed their hearts and moved on finding the perfect replacement for Max with Derrick Green. The music that comes forth in the album Against blows away their last album Roots, and almost reaches the same heights they acheived with their masterpiece Chaos A.D. The downtuned guitars are gone in favor of a more traditional sound, so is the muddy production of Ross Robinson in favor of a more clean, but extremely heavy sound. The album kicks off with the fast-paced title track which asserts the return of these metal giants. "Rumors" is one of the most powerful tracks of the album addressing the war of words between the remaining members of Sepultura and the departed Max Cavalera. "Common Bonds" is another gem boasting immense drumming from Igor, and blistering guitar work by Andreas. The band heads in a more hardcore direction with their new muisc, "Floaters In Mud" and "Drowned Out" are two prime examples. Gordo of Ratos De Porao lends his vocal talents to "Reza," a modern companion to "Biotech Is Godzilla." Metallica's Jason Newsted collaborates with Sepultura spawning "Hatred Aside," something which can only be described as a Motorhead song on steroids. Sepultura's tradition of incredible instumentals continues with the drum driven "Tribus," the fuzzy distortion of "F.O.E.," and the ominous apocalyptic "T3rcermillennium." The cultural inspiration of this album is drawn from Japan where Sepultura teamed with the percussion group Kodo for the mesmerizing "Kamaitachi." Against is the beginning of a new Sepultura, one that recognizes, and is proud of the past, but poised to move on into new territory as the kings of metal!!!

1. "Against"       1:54
2. "Choke"       3:36
3. "Rumors"       3:04
4. "Old Earth"       4:28
5. "Floaters in Mud"       4:58
6. "Boycott"       3:10
7. "Tribus"       1:39
8. "Common Bonds"       2:58
9. "F.O.E." (Jimmy Bowen cover)     2:08
10. "Reza" (Prayer - feat. João Gordo from Ratos de Porão on vocals)     2:16
11. "Unconscious"       3:37
12. "Kamaitachi" (feat. Kodo)     3:03
13. "Drowned Out"       1:28
14. "Hatred Aside" (feat. Jason Newsted from Metallica on vocals and baritone guitar)     5:13
15. "T3rcermillennium"       3:56

Ok let's face the obvious; Roadrunner has been constantly spitting out these 25th anniversary Re-releases as an easy cash grab from the fans. Since they already re-released the rest of the albums from Max Cavalerea years, why not re-release roots? Well, when I had first heard this news, I was excited and jumping with joy. Roots was my first Sepultura album and one of my personal favorites, I practically have the thing memorized word for word and note for note. Now I realize this is a long review so if you want a short version, then skip to the last paragraph. If you want all the details, then read on from here.

I checked websites weekly for updates as to what the bonus track would be on the second disc. Roadrunner stated that it would be 15 songs, but they didn't release the track list till months later. When they finally did, I was shocked to see that it was 13 songs instead of 15. I looked back at the roadrunner website and there were still banners up on the website claiming that it would have 15 songs! What happened to the three missing songs?! And to top it off, most of the songs were previously released on the B-Side/Live disc Blood Rooted.

Now I'm a Sepultura fanatic so eventually, my curiosity got the best of me and I gave in and bought it. This is the third time I've bought Roots. I have the original copy, the rare import The Roots of Sepultura and now this one.

The most interesting part of the whole package is probably the artwork and the 23 page booklet. The lyrics part of the booklet has been changed, having the colors screwed around with (it actually looks pretty cool) as well as pictures of Jon Davis, Mike Patton, the tribe, Ross Robinson, members of the band and so forth. The main problem was that most of it dealt with the recording process so much that they weren't able to include all the info they could have. The Re-release of the Soulfly album does a better job (in terms of the booklet) because it gave some info about every song. The Lyrics for Lookaway are still not present because they were written by Jon Davis. They don't mention the guitarists from Korn helping out with Ratamahatta on percussion, nor do they mention anything about Carlinhos Brown (who also played on Ratamahatta and Ambush). A large portion goes into the recording process for the untitled track at the end of the album. This 13 minute improve jam goes by two names. The booklet refers to it as Canyon Jam, if you insert it in your Computer or look online it comes up as Little Wood-Music, so which is it? There are other things included such as their journey to the Xavantes tribe, but there are still several things that are left unanswered to the die hard fanatic. Like with the bonus material, why did they decide to cover Celtic Frost and Bob Marley? They are great songs but I would like to know why. It feels incomplete and a bit of a let down. Just compare the booklets from Roots and the Soulfly album and the Soulfly one ends up as the winner. It was simply done better. However if you compare the overall music, Roots annihilates the competitor.

