This might be an unpopular opinion, and believe me when I say I am in two minds about the whole thing. I think there are three camps, three individual fan groups, when it comes to Sepultura.
The first are the old school 50 plus year olds who love the early classics with Max and Iggor.
The second are the fans who came across Sepultura throughout the mid 90s when there was a huge change to the lineup. One might say it was a change that may have ruined any other band, but obviously, in this case, the Brazilian legends, with a point to prove and new fire in their bellies, forged on and conquered a new horde of fans, and once again, the world.
And finally, the third fan base are the legit legends who stuck it through with the band, through hard times and good. The ones who were there from day one and are still there some 40 years later supporting the band they came to love in their teens. The die hards.
No matter when you came across them, Sepultura will go down as one of the all time great metal bands with a massive catalogue to back that up.
To bring this monument to metal to an end, Sepultura brings us one last EP before they hang up their instruments for good, The Cloud Of Unknowing.
Beginning with the heavy as fuck “All Souls Rising”, you get the feeling Sepultura want to go out the same way they came into the metal world, with an explosion of aural audacity and tunes you’ll remember long after they’re gone.
The second song, “Beyond The Dream”, is a sombre ditty that, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting, especially after the ballsiness of “All Souls Rising”. A killer solo from the legend Andreas Kisser raises the tempo somewhat, but it’s the lyrics that are most striking about this song, particularly the words, “Leave it all behind and begin again” at the end of the chorus.
“Beyond The Dream” is a song about what comes next, but also being content enough with the past to take the next step into the unknown future, because who knows what the future will bring?
“Sacred Books” gets the pulse rate up again. Even the piano solo kicks ass. That’s right, piano solo.
“Seeking truth in a world of lies” is a concept we can all get behind. We all look for the same thing in life, the truth. But we do live in a world of liars, cheats, crooked politics and rotting religions, so where do we find the truth amongst the bullshit?
In the sacred books being held far away from public view. Books and bibles written and rewritten so we toe the line and stay in our lanes. We may seek the truth of the past, but we will never find it, or be told of it by anyone of merit.
We are merely cogs in a machine of lies and manipulation, doomed to a future prewritten long ago by nefarious people who want nothing more than for us to go away and stop “seeking truth in a world of lies”. Very poignant and straight to the point.
The final song on the EP, and the final song from Sepultura as a band, insert sad face here, is “The Place”. Starting slowly but building fast into a classic Sepultura track, we find a similar message in this song as the last three.
Distrust in the system that is there to guide us and keep us safe. Torturous tales of a tumultuous tomorrow. What better way to go out than with a bang, asking the questions that should be on the tips of everybody’s tongues, making you think rather than just throwing a few songs together for fan service.
The Midas Touch.
Sepultura close the curtain on a career that has spanned five decades from the 1980s to the 2020s, a livelihood that has endured and engaged in multi generational artistry which will not be soon forgotten.
Cheers to you, Sepultura. May your retirement be as blissful as the sun is bright. Until we meet again, thank you, from all of us who have loved your music for so many years.
You will be missed.
SEPULTURA are:
Derrick Green – vocals
Andreas Kisser – guitars
Paulo Jr. – bass
Greyson Nekrutman – drums
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Order The Cloud of Unknowing EP:
https://sepultura.bfan.link/cloud-unknowing
