NOVEMBER 21st, 2023
CAVALERA
Review/Photos By: Polina Kulikovskikh
Photo Gallery: http://www.metaltitans.com/concertpics/cavalera/

Almost four decades into their illustrious careers, the Cavalera brothers took a nostalgic journey back to the origins of their musical legacy. Recently, they undertook the task of re-recording the classic debuts of Sepultura "Morbid Visions" and "Bestial Devastation", with a particular focus on these releases during their recent performances including the one in Oslo at Rockefeller club on November 21st.

Max Cavalera explains the motivation behind revisiting these classics, stating, "As we get harder year after year, sometimes you’ve got to go back to where it all started! We re-recorded Bestial Devastation and Morbid Visions with the amazing sound of NOW, but with its raw and timeless spirit. The artwork reflects the times we’re living in right now…. Apocalyptic as hell! We also have two new tracks with riffs from those days, remembered by heart."

Iggor Cavalera echoes Max's sentiment, expressing, "I always felt like the recordings of our earlier work didn’t do justice to the way we performed the songs. So, this is a very special moment in our lives that we are very proud to show you real fans our true representation of the amazing records Bestial Devastation & Morbid Visions with an insane visual identity…enjoy and see you all in the pit."

In addition to the brothers, the live band comprises Igor Amadeus Cavalera (Healing Magic, Go Ahead and Die) on bass and Travis Stone (Pig Destroyer, Desolus) on guitar.

The evening began with Incite. Members of this band have participated in M.O.D., Rotting Corpse, Huntress, and Nailbomb. The vocalist of Incite, who has previously been associated with Nailbomb, goes by the name Richie Cavalera, adopting the surname of his stepfather, Max. While the groove metal aspect may not resonate with everyone, moments of up-tempo and almost classic death metal elicited a positive response from the audience. Incite's thirty-five-minute set served as a robust warm-up.

Cavalera, having recently released remakes of Sepultura's first two albums, presented a set list that unfolded chronologically, beginning with the mini-LP "Bestial Devastation." A slightly cleaner and more pronounced vocal style compared to the original recordings added a new dimension to the performance. The evening unfolded seamlessly, with classics like "Antichrist" and "Necromancer" paving the way. A touching moment occurred as "O Fortuna" played over the system, accompanied by visuals honoring Max and Iggor's mother, Vania, who passed away this summer.

The set progressed to "Morbid Visions" and "Mayhem," but "Troops of Doom" moving to encore part of the set. The remainder of the record followed, punctuated by lively breaks and calls for "old school true Norwegian black metal circle pit". As anticipated, the concert extended beyond the initial closing track, "Burn The Dead." Encores included "Escape To The Void," "Refuse/Resist," and "Territory" from Chaos A.D.

The performance showcased a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, reminiscent of their shows from years past. The Cavalera brothers, or The True Sepultura as they playfully refer to themselves, embodied the spirit of the old, proving that the oldest are often the truest.

Setlist:

Bestial Devastation:

The Curse
(Sepultura song)
Bestial Devastation
(Sepultura cover)
Antichrist
(Sepultura cover)
Necromancer
(Sepultura cover)
Warriors of Death
(Sepultura cover)
Sexta Feira 13

Morbid Visions:

O Fortuna
(Carl Orff song) (In memory of Vania Cavalera)
Morbid Visions
(Sepultura cover)
Mayhem
(Sepultura cover)
Crucifixion
(Sepultura cover)
Show Me the Wrath
(Sepultura cover)
Funeral Rites
(Sepultura cover)
Empire of the Damned
(Sepultura cover)

Encore:

Inquisition Symphony / Escape to the Void / Dead Embryonic Cells
(Sepultura cover)
Refuse/Resist / Territory
(Sepultura cover)
Troops of Doom
(Sepultura cover)
Morbid Visions
(Sepultura cover) (Reprise, fast version)