Alright, enough with the booklet, does the bonus material make it worth the cash? Well let's go over all the previously unreleased material and that which was left off Blood Rooted.

5. Mine (Andy Wallace Mix): I don't understand why the reviewer Wobby praises this track as much as he did, but this is not a remix, this is an extended Mix, not a remix. There is an additional 4 seconds at the beginning and probably a minute and half added to the end. If there is an actual difference, then it's not easily noticeable.
8. R.D.P. (Demo): I'm convinced that this is demo cover of a Ratos De Porão song, but I'm not too sure which one. Sepultura previously covered their song Crucificados Pelo Sistema. It's Definitely an awesome song.
9. Untitled (Demo): An instrumental that was never improved on, probably the best song here, it could have been a second We Who Are Not As Others.
10. Attitude (Live): This was on an Ozzfest CD so its nice to have it on an actual sepultura CD for the first time.
11. Roots Bloody Roots (Megawatt Mix 1): very strange, not too good, but definitely better then the next track.
12. Roots Bloody Roots (Megawatt Mix 2): absolutely unbearable. It sounds like a really bad Soulfly remix. With the exception of Max yelling, you couldn't be able to tell what this was in the first place. Horrible, horrible remix. I will bet that these two remixes were made recently at the last minute by someone at Roadrunner.

The next time Roadrunner decides to release some old Sepultura rarities (which they probably will within the next five years) they better just make a Blood Rooted vol. 2. There is plenty of live bootleg material that they can place on it and if you look hard enough, there is a rare Desperate Cry Vinyl Single that has a track titled Sweet Leaf (probably a Black Sabbath cover) and I'm sure there are plenty more demos.

Alright here's my conclusion as to whether or not this Re-release is worth the money. If you do not have any version of Roots, then definitely buy this version. If you already have the original version; you can skip this entirely or buy one used at a cheap price or get it as a gift. I personally do not like to support these cash grabbing re-releases so that's what I did; I received it as a gift. The music is definitely worth 5 stars, but the overall letdown of unreleased material removes a star. Hoped this helped and thanks for reading.

CD1
1. "Roots Bloody Roots" 3:32
2. "Attitude" 4:15
3. "Cut-Throat" 2:44
4. "Ratamahatta" (feat. Ross Robinson, David Silveria and Carlinhos Brown) 4:30
5. "Breed Apart" 4:01
6. "Straighthate" 5:21
7. "Spit" 2:45
8. "Lookaway" (f. DJ Lethal, Jonathan Davis & Mike Patton) 5:26
9. "Dusted" 4:03
10. "Born Stubborn" 4:07
11. "Jasco" 1:57
12. "Itsári" 4:48
13. "Ambush" 4:39
14. "Endangered Species" 5:19
15. "Dictatorshit" 1:26
16. "Canyon Jam" 13:16











CD2
1. "Procreation (Of the Wicked)" (Celtic Frost cover) 3:39
2. "Mine" (feat. Mike Patton of Faith No More) 6:25
3. "War" (Bob Marley cover) 6:40
4. "Lookaway" (Master Vibe Mix)" 5:36
5. "Mine (Andy Wallace Mix)" 7:58
6. "Dusted" (demo) 4:27
7. "Roots Bloody Roots" (demo) 3:32
8. "R.D.P." (demo) 1:15
9. "Untitled" (demo) 4:14
10. "Attitude" (live at Ozzfest) 5:37
11. "Roots Bloody Roots (Megawatt Mix 1)" 4:01
12. "Roots Bloody Roots (Megawatt Mix 2)" 4:08

I find it interesting (and funny) that to some people, the success of an album hinges on whether or not it's "commercially accessible." Metal artists walk a finer edge than most today (except probably for punk artists), in that every _POSSIBLE_ move they could make constitutes selling out. You're a sellout in the metal and punk worlds if: You release a record. Your sound goes too "soft". Your sound changes. You play venues with seats instead of barstools, etc etc.

Sepultura is a case in point. "Chaos AD" is, in my estimation, their finest record. "Refuse/Resist" leads off the album with a ripping-hammer punch that socks you into your seat. "Territory", "Slave New World" and "Nomad" are outstanding songs as well, running the gamut from the slow, heavy trudge to the fast-paced pummeling guitar that was Sepultura's bread and butter for so long.

