Sepultura

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Sepultura
Sepultura during Metalmania 2007 festival in Katowice, Poland
Sepultura during Metalmania 2007 festival in Katowice, Poland
Background information
Origin Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Genre(s) Death metal (early)[1][2]
Thrash metal
Groove metal[3]

Nu metal
Years active 1984–present
Label(s) Cogumelo Records
Roadrunner Records
SPV Records
New Renaissance Records
Associated acts Cavalera Conspiracy
Nailbomb
Sarcófago
Soulfly
Members
Derrick Green
Andreas Kisser
Paulo Jr.
Jean Dolabella
Former members
Wagner Lamounier
Max Cavalera
Igor Cavalera
Jairo Guedes
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Sepultura is a Brazilian thrash metal band, formed in 1984.

Their name means "grave" in Portuguese, which they chose after Max Cavalera, one of the founding members, was translating the lyrics of the Motörhead song "Dancing on Your Grave" from their Another Perfect Day album.[4]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Sepultura was formed in 1984 at Belo Horizonte, the capital city of Minas Gerais, Brazil.[5] At the core of Sepultura were brothers Max and Igor Cavalera, the empoverished sons of model Vânia and Graciliano, a well-to-do Italian diplomat whose fatal heart attack left his family in financial dire straits.[6] Graciliano's death deeply affected his sons, providing them the impetus to start a band.[7]

Early Cavalera likes included Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, AC/DC, Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne's solo career.[5] That changed the day they first heard Venom. Igor said,

“ I remember the first time I listened to Venom, it was on a friend's borrowed tape. It was similar to Mötorhead, only a lot heavier. I remember someone saying: it's the devil's Mötorhead! After we got acquainted with Venom, we stopped listening to Iron Maiden and all that lighter stuff.[8] ”

From then on the Cavaleras quickly graduated to hearing to Kreator, Sodom, Metallica, Exodus and Exciter.[9]

After a revolving door of musicians, Sepultura established a temporary line-up of Max (electric guitar), Igor (drums), Wagner Lamounier (vocals) and Paulo Jr. (bass guitar).[10] On March 1985 Lamourier exited Sepultura after an argument with the whole group, and went on to become the frontman of black metal pioneers Sarcófago. After Lamounier's departure Max took over the vocal duties, and Jairo Guedes was invited to join the band as their lead guitarist.[11]

Sepultura signed to Cogumelo Records after a few years of performing. Their first EP was Bestial Devastation, a split album with fellow Brazilians Overdose. Their first LP Morbid Visions (1986), was initially released in America on New Renaissance Records, a record label owned by Ann Boleyn.

New Renaissance Records was heavily criticized by the media for signing and promoting Sepultura. However, eventually "Troops Of Doom" attracted radio airplay. Both albums are nowadays regarded as early milestones in the establishment of death metal. After Morbid Visions, Jairo Guedes left the band for another thrash metal venture and was replaced by São Paulo-based guitarist Andreas Kisser. Their second full-length album was Schizophrenia, which was a critical success[citation needed] that led them to being contracted to Roadrunner Records.

With Roadrunner distributing Schizophrenia worldwide, Sepultura reached new audiences of metal fans. This was cemented by 1989's Beneath the Remains, which was hailed by Terrorizer magazine as one of the all-time top 20 thrash albums[12], as well as a gaining a placing in their all-time top 40 death metal records[2]. It was followed by a long European and American tour. Their first US show was October 31, 1989 at the Ritz in New York City, opening for King Diamond. By the time they released 1991's Arise, Sepultura were located in Phoenix, Arizona and had become one of the most critically-praised metal bands of the time, in spite of a lack of mainstream success.[citation needed]

That changed with Chaos A.D. (1993), which saw a departure from their previous death/thrash style, now mixing it with industrial and hardcore punk elements.[13] The album helped form the groove metal genre and saw Sepultura achieve recognition beyond the thrash metal community.[citation needed] They continued with this on 1996's Roots, in which the band further innovated by experimenting with elements of the music of Brazil's indigenous peoples and traditional thrash, with a slower, downtuned metal sound. The title track is probably the band's best-known song,"Roots Bloody Roots" and often a staple at live shows.

In parallel, in 1994, Max and Igor, aided by Alex Newport of Fudge Tunnel, recorded a more industrial LP, Point Blank, under the name Nailbomb. Nailbomb played a full live set only once, and the performance was released as Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide. Nailbomb also played selected tracks live on Sepultura's 1994 tour with guests Fudge Tunnel.[citation needed]

In 1996, Sepultura played on the Ozzfest main stage alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Danzig, Biohazard, and Fear Factory.

[edit] Departure of Max and a new singer

At the height of Sepultura's fame however a series of events broke the band apart. Just after the release of Roots, Sepultura decided to fire their manager, Gloria, Max Cavalera's wife.

It was rumoured that there was some intra-band tension throughout the latter half of 1996,[citation needed] and at the end of a successful tour of Britain later that year, at Brixton Academy on 16th December 1996, the band told Max they would not renew Gloria's management contract. Max Cavalera left the band, and subsequently formed a new one, Soulfly. The others announced that they would continue under the Sepultura name and were searching for a replacement.

