Sepultura

Chaos A.D.

A Great Album, but Not for Thrash Fans

Review Score:

(10/10)
I suppose this could be considered a "sell-out" album, as Sepultura went for a much slicker production with this one, due undoubtly to their experience in touring with Ministry. Also, the unadulterated thrash metal of "Beneath the Remains" and "Arise" is gone, replaced by mostly mid-tempo, industrial-tinged instrumentation, and tribal interludes (most notably "Kaiowas"). Overall, there is a good deal more variety here than on other Sepultura releases, from the great cover of "The Hunt" to the fast-paced, ridiculously-titled "Biotech is Godzilla" to the rather haunting "We Who Are Not As Others" and the aforementioned "Kaiowas." Regardless of the listener's opinion of this departure in style, it cannot be argued that this album has a focus that the others lacked - the aggression is channeled directly at injustice, specifically that present in Brazil (quite clear in the intense, blistering "Manifest," angrier than anything off "Beneath" or "Arise"). There are also two live tracks which demonstrate Sepultura's proficiency outside the studio, and also Max's tremendous charisma and power on-stage. If you are only a fan of speed metal, I would not recommend this album - but if you're a fan of metal in-general, "Chaos A.D." is something to experience.

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