MusicMax Cavalera defends re-recordings of Sepultura, criticized by Andreas Kisser

The brothers Max and Iggor Cavalera surprised by announcing, still in 2023, that they would re-record the first works of the Grave. Out of the band since 1996 and 2006 respectively, the singer/guitarist and the drummer got together to produce new versions of the EP Bestial Devastation (1985) and the albums Morbid Visions (1986) and Schizophrenia (1987).

From the beginning, they have argued that the quality of the original records was not that good, given the lack of resources to invest in good studios and the absence of technologies in Brazil. Therefore, they decided to promote re-recordings — which have received criticism from Andreas Kisserguitarist who joined the group in 1987 and has remained since.

In an interview with heavy (via Blabbermouth), Max Cavalera reinforced the point of view. Without any mention of Kisser’s comments, the frontman said it was “an opportunity to do it again, but do it better.”

“The idea was kind of not to fix the mistakes, because I think the mistakes were cool, but to make things sound better. We had the chance to have a better guitar, a better drum sound and a better studio, to be surrounded by experienced metal people who know how to record this stuff. None of these things were available when we made these records in Brazil. We were on our own. The sound engineers didn’t know what to do.”

In the vocalist/guitarist’s opinion, the re-recordings are “the correct way” these songs were imagined at the time. “That’s what we were looking for in the first place,” he added, pointing out that many bands don’t have that same opportunity — “they don’t try, or they try and fail.”

“[Quando tentam regravar] They don’t maintain the energy and anger of the original. We kept all of that under control. We made sure he remained aggressive. I think that’s why a lot of people love these re-recordings, man. Fans love the re-recordings, and they have been very well received around the world.”

Cavalera was also asked whether these early Sepultura works would have been as well received if they had been better recorded in the 1980s. Without giving a direct answer, he reflected on never having received any guidance regarding how to perform the work.

“It’s trial and error. That’s the beauty of those records: they were full of things that really come out of nowhere. Like: what the hell was I thinking when I made that guitar riff? But it’s beautiful. It shows that even at 14 or 15 years old, I had that wild metal in my veins. Now, as I’m older, I have the chance to revisit and still get the same pleasure from these albums as I did when I was a kid.”

Andreas Kisser’s reviews

In an interview with Zé Luiz and Bebé Salvego for the program Uol No TomAndreas Kisser defined the initiative by brothers Max and Iggor Cavalera as “totally irrelevant”, “pointless”, “zero artistic value”, “disrespectful”, “sad” and “a disservice”. Initially, according to the transcription of the Rolling Stone Brazilstated:

“At the end of the day, if they’re enjoying it, whatever. Who cares about my opinion? But I think it’s very weak artistically. I find it completely irrelevant and meaningless. Especially for a guy like Max, who says he did everything himself, that he’s the most creative guy in the world, ‘I did this and that’. It comes at a time, it wastes time and creativity to do things we did 30, 40 years ago, with a different sound. Zero artistic value. There’s no point in doing that.”

Andreas mentioned the The Troops of Doomband formed by Jairo Guedz — Sepultura’s first guitarist, who recorded Bestial Devastation and Morbid Visions — as a more interesting initiative. Guedz pays homage to the group’s past by rescuing the sound of the time and making some versions, but without giving up unreleased material, nor re-recording complete albums.

“What Troops of Doom, Jairo’s band, Sepultura’s first guitarist, does is that, honestly. In fact, Troops came out first. Then Max and Iggor made a copy of Troops of Doom. Troops of Doom pays homage to that time with new, original sound, and some versions from that time where Jairo also worked as a composer. Much more legitimate. A new proposal, today. Don’t simply exploit a part of the story just because a technology sounds a little better.”

In the opinion of Andreas Kisser, Max and Iggor Cavalera — who left Sepultura respectively in 1996 and 2006 — acted in a “very disrespectful” way towards their own legacy. The guitarist praised the relevance of the original release of Schizophreniahis first album with the band.

“I find it very disrespectful. In 1987, we dedicated a lot to making Schizophrenia, it was my first album with Sepultura. I brought all my ideas. We changed the concept of the lyrics, I brought my lyrics. I was no longer talking about Satan and Christ, but about what we unfortunately experience today: anxiety, panic attacks, suicide, schizophrenia, pressure from society. We started talking about it. They were my lyrics. Historical facts, as in ‘From the Past Comes the Storms’. This neo-Nazism thing we are seeing today.”

He then added, trying to find an explanation for the attitude of his former colleagues:

“Schizophrenia It’s a milestone. The process they did today is irrelevant in the historical aspect of the band. It’s more for them to have some fun and some change, maybe. Really, it’s sad. I think they do a disservice to their own past.”

Still, Sepultura intends to count on Max and Iggor Cavalera — as well as all former members — to participate in the farewell tour. Celebrating Life Through Death. Apparently, the idea is to promote a reunion at the last show, scheduled for São Paulo in 2026.

“We plan to invite everyone who was part of the band. The idea is to celebrate. I don’t want to sit at the table and argue: ‘Oh, Max, you were wrong and I was right’. This is irrelevant, it won’t lead anywhere. He has his point of view, I have mine. We write our biographical books and talk, then everyone believes what they want.”