Sepultura - Nation
Roadrunner - 2001
By James O'Toole
Website: http://www.sepultura.com.br
Nation is Sepultura's second album with vocalist Derrick Green. I purchased this album thinking it would be listenable but unspectacular, much like its immediate predecessor Against. I was pleasantly surprised to find Nation is
a far superior release.
Having only become a Sepultura fan with the Roots album, I do not have the same attachment many may possess to Max Cavalera. There is no doubt Max Cavalera was a major contributor to Sepultura's previous material but Nation
demonstrates he was by no means the entire band. Derrick Green's performance on Nation is nothing short of impressive. On tracks like One Man Army, Vox Populi, Uma Cura and Water his clean vocals have a depth and rich tone that demonstrates his versatility and further stamps his identity on the sound of Sepultura. Green has a great voice when he chooses to sing rather than roar and I personally prefer Green's vocals to those of Max Cavalera. Lyric credits list Derrick Green and Andreas Kisser as the major contributors, with many collaborations between the two showing greater songwriting input from Green than on Against. Lyrically the album seems based around a loose
concept of struggle and rising up against the conventional order to start a new way, specifically the Sepulnation.
Musically Nation is a very interesting and diverse album, showing Sepultura are continuing to experiment and explore their sound. In particular I found Andreas Kisser's guitar work to be exceptional, switching from crushing riffs to atmospheric, moody passages seamlessly. The guitar is more melodic and there is a lot of space on this album, resulting in the bass playing a more prominent role. There is some very creative playing on Nation, which is one of the reasons I keep coming back and listening again and again. Andreas Kisser's guitar, Paulo Jr's bass and Igor Cavalera's drums work together to create a rich soundscape with Green's vocals augmenting the rage or supplying mood as required. The main music writing credits go to Andreas Kisser and Igor Cavalera, though again Greene is listed as contributing more
frequently on this album.
Nation features several guest appearances, though I would not describe them as dominant parts when viewing the album as a whole. Ex-Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra supplies vocals on Politricks, Finnish string quartet Apocalyptica appear on the haunting, intense instrumental track Valtio, Jamey Jasta from Hatebreed contributes vocals on the track Human Cause and Brooklyn artist Dr. Israel supplies an interesting reggae feel with vocals and production on Tribe To A Nation.
It was difficult to pick standout tracks on Nation since it is an album of consistently high standard. Each track offers something different.
Sepulnation, Revolt, Border Wars, Who Must Die, Saga, Water and Valtio stood out slightly, though every track on this album is very good and it is an easy album to listen to from start to finish. The digipack version of Nation features five bonus tracks, including covers of Black Flag's Rise Above, a powerful version of Bela Lugosi's Dead by Bauhaus and Annihilation by Crucifix. A demo version of the track Saga (then titled Revolt) from early in the writing sessions for Nation and a live version of Roots Bloody Roots recorded on the 2000 Tattoo the Earth Tour conclude the digipack section of the album.
Sepultura have done exceptionally well with Nation and deserve to win back a few of the fans they may have lost when Max Cavalera departed. Whether you are an old Sepultura fan who may have strayed, a recent convert or a
completely new listener Nation is an album with a lot to offer. Nation is a great album, heavy but also moody and more melodic than past efforts and it would make a fine addition to any heavy music fan's collection. If you were disappointed with Against and wondered whether to purchase this album as a result then go out and do yourself a favour - Nation is well worth it.
8/10
Roadrunner - 2001
By James O'Toole
Website: http://www.sepultura.com.br
Nation is Sepultura's second album with vocalist Derrick Green. I purchased this album thinking it would be listenable but unspectacular, much like its immediate predecessor Against. I was pleasantly surprised to find Nation is
a far superior release.
Having only become a Sepultura fan with the Roots album, I do not have the same attachment many may possess to Max Cavalera. There is no doubt Max Cavalera was a major contributor to Sepultura's previous material but Nation
demonstrates he was by no means the entire band. Derrick Green's performance on Nation is nothing short of impressive. On tracks like One Man Army, Vox Populi, Uma Cura and Water his clean vocals have a depth and rich tone that demonstrates his versatility and further stamps his identity on the sound of Sepultura. Green has a great voice when he chooses to sing rather than roar and I personally prefer Green's vocals to those of Max Cavalera. Lyric credits list Derrick Green and Andreas Kisser as the major contributors, with many collaborations between the two showing greater songwriting input from Green than on Against. Lyrically the album seems based around a loose
concept of struggle and rising up against the conventional order to start a new way, specifically the Sepulnation.
Musically Nation is a very interesting and diverse album, showing Sepultura are continuing to experiment and explore their sound. In particular I found Andreas Kisser's guitar work to be exceptional, switching from crushing riffs to atmospheric, moody passages seamlessly. The guitar is more melodic and there is a lot of space on this album, resulting in the bass playing a more prominent role. There is some very creative playing on Nation, which is one of the reasons I keep coming back and listening again and again. Andreas Kisser's guitar, Paulo Jr's bass and Igor Cavalera's drums work together to create a rich soundscape with Green's vocals augmenting the rage or supplying mood as required. The main music writing credits go to Andreas Kisser and Igor Cavalera, though again Greene is listed as contributing more
frequently on this album.
Nation features several guest appearances, though I would not describe them as dominant parts when viewing the album as a whole. Ex-Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra supplies vocals on Politricks, Finnish string quartet Apocalyptica appear on the haunting, intense instrumental track Valtio, Jamey Jasta from Hatebreed contributes vocals on the track Human Cause and Brooklyn artist Dr. Israel supplies an interesting reggae feel with vocals and production on Tribe To A Nation.
It was difficult to pick standout tracks on Nation since it is an album of consistently high standard. Each track offers something different.
Sepulnation, Revolt, Border Wars, Who Must Die, Saga, Water and Valtio stood out slightly, though every track on this album is very good and it is an easy album to listen to from start to finish. The digipack version of Nation features five bonus tracks, including covers of Black Flag's Rise Above, a powerful version of Bela Lugosi's Dead by Bauhaus and Annihilation by Crucifix. A demo version of the track Saga (then titled Revolt) from early in the writing sessions for Nation and a live version of Roots Bloody Roots recorded on the 2000 Tattoo the Earth Tour conclude the digipack section of the album.
Sepultura have done exceptionally well with Nation and deserve to win back a few of the fans they may have lost when Max Cavalera departed. Whether you are an old Sepultura fan who may have strayed, a recent convert or a
completely new listener Nation is an album with a lot to offer. Nation is a great album, heavy but also moody and more melodic than past efforts and it would make a fine addition to any heavy music fan's collection. If you were disappointed with Against and wondered whether to purchase this album as a result then go out and do yourself a favour - Nation is well worth it.
8/10
