Text by Marcelo Gomes
As soon as two Sepultura at Sesc Belenzinho were announced, the only certainty was that tickets would sell out quickly. And that's exactly what happened; tickets for both days disappeared in the blink of an eye. Those who managed to get them can consider themselves winners.
Not even the chilly Friday dampened the anxiety of many who were there for the first time. A sea of people wearing the band's t-shirts demonstrated the extent of their devotion to Sepultura. It's no wonder, the album, Quadra , released in 2020, was very well received worldwide and showcased the strength of the lineup with Andreas Kisser (guitar), Derrick Green (vocals), Paulo Xisto (bass), and Eloy Casagrande (drums).
The show begins with “Isolation,” a track from Quadra that's a powerful song reminiscent of their golden era, with various progressive influences that don't diminish the music's fury. Next comes the classic “Territory,” sure to get everyone moving. They also presented two more from the new album, the complex “Means To An End” and “Capital Enslavement.” It's evident that the band sounds much more technical in these songs. With a spectacular performance, Eloy deservedly has his name shouted. I see many people surprised by the drummer, but those who have followed him since 2006, when he was still part of the band of the late Andre Matos, knew the musician's potential, who even then demonstrated great aptitude with the instrument.
The show continues with “Kairos,” which can already be considered a classic from the Derrick era. Andreas goes to the microphone to say that he feels the audience is still a little shy in the mosh pits and wants to see the circus catch fire with another oldie. “Propaganda” makes the Sesc floor tremble with the sheer brutality of the performance. With his guitar, Andreas begins “Guardians Of Earth,” a protest against the inhumane acts of modern life against the indigenous tribes living in the Amazon. From the album Roots (1996), they play “Cut Throat,” which makes everyone sing its memorable chorus. They go even further back in time to perform “Dead Embryonic Cells,” a track that was recently included in the tour to the delight of older fans. There's no arguing, the band's classic era with Max Cavalera has true anthems of world heavy metal and still finds its place even after so many years.
Among the audience, the satisfaction was great; the guys knew how to blend the classics with songs from Quadra . A good example was "Ali," which was added to the setlist this year; it has several effects but without losing its essence. To calm things down a bit, they played the drawn-out "Machine Messiah." This moment didn't last long; they brought back another song from the album "Arise," this time "Infected Voice." The band is in sync, and the audience responds with a great mosh pit.
The last song from the album Quadra was the fantastic “Agony Of Defeat”. Although slower, the song reveals the band's versatility in a sophisticated track that could serve as the soundtrack for any drama film. The final part of the show also included “Refuse/Resist” and “Arise”, followed by an encore of “Ratamahatta” and, to finish with a flourish, “Roots Bloody Roots”.
Sepultura, who will celebrate 40 years in the music industry in 2024, showed that their latest work, Quadra, has the strength to keep the band active. From the beginning, they have always been willing to incorporate different elements into their music, having a unique style. Sepultura delivered an electrifying performance from beginning to end, with the best of their history. About to complete 40 years in the music industry in 2024, the band showed that their latest work, Quadra , stands out as one of the quartet's greatest works. This is due to the fact that from the beginning, they were never afraid to dare, incorporating different elements into their music and creating something unique. It is no surprise that, over four decades, they still captivate a huge legion of fans.
