Brazil’s most famous heavy metal band concludes three sold-out nights in SP on final tour
Summary
Sepultura performed a historic show in São Paulo to close out their final tour, also recalling their first performance in the city 38 years ago.
Before talking about Sepultura’s show, the third sold-out show in São Paulo on September 8, at Espaço Unimed, of the band’s latest tour, which celebrates its 40th anniversary, I want to talk about a performance that took place exactly 38 years and 4 months ago. On May 10, 1986, at the Heavy Metal concert hall in Vila Carrão, the Minas Gerais band performed for the first time in the city. I bridge the gap between (perhaps) the two most important shows of the group in the capital of São Paulo because I went to both.
There is a third legendary Sepultura show in São Paulo, in front of the Pacaembu stadium, in Praça Charles Miller, free, but this one went down in history because of the violence and death of a fan.
The band’s first show in town was so important not because the band was huge or promising, but because it showed teenage metal fans that it was possible. Andreas Kisser wasn’t in the band either: the lead guitarist (as we called him) was Jairo Guedes, who today leads Troops of Doom. The only one who has remained in the band’s 40-year history is bassist Paulo Xisto, as the Cavalera brothers – Iggor, drummer, and Max, singer and guitarist – have passed away over the years.
The debut EP, “Bestial Devastation” (actually a split album with the band Overdose) was released in late 1985. Four songs and an intro (“The Curse”) that put together a short and direct repertoire along with two covers, “Black Magic”, by Slayer, and “Living in Fear”, by Kreator (everything except the exact date are memories in my head, so memorable was the show). The four songs were “Antichrist”, “Bestial Devastation”, “Necromancer” and “Warriors of Death”, explicitly inspired by Destruction, Kreator and Hellhammer/Celtic Frost.
Jumping to the final night at Espaço Unimed, the introduction was not proper, but with “War Pigs” (Black Sabbath) and “Polícia” (Titãs). A set that began devastatingly – “Refuse/Resist” and “Territory” – moved towards a more tepid career core, with album inclusions like “Roorback”, “Against”, despite some from “Roots”, and an apotheotic finale. From “Escape to the Void” onwards, with “Biotech is Godzilla”, “Orgasmatron”, “Arise” and the seminal “Troops of Doom”, it was one shoe after another. Until the apotheosis of “Roots Bloody Roots”.
Sepultura close their story as they deserve: on board their best album, “Quadra”, of 2020 (see I said “best” technically and sonically, not my “favorite”) and on the shoulders of a mass of headbangers. “Under a pale gray sky / We will rise”.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
