When I was a hardcore/metal kid growing up back in the nineties my highschool days, I loved Sepultura. Albums like Arise, which I heard first when I was hanging out with my friend at his place, were important parts of my music upbringing. Especially Chaos AD which I knew by heart and know it still. Then came Roots and I felt somehow betrayed with Ratamahatta and all that shit. Afterwards Max Cavalera exited the band, later on also Iggor Cavalera exited so there was no reason for me to follow what they are doing with Derrick Green as new singer and those new drummer(s). After I read this book I will definitely check the newer albums because I think there are couple of really fresh and original ideas on them, or my taste changed with years haha. This book offer insight into respectable career of probably biggest Brazilian metal band ever, from the humble and poor beginnings to biggest success, only to fall down, pick up again, then heartbreak and let down, then picking itself up again like metal Phoenix from the ashes. It is written like a biography but has couple of really great stories in there. I wish there were more interviews and stories from members and less storytelling and pure biography writings, but this is great and interesting book nonetheless. Also, book contains many photographs previously unseen and unreleased from personal collections. A must for every metal fan.
It took five years since Vanishing Values, last full length for Munich crew to release the next full length opus. It would be earlier but due to well known circumstances it was delayed. There were some line-up changes, but that did not stop this well oiled machine with guitarist/singer Bart at the helm of the ship to deliver mighty new album. These guys were never shy in showing their metal roots and this album is no different. This is technical skate punk mixed with lots of thrash and even death metal influences, sounding energetic and really fantastic, at the same time aggressive and melodic. Bart´s voice carries the melody and backing vocal harmonies are great, but there is also screaming and some rough metal influenced vocals that combine anger with epic melody. The example for this could be Virus, one of the best songs on the record, combining skate punk and NWOBHM in main melody which is so catchy and memorable. The whole album is fast and strong, when it starts it draws you into a grind and doesn´t let go till the end. One of the certain favorites is also awesome Shame On You with fist pumping pure punk metal energy flying high. Dead Certain has such a wicked solo that even Slayer would not be ashamed. Lyric wise, Straightline deal with many issues from the point of view of common man, yet themes are important and make you keep your head high in these ugly times. But to me, THE song on this record is Leaders Of Self-Destruction, a wicked mixture of Swedish death metal influenced riffs and epic punk rock. This album is a step up for this band and for sure their best one yet. Album of the month for sure, if not year.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 