Reviews

Sepultura – Machine Messiah | Album Review

Sepultura are back with their 14th studio album ‘Machine Messiah’. Find out what we thought of the release here!

Published

January 26, 2017

Source: Album Artwork

For more than three decades Sepultura have been the face of Brazilian metal – and they’re still in their element. Machine Messiah is their 14th studio album and 8th in the Derrick Green era. After this amount of time, bands sometimes begin to fizzle out and fade into the oblivion, but Sepultura have proved otherwise. Their flame isn’t going to burn out anytime soon. Their newest effort is as inventive and adventurous as ever – keeping fans on the edges of their seats.

Machine Messiah’s raw blend of thrash, groove and heavy metal finds new ways to grip old listeners. It also hints nostalgically back to Sepultura’s metal roots. Opening and title track ‘Machine Messiah’ captivates you with a crisp guitar lead. Derrick Green’s guttural vocals command all your attention and welcome you into the dark depths of the album.

‘I Am The Enemy’ is everything you would expect from a classic thrash metal track and more. Fast percussive beats and aggressive killer riffs accompany Green’s snarling vocals. Even at this speed, their technical consistency is impressive. Tracks like this demonstrate that Machine Messiah is a complete band effort – it’s tight and innovative in every aspect.

Behemoth metal riffs greet you as ‘Sworn Oath’ begins. Monstrously dark, this is a track that chills. Andreas Kisser’s riffs are meticulously crafted and hold you in a daze. There’s an eerie nightmarish atmosphere throughout that surfaces again in ‘Cyber-God’. Green’s husky vocals create an ominous atmosphere. Abrasive riffs pulsate and build suspense. Kisser’s guitar solo is the highlight of the track. It creates frenzy despite being executed with precision and clarity.

Machine Messiah is a riotous release. It’s difficult not to feel exhausted when you reach the end of the album though. This is due to the sheer amount of technical innovation they throw at you. Precise riffs, commanding vocals and a mammoth sound are enough to leave any Sepultura fan in awe.