"Chaos AD" also features Sepultura's first serious exploration of tribal and political issues, with the songs "Kaiowas" (named for a tribe of native South Americans that were all but wiped out) and "Biotech is Godzilla" (co-written by Jello Biafra). "Biotech..." is more than just funny, anyone who knows about the horrors that are foisted upon the working class and poor in South America knows that the song is brutally accurate and sounds a wake-up call to the civilized world.

This is Sepultura's finest work. The collaborations are smooth and well-executed, the songs are well-paced and well written. And yet, to people like my buddy Chael, an enjoyable record is a failure. I don't get that. I KNOW the band wants people to listen, did you ever hear of a band that wanted their records to make people shut them off? Some argue that Sepultura's earlier records were meant for the loyal hardcore audience. The fact is that a truly loyal audience would appreciate their musical growth, realize that stagnation is what comes from never changing your sound, and encourage them to constantly evolve and come up with new things to amaze us with.

Chaos AD was one of these albums, and I suggest you play it until your ears bleed.

1. "Refuse/Resist" 3:20
2. "Territory" 4:47
3. "Slave New World" 2:55
4. "Amen" 4:27
5. "Kaiowas" 3:43
6. "Propaganda" 3:33
7. "Biotech Is Godzilla" 1:52
8. "Nomad" 4:59
9. "We Who Are Not as Others" 3:42
10. "Manifest" 4:49
11. "The Hunt" 3:59
12. "Clenched Fist" 4:58
13. "Chaos B.C." 5:12
14. "Kaiowas (Tribal Jam)" 3:47
15. "Territory (Live)" 4:48
16. "Amen/Inner Self (Live)" 8:42

My first year of grad school I rented a room in a 3-bedroom apartment on West 121st Street in Manhattan. My apartment mates were Bob, an aspiring playwright, and Naomi, an aspiring architect. We were by no means close - like orangutans we led solitary existences and crossed paths mainly at large feeding patches. Bob and I got on well enough, stopping to chat on those occasions when we encountered one another. Naomi was a more difficult animal - she didn't like to meet face to face, but rather preferred to leave me notes with little reminders about household chores it was my turn to do. Her notes were always signed N. as though she were a character straight out of some 19th century Russian novel. Plastered to the refrigerator, the bathroom mirror and even my bedroom door, N.'s little missives never failed to get under my skin and more often than not, I ignored them and returned to my lair to blast some death metal. Believe me I had some great death metal just waiting to be heard on such occasions - Obituary's The End Complete and Entombed's Left Hand Path leap immediately to mind. But even more compelling than those classics was Sepultura's Arise, a 42-minute slab of pure aural aggression. Max Cavalera's brutally precise riffing and wolf-like growl were enough to put that little N. beast and her petty desires out of my mind for awhile, that's for sure.

Sepultura's world on Arise is an unforgettable one - it is heavy, bleak and beautiful all at once. If you've ever driven the New Jersey Turnpike on a rainy afternoon and said to yourself, `damn, those factories are strangely beautiful', you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you're still clueless, imagine the sort of music that might go along with the song titles, "Dead Embryonic Cells", "Desperate Cry", "Altered State", and "Under Siege (Regnum Irae)". This is metal with an appeal that crosses international boundaries. I seem to recall once seeing the word "Sepultura" carved into a desk in a classroom atop a windswept hill on the campus of the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar. A pretty wide sphere of influence for the boys from Brazil, wouldn't you say? One word of warning - you may not want to listen to the lyrics closely if you like to sleep well at night. Max's lyrics are a lot more unsettling today than they were when this album came out 11 years ago. For example, on the first track, "Arise", he warns of a "terrorist confrontation waiting for the end" and "cities fall(ing) in ruin". Then, on the classic "Dead Embryonic Cells", Max rails against "tribal violence everywhere, life in the age of terrorism". Let's hope that's as prescient as Max gets as there's a lot of other disturbing stuff on here that we can only hope never happens.

Did I tell you that I really hated N.'s notes? Trust me, I got around to the chores eventually - I'm not that inconsiderate. Of course, I could have retaliated by leaving notes for N. when she fell behind in her chores, but decided that would be a bit unfair since as far as I could tell, N. didn't have her own copy of Arise to take solace in. No reason to put her through the stress of encountering notes signed J. if the poor dear had nothing to help her cope with them.

