Released on: 7th February 2020
Sepultura have for the past twenty odd years or so been trying to catch the ghost of success that they had with classic albums such as Chaos A.D. (‘93) and Roots (‘96.) But like a cat chasing a laser have never quite managed to pick up it up and with that the feeling of excitement and volatility they had during that early period. Quadra is different.
Set your lasers on a hard-light drive and clip it at eleven because Quadra is a solid album composed from the same grand spirit that made heavy metal a definitive genre in the 90’s, and then some. With Sepultura honing their riffs into a stalwart package of Brazilian flavoured thrash. Quadra delivers a challenging record that sounds like Capoeira in musical notation.
For old fans of the now thirty-five year old band there has been noticeable change in sound with the early dance rhythms drowned out by a more melodic symphonic element. Changing the overall style from rhythmic thrash to something more akin to late 90’s Fear Factory. Sufficed to say with so many identity changes in the past the sound of Seps has now truly moved on. And having lost their original niche the band has went full pelt, skills a-blazing, into new territory.
Quadra brings the band into a new age with a fresh sound and a new attitude. Revitalizing the band like a bath of virginal blood to Elizabeth Bathory. Or at least from an encouraged good few nose bleeds in the mosh pit. This album sounds like a return to the bands roots but; same tree different ground perhaps. And ultimately a welcome cacophony towards the new age of Qaos.
8/10
