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Sepultura

Biography

From their humble beginnings in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Sepultura went on to become the most successful Brazilian heavy metal band in history. Over a ten-year period, the band grew from strength to strength, transforming itself from a primitive death metal ensemble into one of the leading creative trendsetters of the international aggressive music scene. Unfortunately, a bitter internal crisis almost destroyed the band, and Sepultura struggled to recover their previous momentum.

Hailing from Brazil's third-largest city, Belo Horizonte, Sepultura (which means grave in Portuguese) were formed in the mid-'80s -- a time when that country was beginning to emerge from a 20-year military dictatorship. Max Cavalera (vocals/guitar), Igor Cavalera (drums), Paulo Jr. (bass), and Jairo T. (lead guitar) had a hard time even finding rock & roll albums and especially "socially unacceptable" genres such as heavy metal and punk. Their early influences were Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Slayer (literally the first three records purchased by Max on a visit to the "big city" São Paulo), but the band soon progressed toward a death metal sound, inspired by emerging bands such as Possessed and Death. Their drive and determination (they sang in English from day one) more than made up for their geographic isolation and inexperience, and though all were only in their teens and still learning how to play their instruments, the band quickly evolved into underground contenders. After landing a deal with independent Cogumelo Records, Sepultura recorded four songs for a split LP with fellow Brazilians Overdose. Now reissued on CD and named for its first track, 1985's Bestial Devastation was self-produced and recorded in just two days -- and it shows. Recorded with minimal time and money in August 1986, their first full-length album, Morbid Visions, showed little improvement, but contained their first hit, "Troops of Doom," which attracted some media attention and convinced the band to relocate to São Paulo (Brazil's largest city and financial capital) in order to further their career. They also replaced guitarist Jairo T. with São Paulo native Andreas Kisser, whose greater musical ability would help take the entire band to the next level.

In 1987, Sepultura's technical proficiency finally caught up with their creative vision, and their second full-length album for Cogumelo, Schizophrenia, displayed an incredible evolution in terms of production and performance. It also became a minor critical sensation across Europe and America, drawing the attention of Roadrunner Records, which promptly released the album worldwide and signed the band to a long-term contract. No longer restrained within Brazilian borders, the band set about composing 1989's Beneath the Remains, the first of four albums which would solidify Sepultura's position as perhaps the most important heavy metal band of the '90s. Recorded in Rio de Janeiro under the guidance of leading death metal producer Scott Burns, Beneath the Remains was an immediate critical and commercial success, and the band's ferocious performances on the subsequent European tour (which saw them systematically blowing headlining German thrashers Sodom off stage) further cemented Sepultura's reputation. The band also filmed its first video, for the single "Inner Self," and finished the year tour with a triumphant set of shows in its homeland.

After obtaining new management and relocating to Phoenix, AZ, Sepultura entered Tampa's Morrisound Studios with producer Burns to record 1991's highly acclaimed Arise album. First single "Dead Embryonic Cells" proved to be another resounding hit, and the title track would gain even more attention when its video was banned by MTV America due to its apocalyptic religious imagery. The world tour that followed elevated the album to platinum sales worldwide (a figure rarely achieved by bands of such extreme nature) and, in a strange twist, found singer Max Cavalera marrying band manager Gloria Bujnowski, who was almost twice his age. Such was the band's success that its label, Roadrunner, obtained a co-distribution deal with Epic Records for its next recording, 1993's Chaos A.D.. By incorporating social issues (especially relating to Brazil) into their lyrics, as well as displaying some of their punk and hardcore influences for the first time, the album was another worldwide smash thanks to singles like "Territory" and "Refuse/Resist." After touring for over a year, the members of Sepultura took a well-deserved break before starting work on their most ambitious album yet, 1996's Roots. The introduction of native Brazilian percussion and musical styles into their trademark down-tuned guitars and increasingly sociopolitical themes resulted in a highly unique record which could be loosely described as heavy metal world music. Roots marked Sepultura's creative peak, and the band's continual rise to ever-greater fame seemed guaranteed until a family tragedy set off a series of events which would break up the band.

Just hours before taking the stage at England's Monsters of Rock festival, the band discovered that the teenage son of manager (and singer Max's wife) Gloria had been killed in a car accident. A shocked Sepultura took the stage as a trio while Max and Gloria boarded the first plane back to America. Only a few months later, the band confronted Max about severing ties with Gloria and finding new management. Still recovering from the recent trauma of a death in his extended family, Max viewed this as a huge betrayal and left the band amid much bad blood and acrimony. As the band's creative leader, many expected his departure to spell the end of Sepultura, but the band announced that it would carry on and soon began looking for a replacement.

