The Brazilian thrash metal band, founded by teenagers, is already a unique case in the world history of rock. And their success, extraordinary creativity and unique guitar riffs lead millions. Meet thrash metal band Sepultura and its founders: brothers Cavalera, Maximilian (Max) and Igor.
Sepultura. Birth
The family of an Italian diplomat and a Brazilian model lived in the Brazilian town of Belo Horizonte. In a happy marriage, weather sons were born: Maximilian (born in 1969) and Igor (born in 1970). It is possible that the life of Igor and Max turned out somehow differently if dad had not died. A heart attack and the sudden death of his father crossed out the childhood of the brothers.
The head of the family was the main earner and breadwinner. Without him, the family was in dire financial straits. All these sad factors prompted the brothers to create a musical group. They believed that in this way they would be able to provide for themselves and their mother and half-sister. So in 84 Sepultura was born.
The first Sepultura line-up
One of Motörhead's songs, "Dancing on Your Grave", translated into Portuguese, gave Max the idea for the name of his band.
And the style of the game was clear from the very beginning: only metal, or rather, thrash metal. The sound and lyrics of such bands as "Kreator", "Sodom", "Megadeth" and others perfectly reflected the inner state of two teenagers who lost not only their father, but also the meaning of life. The brothers drop out of school and start recruiting musicians for their band.
As a result, the first line-up was formed: Max - rhythm guitar, Igor - drums, Wagner Lamunier - vocalist, Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. - bass guitar player.
Carier start
Very rarely the composition of the group remains stable for many years. Sepultura did not bypass this moment either. In 85 vocalist Lamunier left the band. Max took his place, and Gyro Guedes became the rhythm guitarist. For several months, the brothers were engaged in the promotion of the team. Their label Cogumelo Records noticed them and offered to collaborate.
The result of the collaboration is the mini-compilation "Bestial Devastation". A year later, the group releases a full-fledged collection "Morbid Visions" and the media pay attention to them. The guys decide to move to the financial capital of Brazil to popularize their team.
San Paolo
Modern critics believe that it was these 2 collections that became the basis for the formation of the Death Metal style. But, despite the growing popularity, the team leaves Guedes. He is replaced by the Brazilian Andreas Kisser.
In São Paulo, the financial capital of Brazil, Sepultura releases their second full-length album. "Schizophrenia" fully lives up to its name. Seven minutes of bombastic instrumental "Inquisition Symphony" and "Escape to the Void" become hits. The album gets excellent reviews not only from fans of heavy music, but also from critics. In Europe, more than 30 thousand copies are sold, however, this does not bring income to the group. But it brings popularity.
Roadrunner Records. Thrash metal
The album "Schizophrenia" was noticed in Europe. Despite the fact that the members do not speak English well and are on another continent, the Danish label Roadrunner Records offers them a contract. The synergy resulted in the compilation Beneath the Remains, which was released in 1989. Producer Scott Burns invited from America knew his stuff. With his help, the professionalism of each member of the team was fully revealed.
The album was appreciated, the participants were noticed not only in Europe, but also in the USA. A tour of the cities of Europe, a performance as the opening act for the American band Sodom, brings the group more and more popularity. They are beginning to be recognized and loved. Brazilian thrash metal is winning the hearts of Europeans.
1991 is a year of new hopes for Sepultura. European tours end with sold-out concerts at home, and participation in the Rock in Rio festival along with such rock luminaries as Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Metallica and Motörhead, add self-confidence and wild popularity. Brazil's first thrash metal act enters the global rock music market.
Farewell Brazil
Realizing that financial opportunities are much wider in the States, and the field for touring is larger, the participants move to America. In Phoenix (Arizona) they start recording the 3rd collection with the telling title "Arise". It comes out in 91 and is sold in millions of copies all over the world.
Sepultura don't just become famous, they become famous. Their photos on the covers of music magazines, the scandal on MTV adds popularity, and "Dead Embryonic Cells" becomes a real sensation. Plus, Sepultura is a critically acclaimed metal band.
Sepultura World Tour
Sepultura embarks on an epic world tour. England, Australia, sunny Indonesia and Israel, Portugal, Greece and Italy. Spain, Holland, Russia and native Brazil. Millions of people who came to the concerts and the result - "Arise" gets platinum status.
Unfortunately, there were some tragedies. The performance of the team in Sao Paulo ended in the death of a fan. A large crowd got out of control... After this dramatic incident, the Sepultura science fiction writers became afraid and had to “wash off” such a negative image for a long time. And the concerts in Brazil were held after long, unpleasant consultations and on security guarantees from the organizers.
"Chaos AD" - groove metal
The next stage in creativity began with the marriage of the elder Cavalier. The album "Chaos AD" is released in 93 and becomes a transition from one familiar style to another, still not used. Groove metal with hints of hardcore, Brazilian folk tunes, Max's deliberately rough vocals and lowered guitar sound - this is how Sepultura presented their new album to the audience. And the composition "Refuse / Resist" began with the sound of the heartbeat of the newborn baby Max.
This album took the band to the next level. The contingent of fans has become much larger. The songs became more lyrical, the theme of death was raised less and less, social and political problems come to the fore.
After the release of the new album, the team goes on a year-long tour, during which they perform at two major rock festivals.
nail bomb
At the end of the tour, Max Cavalera and Alex Newport create a joint side project. As a rule, such projects are created purely for hype. But not in this case. In 95, their live album Proud To Commit Commercial Suicide was released. The musical parts were recorded with the participation of the Sepultura team. This collection becomes a mega-cult among connoisseurs of the group's work.
Roots
In 96, a new album called "Roots" is released. This is definitely a new level in the work of the team. There are more and more folk motives in it, clips have been shot for several songs.
"Ratamahatta" wins the MTV Brazil award for best rock video. A tour is underway to promote the album, and the group is overtaken by disturbing news: the named son of Max has died. Car accident. The elder Cavalera goes home, and the band plays the scheduled concerts without him.
Apparently, the pain of loss and the misunderstanding that the group continued to perform at such a time offends Max. He decides to leave the team.
The tour was canceled and the band's future is uncertain.
Sepultura: Sequel
With the departure of Max from the group, the question arose with the search for a vocalist. After a long selection, they became Derrick Green. Already with him comes the album “Against”, full of emotions (98). A tour begins, the main purpose of which is to refute rumors about the breakup of the group.
The next album, "Nation" (2001) goes gold. The group successfully tours and exists to this day. And even though Igor left it in 2008, the new members carry the banner of Sepultura with dignity.
