Sepultura’s Andreas Kisser weighs in on Cavalera re-recordings: ‘Zero artistic value’

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As a lifelong Sepultura fan who’s witnessed their evolution from Brazilian black metal pioneers to global death-thrash titans, I can’t help but feel a bit torn about the recent re-recordings of early Sepultura albums by Max and Igor Cavalera. On one hand, I appreciate their desire to modernize these classics and pay homage to their early contributions to extreme metal. But on the other hand, as a guitarist myself who’s spent countless hours trying to nail down Andreas Kisser‘s intricate solos, I find it hard to shake off his criticism that these re-recordings hold “zero artistic value.

Previously, there have been rumors of Sepultura members reconciling, even hinted at by band members themselves. However, Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser has made clear his strong objections to Max and Igor Cavalera’s choice to re-record some early Sepultura albums, specifically “Morbid Visions” (1986), “Bestial Devastation” (1985), and “Schizophrenia” (1987). In a recent interview, Kisser deemed the project as having “no artistic worth,” stating that revisiting and re-recording these early works is unwarranted and possibly driven by financial interests.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been vocal about Max’s apparent paradox in boasting about his creative leadership during Sepultura’s early years, yet resuscitating material from decades ago. Kisser even highlighted Jairo “Tormentor” Guedz’s band, The Troops of Doom, commending their tribute to Sepultura’s early days as more sincere because they don’t just dwell on the past; they also create fresh, original music.

In the meantime, the Cavalera brothers have openly explained their motives behind these remakes. As stated by Max Cavalera, the aim is to update the sound of these albums, making them more in line with the original concept using improved production quality. They view this project as a tribute to their early influences in extreme metal music.

The transition from their original black metal style to a death-thrash metal sound in Schizophrenia, which they released, symbolized Sepultura’s expanding global aspirations. Remastered versions of the album come with fresh artwork and modernized production techniques. While some original members have moved on to other bands instead of revisiting their old work, occasionally it can be beneficial to give something a makeover, don’t you think?

Sepultura’s current state

In spite of the criticism he faces, Kisser keeps his attention fixed on Sepultura’s current and upcoming projects. The band is approaching the end of their farewell tour, but they are still producing new material with their latest drummer, Greyson Nekrutman. Their plans encompass releasing live recordings from 40 different cities as well as four fresh tracks, a testament to their continued creativity as they prepare for the winding down of their live performances.

Why some might agree with Andrea Kisser’s critique of Max

As a dedicated fan, I’ve noticed that the ongoing debates we see today stem from the deep-rooted split between the current version of Sepultura and the Cavalera brothers, a rift that dates back to Max’s exit in 1996, followed by Igor a decade later. Since then, the siblings have been involved in ventures like Cavalera Conspiracy while occasionally revisiting Sepultura’s early works. Their attempts at re-recording have garnered varying responses from fans and former bandmates alike, showcasing differing perspectives on artistic authenticity and heritage.

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2024-12-01 01:31