ALBUM REVIEW: Sepultura – Sepulquarta


Not content with sitting on their hands, Brazilian thrashers Sepultura decided early on during the Coronavirus Lockdown to do something constructive with their new found spare time. After touring plans for their current record were cut short by the pandemic, the band contacted seemingly everybody in the world of metal and proceeded to embark upon Sepulquarta (Nuclear Blast), a live album recorded with each member in isolation.

A selection of hand-picked songs re-recorded with a little help from their friends, the project allowed the band the chance to interact online with their fans and give something back. Spanning both eras of the band, the record opens with a crunchy version of ‘Territory’ featuring former Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson before Anthrax founding member Scott Ian joins the collaboration with a particularly savage version of ‘Cut-Throat’.

Canadian frontman Danko Jones lends his stretched vocal cords to a thunderous ‘Sepulnation’ while ‘Inner Self’ pulses with raw energy thanks to the bass work of Sacred Reich‘s Phil Rind. Other notable appearances include Devin Townsend flexing his fingers and throat on a barnstorming version of ‘Mask’. Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick guests on ‘Vandals Nest’, Matthew Heafy of Trivium takes on ‘Slave New World’, Death Angel guitarist Rob Cavestany rips up ‘Apes of God’, and Motörhead legend Phil Campbell joins in the fun for a rousing cover of ‘Orgasmatron’.

Although many will be drawn largely towards the more recognisable names, some of the album’s best moments come from somewhat less familiar corners. Brazilian singers Angélica Burns, Mayara Puertas and Fernanda Lira bring ‘Hatred Aside’ to life while Far From Alaska vocalist Emmily Barreto owns the moody ‘Fear, Pain, Chaos, Suffering’ completely.

Although the production quality can vary and some songs do come across better than others, Sepulquarta is a satisfyingly varied and expertly played collection of neck-wreckers and a reminder of how something as horrible as a global pandemic can bring people together from all over the world in order to do something they love.

Buy the album here: http://nblast.de/Sepultura-SepulQuarta

 

7/10

GARY ALCOCK