Sepultura: Max Cavalera (vocals, acoustic guitar); Andreas Kisser (acoustic & electric guitars); Paulo Jr. (bass, percussion); Igor Cavalera (drums, percussion).

Recorded at Rockfield Studios and Cheepstow Castle, South Wales.

Sepultura truly claimed its place on the heavy-metal world stage with 1993's CHAOS A.D., a focused, dose-of-thunder release that crystallized the Brazilian outfit's aesthetic. Propulsive rhythms, gravel-voice shouting, and epic guitar riffs drenched in nerve-fraying distortion come together in a perfect marriage here. But while Sepultura's music was originally inspired by the likes of Metallica and Slayer, CHAOS A.D. feels considerably more stripped-down than the music of these mentors--progressive changes and long, showy solos are few and far between.

Instead, Sepultura emphasizes fierce, straightforward structures that have more in common with hardcore's no-nonsense approach than metal's glamorous flash. The band's lyrics take a distinctly political turn on CHAOS A.D., addressing issues such as state-generated war ("Refuse/Resist") and biotechnology ("Biotech Is Godzilla"--with lyrics written by Jello Biafra). The weightiness of the themes is well suited to the crushing, apocalyptic sound of the quartet (Igor Cavalera's drumming alone could bulldoze a medium-sized city), and the intensity of the performances throughout should appeal to fans of both traditional and hardcore metal. This is an essential album from one of the most important aggressive rock bands of the 1990s.

What the critics say...

Entertainment Weekly (11/26/93, p.67) - "...Sepultura will separate casual headbangers from rabid addicts fast....even nonmetalheads will be impressed by the variety in [CHAOS A.D.]: they're not averse to slowing things down..." - Rating: B+
Q (12/93, p.122) - 3 Stars - Good - "...[CHAOS A.D.] should mark a milestone in [Sepultura's] career...they've succeeded in capturing their live aggression with a resonance and immediacy that evaded earlier efforts..."
Melody Maker (10/23/93, p.33) - "...[CHAOS A.D. is a] genuine expression of outrage...Sepultura are not in the business of splatter soundtracks or documentary gore-fests--they write protest songs..."
NME (Magazine) (10/23/93, p.37) - (6) - Good - "...CHAOS AD may be the term for the boiling point rage against state corruption and persecution, but [Sepultura] leave the sickening negativity and chronic egoism to others..."