When news broke of Max and Iggor Cavalera working together in a new band broke back in 2008 the world of metal was pretty ecstatic.
We all held our breath with anticipation and dreamed of a return to to the classic pre-Roots Sepultura sound. That raw Thrash/Death metal sound that helped them break through from Brazil and become icons on an international stage before it all fell apart.
Instead what we got with the first album “Inflikted” and its follow up “Blunt Force Trauma” was almost like a rawer, heavier Soulfly. Still while it was similar sounding to Soulfly with the groove elements it was much heavier and had a dirtier sound to the production but it wasn’t the return to the classic sound we all hoped for.
With the bands new album “Pandemonium” its pretty much just a continuation of that sound. That being said its not bad, its not good, its just average. There’s nothing really at all on this album that makes it stand out. Its over produced to the point where its really just a wall of noise most the way through and almost every song Max’s voice is so over produced with effects that it just sounds terrible. We know what max sounds like, we’ve been hearing him sing for 30 years why add these effects. All it does it take attention away from the music because you just spend the whole time thinking “Why does Max sound like that? Is there something wrong with my speakers?”
Its just a mess. From start to finish this album is a mess. There is probably nothing out there with such potential to deliver a crushing brutal metal album that fails to hit the mark by a mile. Again the biggest disappointment is It doesn’t sound like old Sepultura which is probably what most fans are clamoring for but 3 albums in I’m pretty sure they’ve given up on that dream.
If you want to pick up a 2014 release that features probably the best work of Max Cavalera in years then if you already haven’t go pick up Killer Be Killed’s debut self titled album and give this album a miss
“Pandemonium” is available now
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