Review SEPULTURA “The Cloud of Unknowing” – EP

Thrash metal veterans Sepultura have decided to bring the band to an end, and before this happens, Andreas Kisser and his bandmates have a busy schedule ahead of them. They are currently on a farewell tour and, since the arrival of new drummer Greyson Nekrutman, the band has been inspired to record four new songs in the studio.

Without the usual deadlines and pressure, they recorded the most diverse songs in their career. There is the brutal “All Souls Rising”, which is not only an aggressive metal song, but also has hardcore references. Sepultura added interesting twists to the opener, too. The orchestral elements break the pattern of the frantic thrash metal song, which is lyrically based on Madison Smartt Bell’s book about the Haitian slave rebellion of the 1780s.

The acoustic start of “Beyond the Dream” is more than just an intro. It is a powerful ballad unlike anything we have heard from the band before. The same goes for Derrick Green singing the song instead of shouting, which means clean vocals throughout. “Beyond the Dream” demonstrates the musical freedom that the band embraced while working on this EP. Along with “All Souls Rising”, these two tracks exemplify the range of this release.

“Sacred Books” is another notable track on “The Cloud of Unknowing”. This slower-paced riff monster comes with some nice twists, too. There are jazz-infused moments that showcase Nekrutman’s influences and interact with Kisser’s raw riff power.

Heavy, yet calmer, with a sinister spirit, “The Place” is the culmination of a diverse EP that reflects a band with total musical freedom, which they utilise to great effect. Without a doubt, we are listening to Brazilian thrash metal pioneers who have used a situation beyond the usual expectation to launch a surprising and varied EP. “The Cloud of Unknowing” is a well-crafted final release from a band that is still touring before the final show brings the curtain down on their 40+ year career.