In 1987, Sepultura released their second studio album, Schizophrenia , representing a pivotal moment in the evolution of the band and thrash metal in general. They added a load of melody and groove, which set them apart from American and European bands that were more focused on speed above all else.
Of course, speed and brutality are important and essential factors for thrash, but Sepultura brought something more original to the listening experience of the time. At this point, you, the reader, know that the album is a classic, being a relentless and aggressive attack, with dirty guitar riffs, monstrous and technical drumming by Iggor Cavalera , and the distinctive vocals of Max Cavalera .
Now in 2024, Cavalera Conspiracy , featuring the Cavalera brothers, accompanied by Travis Stone (lead guitar, Pig Destroyer ) and Igor Amadeus Cavalera (bass, Go Ahead and Die ), decided to re-record this seminal album, as they did with Sepultura's first two releases, the EP Bestial Devastation and their first full-length album, Morbid Visions . With that in mind, let's address the question that always comes up in cases like this: but why the re-recording?
Firstly, the work done brought a new freshness to the songs, as if you took your old cassette tape that had been played to exhaustion and put in something new, ready for hours more of continuous playback. Secondly, it's noticeable that the Cavalera brothers gave us a superior product, with the drums, for example, sounding clearer in the mix, as in the track "Escape To The Void".
In the aforementioned track, and in the rest of the re-recorded songs, the band kept everything the same in terms of the music, where we can feel the same dark atmosphere, the basic effects on the vocals, and the same morbid intensity. Modernity was applied here in an excellent way, while maintaining the essence of the work done.
Tracks like “Inquisition Symphony” and “Septic Schizo” feature better bass lines than the original album, adding an extra dose of heaviness and blending well with the drums. Max's vocals are also improved, showing that he still sings very well and with the same drive he's known for.
The differences that the listener might notice between the original and the re-recording are present in the "Intro," with the sounds being a bit softer, "The Abyss," which no longer has the clean, acoustic sound of the 1987 version, and the replacement of the classic "Troops of Doom" with the previously unreleased "Nightmares of Delirium." In fact, the track was a very welcome addition to the album, being as aggressive as the rest, and featuring an incredible and frenetic solo.
With this work, Cavalera Conspiracy showed they know what they want and what they're doing, achieving an excellent result and completing the triad that put Sepultura in the spotlight and will certainly win over a whole new generation of listeners.
