Live Review: Sepultura, Malakyte

Local lads Malakyte let loose on stage while channeling all the fun of late-‘80s thrash metal.

The fiery five-piece are an animated bunch, and make quite the impression with a generous display of stage dives, head whips and kicks. It’s not all just physical frills though, because they’ve also got the musical chops to match too. The currents of nostalgia flow strong through tonight’s crowd, and this heady concoction is enough to whet the collective appetite.

“A lot of people talk shit about us, but we are SEPULTURA, and we are HERE!”

It’s been a grueling 11-year wait for Sepultura’s return to these shores, and their fevered fans are more than ready to go bat-shit crazy the second their Brazilian heroes step out on stage – livelier crowds are up there with hens’ teeth. Although most fans nurse an obvious bias toward the ‘classic’ era, the band stands with integrity, unwilling to rest solely on their laurels. The first third of their set is reflective of this stance; The Vatican opens a run of six songs that, with the exception of the pummeling Propaganda, stem from their later period. Manipulation Of Tragedy is so strong that it could stand up next to many of their greats. As an introduction to the aforementioned Chaos AD cut, vocalist Derrick Green passionately declares, “A lot of people talk shit about us, but we are SEPULTURA, and we are HERE!” Any doubts tonight surrounding this band’s legitimacy to the name are squashed by their sheer intensity during each and every moment. While veterans Andreas Kisser and Paulo Jr bring their characteristic wonder, Green and new drummer Eloy Casagrande both enliven the mix with their own ecstatic energies. Casagrande is simply majestic to watch – it’s hard to imagine him improving on his stunning performance, but at only 23 years of age his future development is a thoroughly exciting prospect. And Green, well, what a powerhouse! His stage presence is simply inspiring. Although his recent abandonment of guitar leaves Kisser solos bereft of its rhythm backing, his vocal onslaughts, and odd bit of percussion, do more than make up for it.

Any doubts tonight surrounding this band’s legitimacy to the name are squashed by their sheer intensity .

Once they really dip into the arsenal of classics they do give generously; from the death-thrash gems Inner Self and Arise, to the later day opuses Dusted, Attitude and Territory. This unit packs each with a walloping punch, and by the time they reach the anthem Refuse/Resist, at the set’s end, the room is devastated. The three-song encore rolls out with Trauma Of War, before Ratamahata and Roots Bloody Roots tap the reserve energy for a shattering climax. With an inspirationally potent blend of old and new blood pumping through its veins, the Sepulnation is alive and well!