After a long search, Sepultura recruited Cleveland native Derrick Green as their new singer and began laying down tracks for 1998's Against. Though it retained much of the intensity and diversity of its predecessor (including a collaboration with Japan's Kodo percussion ensemble on the track "Kamaitachi"), the album lacked the unique spark which had characterized the band's prior work. It also sold only half as many copies as Cavalera's first album with his new band, Soulfly, clearly showing with whom fan loyalty remained. Undaunted, Sepultura returned in early 2001 with Nation. The album followed in the footsteps of its predecessor, despite better reviews and a more seasoned Green on vocals. In order to reach out to its slowly shrinking fan base, the group released one of its last live shows with Max, Under a Pale Grey Sky, in the fall of 2002. An EP of covers, Revolusongs, was released in 2003, followed by the full-length Roorback, 2005's Live in São Paulo, 2006's Dante XXI and 2009's Clockwork Orange-inspired A-Lex. ~ Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Continued…

Selected Discography

A-Lex
2009

Dante XXI (Explicit)
2006

Roots (Explicit)
2005

Live In Sao Paulo
2005

Roorback
2003

Revolusongs
2003

Under A Pale Grey Sky (Explicit)
2002

Nation
2001

Blood-Rooted
1997

Chaos A.D.
1993

Arise
1991

Beneath The Remains
1989

Morbid Visions / Bestial Devastation
1986

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metal princesss (yup that's my name) says:

11-10-2009

discography is sooo wrong. get it right pandora!

Matthew Yoho says:

10-02-2009

I think you forgot which profile you were using again Willow, as that was totally not dyslexic (or backwards, which you seem to think is dyslexic but actually makes you look like Da Vinci if he was hit in the head a lot as a child, spoke English and lived in the modern age).

W****w says:

09-25-2009

GGGGGGGGGGGG G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S M M M M M M M M M A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K ! ! ! ! ! ! TRUE METAL!!!!!!! ! !

The Baron Von Shouse says:

09-24-2009

yeah, this discography is all fuckerd up.

I have Cavelera Conspiricy.. . . . w o u l d n t have missed one f**king day without it once I saw it was out I had to have it.

It does rock, I like the use of the dude from Gojira too. Its better than any Soulfly album I think.....eh , I THINK...Soul f l y has some dam good albums still.....pr o p h e c y , and III may be my personal favs, the debut album too of course -

"NO MOTHERF**KIN G HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH"

Dread Pirate Smalley says:

09-18-2009

Whats up with the f**ked up discography? Root came out in 1996 when the still had Max, not 2005 with whats his face.

Dread Pirate Smalley says:

09-18-2009

Baron, I agree with the soul fly thing. Cavalera Conspiracy Kicks serious a**! They went back to fast, super heavy riffs with shreading guitar solo's. Really good.

adamsricke says:

09-14-2009

Cavalera Conspiracy!! ! !

The Baron Von Shouse says:

09-08-2009

If there is a god in heaven, then he will someday, somehow re unite Max with the band.

Oh lord I want to hear some NEW, Max Sepultura. Soulfly bores me.

jacobmazzull o says:

09-05-2009

One band that is missing from this genre is CORONER!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! !

Matthew Yoho says:

09-04-2009

I was sort of surprised when they showed up on my station, since Pandora doesn't seem to think they're particularly similar to any of the stuff I had up there already, and even more surprised to find that I rather enjoyed them (or at least that song). I'm curious to see what the rest of their library sounds like now.

Deven says:

09-02-2009

Sepultura is really good, but Slayer is the greatest.

PORK N' CHEESE says:

08-26-2009

my peeps do brasil cant get any better than sepultura and pantera

Malevolent Hate says:

08-24-2009

Used to be a good band; Beneath the Remains will always be an all time fav!

SSSLLLAAAYYY E E E R R R R R ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Vash the Stampede says:

08-12-2009

ROOOOOOOOOOO O O O O T S ! ! ! ! ! BLOODY ROOOOOOOOOOO O O O O T S ! ! ! ! ! ! F**k yes!!

johnny appleseed says:

08-07-2009

wiilow go back to biting pillows...oo c h right in the keester..