I know, annoying notes are not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. You probably have more to worry about than some recent Yale grad and her inordinate fondness for post-its. But, I'm telling you, Arise is the sort of album that can help you forget your minor worries, whatever they are, at least for awhile. Along with the groundbreaking Roots, Arise is one of Sepultura's two best releases and did time as my favorite album back in the early 90s. I listened to it again today and it still blows me away. If you dare to call yourself a metal fan, I expect to find Arise in your album collection the next time I look through it.

1. "Arise" 3:18
2. "Dead Embryonic Cells" 4:52
3. "Desperate Cry" 6:40
4. "Murder" 3:26
5. "Subtraction" 4:46
6. "Altered State" 6:34
7. "Under Siege (Regnum Irae)" 4:53
8. "Meaningless Movements" 4:40
9. "Infected Voice" 3:18

Despite their fairly high popularity level, for a metal band, Sepultura has never seemed to get the kind of respect they deserve. They general have been placed behind all the big American thrash bands in the great hierarchy of metal bands, which is a shame, because they make some killer music. Frankly, this album and the later Arise surpass anything I've ever heard from Slayer, Anthrax or Megadeth, and are as good or better than anything Metallica has done other than Master of Puppets. Sure, they may be a bit derivative, but well, pretty much all the other thrash bands were inspired by Metallica anyway, so that's no more valid a criticism of them than anyone else. And besides, innovation is nice, but it's not the main concern. Sometimes, most of the time, really, it's good just to do something many others do better, than just about anybody else, which is precisely what Sepultura has done with this album.

I'll get my one complaint out of the way. Max's vocals aren't very good on this album. They aren't obnoxiously bad, but they're nothing special, and they're 100 times better on Arise, where they became deeper and more intense. They do have a distinct flavor here, as Max has an extremely thick accent and clearly doesn't speak English well at all. Still, this is a minor complaint.

Stylistically, this album is sort of mid-way between Reign in Blood and mid 80's Metallica, combining the increased speed with the longer, more intricate structures. This album is flat-out the most intense thrash album I've ever heard.(it's death-thrash, really) Sure, it may let up more than Reign in Blood, but not too much, and when it really gets going it's heavier AND faster than anything on RiB. From a sheer technical standpoint, it's hard to believe how young these guys were(18-20 years). Though the songs aren't terribly long, they avoid conventional pop structures, and sometimes go beyond the standard thrash structure.(long intro-2verses/choruses-long instrumental-chorus.) Beyond that, they simply have a nearly absurd number of riff changes, more than just about any metal album I can think of. Igor's drumming is very nicely done, not as complex as it would become but still very powerful. Andreas' leads are strong as well, particularly on Inner Self and Lobotomy.

There isn't any filler here, though 2 tracks, Sarcastic Existence and Hungry are merely good rather than great. It opens up with the title track, which, minus the intro, is a very Slayer-like song, with a blazingly fast opening 2 verses giving way to a slower, groovier bridge, coming back to the chorus.(a la War Ensemble, Angel of Death, Ghosts of War etc.) Inner Self is one of the slower tracks, with the strongest solo on the album. Mass Hypnosis is probably may favorite track on the album. It's got a simply unbelieveble amount of energy and power, with a slower, memorable chorus contrasted with lightning fast and staccatto rhythm guitar abuse in the verses. Slaves of Pain also stands out, with another great chorus. The last real standout track is the closer, Primitive Future, which is perhaps the most explosively energetic thrash track I've ever heard, and truly a perfect way to close an outstanding album. The bonus tracks don't add too much, but I don't think too much about them either way, since they aren't truly part of the album.

Anyways, thrash rules, Sepultura rules thrash, therefore, buy Sepultura.

1. "Beneath the Remains" 5:11
2. "Inner Self" 5:07
3. "Stronger Than Hate" 5:50
4. "Mass Hypnosis" 4:22
5. "Sarcastic Existence" 4:43
6. "Slaves of Pain" 4:00
7. "Lobotomy" 4:55
8. "Hungry" 4:28
9. "Primitive Future" 3:08
10. "A Hora e a Vez do Cabelo Nascer" 2:23
11. "Inner Self (Drum tracks)" 5:11
12. "Mass Hypnosis (Drum tracks)" 4:22

