There is something about the Sepultura sound which has rightfully allowed it to stand the test of time. It could be the bombastically frantic stringwork which has the capacity to power some cities. It could also be the cavernous, cacophonous screams and shouts. The drums never disappoint, and the production is mischievous yet meticulously guided.
It’s speedy thrash metal with death here, there, and everywhere.
Now, Cavalera (featuring Max and Iggor) have imbued a revitalized energy into the 1987 seminal opus, Schizophrenia (Nuclear Blast Records), the original of which firmly put Brazil on the map as a hotbed for damn good Metal.
Featuring ten tracks (including the never-before-released “Nightmares Of Delirium”), Cavalera embark on a 45-minute showcase that checks all the boxes and then some.
The thrash is no doubt on display through and through, and the seven-minute-plus-long instrumental “Inquisition Symphony” takes things to grander heights. Voracious riffs and scintillating tapping spurns the track into a glorious composition.
It’s unmistakably late-eighties filth. The vocals are precise and masterful, despite sounding like they were recorded at the other end of an empty hangar. “From The Past Comes The Storms” is meticulous and straightforward as guitars rumble and the percussion glistens with confidence and deftness.
The aforementioned “Nightmares Of Delirium” fits right in without missing a beat, merely fortifying the already rugged foundation of this monumental album. The shouts pierce and corrode as the rhythm section does its part to maintain a semblance of control.
The runtime of Schizophrenia shouldn’t raise any red flags. This is a collection of diabolical might, and there is little to no excess fat on this one. With the backing of a major label, the re-recording captivates and shines.
It would be obvious hyperbole to say anything and everything the brothers Cavalera touch turns to gold. In fact, it would make more sense to declare that everything they touch becomes yet another cog in their machine of Thrash Metal supremacy.
Buy the album here:
https://cavalera.bfan.link/schizophrenia
9 / 10
MATT COOK