Nick T. says:

08-03-2009

discography is missing "Schizophren i a " . vital album...

johnny appleseed says:

07-19-2009

WILLO ON THE REAL PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DOING THIS! ..OR NOT (trust me hes a pesky critter on pandora )... OTHER PEOPLES CHILDREN FOLKS....... T H I S BAND IS IN YOUR FACE ...OBEY SU MAESTRO !BRAZILS METALLICA ...AND I MEAN THAT WITH ALL THE RESPECT TO BOTH BANDS ..WOW ..MANY YEARS OF SLAM DANCE MAYHEM ...yeah i said slam dance ..im old ..now what ? lol ..peace..... m o s h is a little to subtle for us HM.PUNK OG'S

i_play_drrun k 5 says:

07-15-2009

wow, the first three records that Max purchased... . . : ) )
never heard that story before, but good taste, Max!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! !
no wonder these guys wound up being brutal skull-cracke r s and a** kickers.
one of the very best bands ever.

PhossyJaw says:

07-15-2009

will-o....do us all a favor and die, perhaps in a freak pogo stick accident, or at the hands of a disgruntled Burger King employee on your next visit there....... . . . .

Kaiton Liao says:

07-14-2009

Wow that is so much better... You are so creative, I mean who could have thought to use racial slurs :O.. You're so original I want to be just like you when I grow up...

And these so-called "carnival workers" that just randomly learned guitar are better than that sad sorry excuse of a band that's called godsmack.. S**t I fed the troll again..

sirenia1313 says:

07-11-2009

Wili-o the retard was born a few chromosomes short so it is best to ignore the dumbshit and don't get yourself to worked up.Just throw some good heavy s**t on and think about getting him in the pit.

Kaiton Liao says:

07-11-2009

Will-O... That was the worst screen name bash I have ever had the displeasure to lay my eyes on... Go don your white robe and prance around you ignorant racist f**k..

miles-amburg e y 1 says:

07-02-2009

soulfly is better thats why they lost Max Cavalera to soulfly he is the only smart one

kj_legnon metalhead says:

06-29-2009

"W" i mean willow stfu im so tired of you ignorant rantings. you have what is known as direaha of the mouth you say whatever you think will get you noticed but you don't think about it so you sound like a bigger idiot. sad.....

downwardspir a l says:

06-09-2009

damn that sucks willow. but i did hear that the wringling bros pay well.

glendon5150 says:

06-07-2009

where's 'schizophren i a ' ? ? ?

Patrick D says:

06-06-2009

^Korn???

simon853 says:

05-31-2009

"W" i think u aught 2 shut ur mouth...
NOW!!!!!!!!! !
SEPULTURA RULES!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
P.S. for Baron #3 is Slipknot, and Slayer is replaced by Megadeth.
:P

sepultura85 says:

05-31-2009

MAX CAVALERA... hoping a reunion global tour for one last time!!!
please!!!!!! ! ! ! we all love ur roots

The Baron Von Shouse says:

05-28-2009

REUNION TOUR!!!!!!!! ! !
REUNION TOUR!!!!!!!! ! ! !

Were gettin the band back together man......... l e t s smoke a phatttttttyy y y y y y .

cbrowns9202 says:

05-27-2009

Not the same without Max, hate to see this kind of rift between brothers who are obviously very talented together.

MAGGIE-KAT says:

05-20-2009

I LIKE THE MAX STUFF...THE OTHER SINGER IS OK ,BUT....

"W" says:

05-20-2009

after getting out of the circus fire eating bizzness. they picked up guitars, grew their hair out and started to scream. they should of stayed with wringling bros.

sicsoundz says:

05-19-2009

Sepultura and Soulfly are two of the greatest and most innovative metal bands out there. They have that unique jungle metal sound you will find nowhere else. I attribute that to the Cavalera's, especially Max. I have seen Sep live twice and Soulfly three times; they put on incredibly great shows. Hoepfully no one decides to cap Max like that a** did to Dimebag.

Christopher says:

05-18-2009

I think the new vocalist, though not as distinctive, is just as good as the original. Besides - if he hadn't left then we wouldn't have Soulfly right?

The Baron Von Shouse says:

05-15-2009

Sepultura is simply one of the TOP 3 DEATH METAL BANDS EVER!

-SLAYER
-SEPULTURA
-???

Mike C says:

05-13-2009

Sepultura is simply the best South American Death Metal!

aveloz7 says:

05-06-2009

no matter what any one saya cavalera was the s**t as the vocals. but in general sepultera is one of the greatest bands that was around. i whish they would get back together for one last show with max as vocals.... that would be the s**t

zack says:

04-29-2009

didn't they break off and make cavalera conspiracy?

The Baron Von Shouse says:

04-28-2009

ahhhhhhh.
More haters.

Come on people. I agree though, maybe they should have changed thier name because they simply arent the same band without max, but are they actually a BAD metal band under green? I think not, he isnt a bad vocalist, just not max....but he himself is not bad, is he?

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