This album,to me,defines underground metal.The recording quality isn't that great,but neither was "Kill Em All".The true star of "Schizophrenia" is the then new guitarist Andreas Kisser.His solo on my personal favorite,"To The Wall",is unbelievable and secured his place as one the best metal guitarists ever.Seriously,this CD is worth buying for this solo alone.His other lead work is incredible,also.Max's distortion plagued vocals are very effective and really go well with the music,though i prefer the Arise-era roars.The best drummer in the world,Igor Cavalera,pulls off some great fills and double-bass,though the muddy production does obscure some of the more intricate moments of his performance."From The Past Comes The Storms" is another defining moment for the once unstoppable band,with it's furious riffs and unrelenting speed."Inquisition Symphony" is a classic instrumental,as good as,if not better,as any of the Metallica ones.I don't like "Escape From The Void" as much as everybody else seems to,but it is still a great song,easily better than over half the stuff on "Reign In Blood"."The Abyss" is an amazing piece of acoustic guitar mastery,capturing a mood of desolation and doom....I just wish it was longer."Screams Behind The Shadows","Septic Schizo",and"Rest In Pain" are excellent,brutal tracks,if not as memorable as "To The Wall" or "From The Past Comes The Storms".In fact,it is very hard to give this album only 4 stars,but the production muffles part of music quite noticeably,and Max's vocals,while fitting to the music,are weak compared to the aforementioned performance on "Arise".Still,"Schizophrenia" is a must for all metal fans,and beats the living crap out of most other underground albums.While Sepultura would create arguably the best thrash CD ever in "Beneath The Remains$Q,"Schizophrenia" is often overlooked and equally worth your time.For those wanting to hear TRUE metal,buy this and understand what it's all about.

1. "Intro" 0:31
2. "From the Past Comes the Storms" 4:55
3. "To the Wall" 5:36
4. "Escape to the Void" 4:38
5. "Inquisition Symphony" 7:13
6. "Screams Behind the Shadows" 4:48
7. "Septic Schizo" 4:31
8. "The Abyss" 1:01
9. "R.I.P. (Rest in Pain)" 4:36
10. "Troops of Doom" 3:17
11. "The Past Reborns the Storms (Demo Version)" 5:08
12. "Septic Schizo (Rough Mix)" 4:34
13. "To the Wall (Rough Mix)" 5:31

It's been nearly 23 years since the sultry summer of '86, when four teenage outcast death metalheads from Brazil booked seven days of time at a backwards studio in Belo Horizonte, and emerged with their debut LP "Morbid Visions." That band was Sepultura, and the record remains a milestone of brutality as well as one of the benchmark releases in early death metal. It in fact may be one of the first true death metal LPs to ever be released; sure you had Possessed from the year before (whom these young longhairs seemed to idolize), but along with Repulsion, Death, and Bathory, Sepultura were one of the few to take the sound to new, unforeseen extremes for '86. Listen to any of the album's eight tracks and you hear elements that would turn up in countless recordings since: namely, downtuned guitars, (near) blastbeats, and particularly, Max Cavalera's evil growling vocal emissions.

That's in fact one of the things I will never understand about criticisms of Sepultura's early work (even from Don Kaye, who contributed the liner notes to the '97 reissue) -- that the supposedly "bad" production ruins the sound. I think the bad (better stated: extremely raw) 16-track production is one of the things that MAKES this record what it is. I for one happen to love death metal that is raw, unpolished and ugly -- the way it was meant to be. In fact, to these ears, Igor Cavalera may have one of the all-time SICKEST drum sounds ever on "Morbid Visions." And you have to remember that the band hailed from an extremely impoverished corner of the world; they were clearly working with what they had. Thus, the inherent grimness and ugliness of the music is evident for the duration of this 33 minute opus.

And let it be said that original lead guitarist Jairo T. (who would depart after the release of this album) deserves his place in Sepultura's early history as a key innovator of their sound. (The band's 1987 follow-up "Schizophrenia" and subsequent releases were good but in my opinion, the band would never again recapture the sinister atmosphere found on this album.)

All in all, classic stuff here. "Morbid Visions" deserves its place in history, along with other recordings from the same era like "the Seven Churches," "Horrified" and "Scream Bloody Gore," as pioneering works that shaped the face of death metal for years to come. Highly recommended.

1. "Morbid Visions" 3:23
2. "Mayhem" 3:15
3. "Troops of Doom" 3:21
4. "War" 5:32
5. "Crucifixion" 5:02
6. "Show Me the Wrath" 3:52
7. "Funeral Rites" 4:23
8. "Empire of the Damned" 4:24
9. "The Curse" 0:39
10. "Bestial Devastation" 3:08
11. "Antichrist" 3:47
12. "Necromancer" 3:53
13. "Warriors of Death" 4:10
14. "Necromancer" (demo version)
15. "Anticop" (live)