A recording of Max's last show with the band was later released as a live album, 2002's Under A Pale Grey Sky by their former record label Roadrunner Records, against the wishes of the band. Derrick Green from Cleveland wound up filling the frontman spot, and the band released Against in 1998. Against was commercially less successful than its two predecessors,[citation needed] as was the follow-up Nation. These releases saw Sepultura move away from their previous approach of the thrash metal sound - a process already in motion in such releases as Roots, and aided by Max's departure. Subsequent releases have had a positive effect in returning praise to the band, but album sales still remain low.

After recording Revolusongs, an EP of covers in 2002, the band released the album Roorback in 2003, which garnered many positive reviews.[citation needed]

In November 2005 the live Double-DVD and Double-CD Live in São Paulo was released. This was the first official live album from the band.

The release of 'Live In São Paulo' marked the first involvement of the new 'Sepularmy' street team in promotion of the bands music. The Sepularmy is unrelated to the bands record label SPV and its members are motivated purely by the desire to share the bands music and message around the world.

A new album, called Dante XXI was released on March 14, 2006. It is based around Dante's The Divine Comedy. This album has been considered to be the band's best effort with Derrick Green and also carries some thrash influence. Music-videos for the songs "Convicted in Life" and "Ostia" were released, following on from the album's concept.

In a recent interview in Revolver Magazine, Max Cavalera stated that Igor and himself would reunite with the original lineup. There are also rumors that the newly reunited Sepultura would play on the main stage at Ozzfest 2007. However Andreas Kisser stated that there would be no reunion in 2007.[14]

Andreas also stated that the band is planning a new studio album release for 2008, being the first without any Cavalera member.[15] In January 2008 the band released a new music-video for the song "Ostia" from the "Dante XXI" album. As stated on their Myspace page, the new album will be another concept album, based on "A Clockwork Orange."

[edit] Sepularmy

The Sepularmy was set up in 2005 by Sepultura fans to help promote the band. In the past, the band had suffered from poor promotion from various record labels. After the split from Roadrunner Records, the band suffered a loss in popularity, and as a result, got less exposure.[citation needed]

Their aim is to help spread the music and message of Sepultura, and to promote the band in various ways. Methods include producing flyers that fans can print out and distribute in local venues and music shops, and posting on Internet forums to help reach potential fans.[citation needed]

[edit] In popular culture

[edit] Discography

Main article: Sepultura discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Ed Rivadavia. Morbid Visions/Bestial Devastation review. Allmusic Guide. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  2. ^ a b Hinchcliffe 2006, page 54.
  3. ^ Legendární brazilská formace Sepultura zahraje v Rock Café!!! - ProvokatoR magazine
  4. ^ Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 17.
  5. ^ a b Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 16.
  6. ^ Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 14.
  7. ^ Chirazi, Steffan (2005). "The Roots of Sepultura", p. 13 [CD booklet]. Album notes for Roots by Sepultura. New York, NY: Roadrunner Records.
  8. ^ Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 19.
  9. ^ Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 26.
  10. ^ Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 21.
  11. ^ Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 28.
  12. ^ Terrorizer #109 (2003), page 35 (author unknown)
  13. ^ Haagsma, Robert (1993). Sepultura. Aardschok / Metal Hammer. Retrieved on 2008-05-03. Archived at Sepultura.be :: Home of the SepulturaTron
  14. ^ There Will Be No Sepultura Reunion In 2007. BLABBERMOUTH.NET (2006-11-15). Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
  15. ^ Sepultura Guitarist Andreas Kisser: New Studio Album Planned For 2008. BLABBERMOUTH.NET (2007-01-16). Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
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[edit] References

  • Anonymous (May 2003). Beneath the Remains. In: A Megaton Hit Parade: The All-Time Thrash Top 20. Terrorizer #109, page 35.
  • Barcinski, André & Gomes, Silvio (1999). Sepultura: Toda a História. São Paulo: Ed. 34. ISBN 85-7326156-0
  • Hinchcliffe, James (December 2006). Beneath the Remains. In: Death Metal|The DM Top 40. Terrorizer #151, page 54.
  • Lemos, Anamaria (Setembro 1993). "Caos Desencanado". Bizz #98, pages 40-45.
  • Schwarz, Paul (February 2005). Morbid Visions. In: The First Wave. Terrorizer #128, page 42.
  • Sepultura (1996). Roots. [CD]. New York, NY: Roadrunner Records. The 25th Anniversary Series (2-CD Reissue, 2005).

[edit] External links

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v • d • e
Sepultura
Derrick Green · Andreas Kisser · Paulo Jr. · Jean Dolabella
Max Cavalera · Igor Cavalera · Jairo Guedz · Wagner Lamounier
Studio albums
Live albums
Extended plays
Compilations
Videos
Under Siege (Live in Barcelona) · Third World Chaos · We Are What We Are · Chaos DVD · Live in São Paulo
Singles
Related articles