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Now that Soulfly is the world's best Sepultura cover band (see 2005's really solid Dark Ages for evidence of this assertion) the rest of the guys in the original band have gotten their act together and released the finest album of their post-Max Cavalera career. This is not to say that Against, Nation, or Roorback are completely without merit, but they all lacked a certain something, be it a killer vocal performance, Sep's famous groove riff/piercing lead combination, or crushing drums. Dante XXI is here to remedy that, ironically enough, just in time for the other Cavalera (that's the drummer Igor, boys and girls -- or "Iggor" as he likes to spell it these days) to leave soon after its release. First it was just a break and now it's a breakup, but them's the breaks, as they say. Whoever "they" are....
Back to the record, sonically, but without regard to the vocals, Dante XXI fits in closer to the magnificent Chaos A.D. than the breakthrough Roots, though some of that tribal, world metal vibe is perhaps necessarily present. Overall this is a solid Thrash album that kicks sufficient ass in the traditional Sepultura vein, albeit with Derrick Green's Hardcore hoarse bark rather than what's-his-name's primal roar. Strangely enough album closer "Still Flame" sounds like it came from that other band's last album, mixed heavily with the big symphonic S&M sound of the once mighty Metallica. Segues rather than "intros" abound on the album and while serving to pace the record, they tend to take away some of the album's force.
That Green steered the ship in terms of the album's overall theme shows that he is "finally" making a major contribution. "You never thought we could make it this far. We don't stop, we keep fighting on" go some of his lyrics. Well, if that means losing the other founding member of the band while reinvigorating one's sound, so be it. Will the Cavelera brothers reunite in Soulfly? Will a "classic Sepultura" reunion actually happen? Will this version of Sepultura carry on and be successful? Where is that damned crystal ball when we need it?! "Convicted in Life" is a great track with a video receiving airplay on MTV2's Headbangers Ball so maybe the band can make it after all. They've come this far so get back in their corner and check out Dante XXI. "I am not in denial" is said in the same song as the lyrics quoted earlier. Really?
| Tracklist |
| 1. Lost (Intro) |
| 2. Dark Wood Of Error |
| 3. Convicted In Life |
| 4. City Of Dis |
| 5. False |
| 6. Fighting On |
| 7. Limbo (Intro) |
| 8. Ostia |
| 9. Buried Words |
| 10. Nuclear Seven |
| 11. Repeating The Horror |
| 12. Eunoé (Intro) |
| 13. Crown And Miter |
| 14. Primium Mobile (Intro) |
| 15. Still Flame |
: 38.57
| Buy other Sepultura albums |
