CoC : Sepultura - Against : Review

Sepultura - _Against_
(Roadrunner/Attic, 1998)
by: Adrian Bromley (9 out of 10)

I don't know what you metalheads were expecting with the new Sepultura, seeing that Max Cavalera was out and Derrick Green was taking over vocal duties. I was only hoping that the return of Sepultura would be unforgettable. I now have a copy of _Against_ and let's just say my ass has been kicked hard. This is totally heavy shit and easily surpasses what Max did (no offense) with Soulfly. It's heavier, more aggressive and easily one of the best releases of 1998. Does the band let down any of their fans? A big NO! New singer Green (ex- Outface / Overfiend / Alpha Jerk) does a superb job keeping things fast and furious. Elements of hardcore are the most noticeable new changes within the music, yet a welcome change to what Sepultura are doing, keeping the momentum going on _Against_. From hardcore-styled opener and title track "Against", Sepultura's groove hits the pedal to the metal, crushing all in its path with powerful concoctions of ferocity with numbers like "Choke", the blistering "Boycott", "Rumors" and the Jason Newsted (of Metallica fame) collaborated piece "Hatred Aside". There is no downside to this record, as it all grooves with an intense sound and style that fans have been craving from Sepultura since _Chaos A.D._. Though 1996's _Roots_ was a truly triumphant record with the use of the Xavantes tribe and the cultural bonding of music and rhythm, _Against_ sheds a huge spotlight on what Sepultura has always been about: variety and passion. The new LP focuses on and showcases the real power of Sepultura, managing to reinvent themselves once again with this LP, but still stay so close to Sepultura's trademark sound. People thought they were a dead horse with Max's departure, but Sepultura regrouped and threw all that negative press and uncertainty out the fucking window. This kills and every metal fan should witness the resurrection of Sepultura in 1998. All you other fuckers, get the hell out of the way.

(article published 1/9/1998)

CHATS
13/3/2001	A Bromley	Sepultura: Their Nation, Their Voice
1/10/1998	P Schwarz	Sepultura: Slowed Down, But Not For Long
9/2/1996	A Bromley	Sepultura: Rainforest Rumblings Revealed

ALBUMS
15/1/2009	J Smit	5.5	Sepultura - A-Lex
31/5/2003	J Smit	8.5	Sepultura - Roorback
16/3/2003	M Noll	9	Sepultura - Under a Pale Grey Sky
13/3/2001	A Bromley	9.5	Sepultura - Nation

GIGS
22/7/2003	J Smit	Sepultura / Stamping Ground / Atreyu	Coming Back Alive and Kicking
16/1/1999	M Noll	Slayer / Sepultura / System of a Down	Facing the Slayers, Down in the Grave
11/10/1996	A Gaudrault	Ozzy Osbourne / Danzig / Sepultura / Neurotic Gypsies	No More Tours, Again and Again...