Massive Attack and brothers Max and Iggor Cavalera performed at the highly anticipated INDIGO Project last Thursday night, the 13th, in an unprecedented collaboration that merges music, activism, and cultural identity.
Tonight, São Paulo became the epicenter of a sonic and political storm, with a show performed while world leaders, global corporations, and the climate movement are in Brazil for the COP30 summit, held in the Amazon region of Belém. An event that brought together distinct styles and audiences united by the same ideal – headbangers mixed with trip-hop fans.
Cavalera plays Chaos AD in its entirety.
Cavalera , the band of brothers Max and Iggor, took the stage promptly at 8:15 PM. From the first chord, it was clear that this would not be a conventional show, but an act of resistance – an ideology always used by the Cavalera brothers since the creation of Sepultura . And beyond politics – and speaking of Sepultura – Max and Iggor lived up to the experience that many bands have been having of "playing the seminal album," presenting the masterpiece Chaos AD . On their last visit to Brazil, in 2022, they played Roots , an album that perhaps made more sense in tonight's performance, since the theme is indigenous peoples.
However, 32 years ago, Max and Iggor Cavalera conquered the world with the release of their fifth studio album. And with this show, we go back in time to relive this classic in its entirety, and then we realize that the album remains as timeless and relevant as it was when it was released. It's a political album that fits perfectly into this presentation; while wars are fought around the world, violence plagues the streets, and hatred and inequality spread in our daily lives, Chaos AD unites us to reflect on and debate social and political issues.
Chaos AD 's performance was simple yet impressive. On a simple stage, with only a projection on the screen, the band couldn't have their bodies suspended above the stage, as on the album cover. But the lights, the rhythm, the atmosphere, the spirit of the pioneers of national metal, everything worked perfectly. Max was in good form, singing well and being the frontman the audience wanted to see. The show began with "Refuse/Resist" (also known for its intro which is the heartbeat of Zyon , Max's first child, not yet born at the time) and "Slave New World," two protest anthems.
Reliving this era of the beloved Sepultura was a gift for the fans. The brothers always knew how to deliver a simple yet grand show, and this time they were joined by Igor Amadeus , Max's son, on bass, and Travis Stone on guitar. Amidst several mosh pits encouraged by Max, the show moved quickly, with a tribute to indigenous peoples with the track "Itsári," featuring only Igor on vocals, and of course, the classic "Roots Bloody Roots," which closed the set in great style. In their only visit to Brazil, the Cavalera brothers delivered a soul-cleansing experience and provided a unique moment for the fans, proving that metal and social awareness can still occupy the same stage with devastating force.
The environmental activism of Massive Attack
Before the next show, the audience watched moving messages from Indigenous peoples, represented on stage by tribal leaders, and from the G9 Amazon (Indigenous organizations from nine Amazonian countries), who shared their stories and reiterated their plea for help. This initiative aimed to support and give visibility to the efforts of Indigenous peoples in Brazil, as well as to achieve climate justice, recognition, and immediate protection of Indigenous lands in the country..
The main band, Massive Attack, led by the duo Robert Del Naja (3D) and Grant “Daddy G” , took to the stage after 15 years since their last visit to Brazil. The trip-hop pioneers are known for their environmental and anti-capitalist activism, and there was no one better to participate in this event. The infectious show brought unexpected surprises, such as Horace Andy in “Girl I Love You” and “Angel”, highlighting the band's historical connection with this Jamaican vocalist.
The presence of Elizabeth Fraser , vocal icon of the Cocteau Twins , who received a standing ovation when she took the stage to sing “Black Milk” and “Group Four / In My Mind,” created a great moment. “Teardrop” with Elizabeth is almost obligatory, a visually, aurally, and emotionally charged experience. The vocalist also sang the classic “Song to the Siren,” written by Tim Buckley and immortalized by her ethereal vocals in the project This Mortal Coil . The visuals matched the intensity with projections of messages about deforestation, indigenous genocide, and the climate crisis, protests, images of wars, and political leaders as a way to raise awareness. A remarkable audiovisual performance.
ÍNDIGO hit the nail on the head with this show, delivering an experience where Massive Attack's trip-hop met Cavalera's rhythmic brutality and Brazilian metal. The result was a performance beyond any other, breaking the mold of cultural events promoted by major Western brands and NGOs.
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