I’ve been a fan of Sepultura since the “Beneath
The Remains” and “Schizophrenia” records and they sure have come a long way.
Sepultura shows they can still hold their own on their second record since the dramatic departure of founding member Max Cavalera. “Nation” finds Sepultura stripped down to skin and bone, even more than their previous effort “Against”. At times “Against” sounded to feigned, almost like they were trying to show fans and critics that they could survive without Max but with “Nation”, its effortless. That undeniably pounding Sepultura groove is still there as it was in “Roots” and “Chaos A.D.” It truly sounds like Sepultura has put the drama behind them and are confident with what they are today, focused and unconcerned with critics. They have outlived the predicted lifespan without Max and are here now to shove it in everyones face. The artwork is intense as well, with a real stark guerilla warfare feel designed by Shepard Fairey. “Nation” is a solid record, full of fat grooves guaranteed to send huge festival crowds into a frenzy. (As of this writing I hear after over a decade Sepultura and Roadrunner have parted ways).
