Review: Sepultura
Friday night saw the return to Cardiff of the Brazilian noise merchants, Sepultura.
A rammed Millennium Music Hall first enjoyed support slots from South Wales trio, Taint, who were as tight and doom-laden as ever, with material showcased from across all three of their albums including this year's All Bees To The Sea.
Next up were Gama Bomb, who divided the crowd with their shameless eighties thrash.
Frontman Philly Byrne made his allegiances with the decade time forgot crystal clear with his Motley Crue (circa Girls, Girls, Girls) vest, and while some scoffed, most threw themselves into their tongue-in-cheek set.
Sepultura, on the other hand, have had most of the rock world divided since 1996 when frontman and founder Max Cavelera walked and formed Soulfly.
Replaced by the Predator-like Derrick Green, Cavalera took a good portion of the band's credibility with him, something which his brother and band's drummer Igor Cavalera threw further into the air with his departure in 2006.
So, from "shadow of their former selves" to "Sepultura cover band," the criticisms have been thick and fast in the build up to this date. However, from the opening brutal aural assault of Moloko Mesto, it was clear that Sepultura are not a band to go down lightly, or anytime soon.
A mix of early classics like Arise and Dead Embryonic Cells were welcomed, along with the more tribal output of the mid-nineties including Slave New World and Refuse/Resist. Newer material including that from last year's A Clockwork Orange inspired concept album, A-Lex, also made it's way in for those still tuned in to the band's output.
Even the doubters were impressed, and by the time the closing riffs of set ender Roots Bloody Roots had faded, all were agreed that Sepultura are as relevant as ever.
You can catch Soulfly at the MMH on Tuesday 3 August.
Thanks to GRAB Promotions.
IMAGES: Nadine Ballantyne
