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52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly Sepultura's finest hour, March 29, 2000
I find it interesting (and funny) that to some people, the success of an album hinges on whether or not it's "commercially accessible." Metal artists walk a finer edge than most today (except probably for punk artists), in that every _POSSIBLE_ move they could make constitutes selling out. You're a sellout in the metal and punk worlds if: You release a record. Your sound goes too "soft". Your sound changes. You play venues with seats instead of barstools, etc etc.Sepultura is a case in point. "Chaos AD" is, in my estimation, their finest record. "Refuse/Resist" leads off the album with a ripping-hammer punch that socks you into your seat. "Territory", "Slave New World" and "Nomad" are outstanding songs as well, running the gamut from the slow, heavy trudge to the fast-paced pummeling guitar that was Sepultura's bread and butter for so long. "Chaos AD" also features Sepultura's first serious exploration of tribal and political issues, with the songs "Kaiowas" (named for a tribe of native South Americans that were all but wiped out) and "Biotech is Godzilla" (co-written by Jello Biafra). "Biotech..." is more than just funny, anyone who knows about the horrors that are foisted upon the working class and poor in South America knows that the song is brutally accurate and sounds a wake-up call to the civilized world. This is Sepultura's finest work. The collaborations are smooth and well-executed, the songs are well-paced and well written. And yet, to people like my buddy Chael, an enjoyable record is a failure. I don't get that. I KNOW the band wants people to listen, did you ever hear of a band that wanted their records to make people shut them off? Some argue that Sepultura's earlier records were meant for the loyal hardcore audience. The fact is that a truly loyal audience would appreciate their musical growth, realize that stagnation is what comes from never changing your sound, and encourage them to constantly evolve and come up with new things to amaze us with. Chaos AD was one of these albums, and I suggest you play it until your ears bleed.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Arguably Sepultura's finest hour, June 21, 2005
Before "Chaos A.D.," Sepultura were a great death metal band that were as important as Slayer. The only problem was that the genre that Sepultura helped create had become very popular by the early 1990's. Bands like Carcass, Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, and Suffocation had formed and Sepultura, even though they made such classics as "Arise," sort of started blending into the crowd, because they were only a little bit different from everybody else.
Even though I don't think that's what the purpose of "Chaos A.D." was, Sepultura's fifth album definitely helped them stand out. In addition to being very experimental and daring, "Chaos A.D." is also one of the band's most creative discs (second only to 1996's "Roots"). The main difference here has to be "Kaiowas." Sepultura had previously flirted with acoustic guitars (like the intro to "Beneath the Remains"), but "Kaiowas" was their first completely acoustic song. This instrumental, which is definitely this group's most gentle and pretty song, was also the first heavy metal song (that I know of) to feature tribal drums. This innovation, which later became a trademark of frontman Max Cavalera, would also be adopted by other metal bands, like Ill Nino. Another experiment Max and Co. delved into is having a guest singer. "Slave New World" features a cameo by Biohazard singer Evan Seinfeld; but his voice is almost indistinguishable from Max's.
Some old-school fans think this is where Max sold out and went mainstream. I strongly disagree. Yes, they added some melody, but most of this disc is still caustic heavy metal. Plus, even though the metal is more punk influenced here than it was before (it isn't as fast as the 1980's Sep albums, and there aren't any monstrous vocals on here), I don't see how this C.D. was a complete change of sound. It's not like Sepultura became a nu-metal band. Finally, "Chaos A.D." was their breakthrough album, but Sep also enjoyed quite a bit of success with the earlier albums "Schizophrenia," "Beneath the Remains," and "Arise" (even if that success was from an underground audience).
Something about this album just grabs me and holds on, keeping my attention focused completely on the song I'm listening to. This whole album is artfully catchy and contagious, interesting, memorable, and all around great.
Highlights include:
"Refuse/Resist" is a personal favorite because it is so irresistibly catchy and forcefully heavy. It opens with some booming riffs, which is followed by (what sounds like) tin can drums. It then evolves into a stop-start beat, with punching, groove-y guitars. The deep throated vocals then come on, and the song ends with a good guitar solo (which makes a wah-wah sound in places).
"Territory" has a bouncy little drum solo for the intro, then the guitars kick in and make the beat groove. The guitars then alternate from rhythmic riffing to choppy, staccato riffs, and another, louder, guitar solo is included.
"Amen" has chug and churn, up and down riffs. I enjoy the part of this song when the beat comes down a few decibels and some female vocals sing over the light percussion. The song ends with bobbing riffs and some good, pounding drum work.
The aforementioned "Kaiowas" remains a staple/centerpiece of Sepultura's live shows. The band members play for a little while, then abruptly stop to talk amongst themselves. They finally shut up and play the rest of the song in is entirety. They strum the acoustic guitars fast and the drums thump, but, even still, this is a very pretty, melodic, and atmospheric song. I also enjoy the squawking birds, giving it a rainforest vibe.
"Propaganda" has machine gun riffs which, together with the drums, sound awesome. Another Slayer-esque, careening guitar solo is included, and the song ends with cascading riffs.
"Biotech is Godzilla" has a scorching opening riff, but this song is a highlight because of the tempo changes (before and after the choruses, which are slower) and the catchy shout along: "BIO-TECH!"
"Nomad" has some more stop-start rhythms and riffs, and increasingly fast, heavy, and talented drum work (which becomes especially apparent at the end).
"Chaos A.D." can easily become very addictive. It is a very interesting, brilliant, and an all around amazing album. With this album, Sepultura showed they were great, creative musicians, in addition to being great metalheads. Thus, I recommend this to both new and old school Max fans. Even though I prefer "Beneath the Remains" to this, "Chaos A.D." is definitely one of the best and most innovative things Max has ever done. The bottom line is, like any Sepultura classic, this is essential listening for all metalheads.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
new Territory for Sepultura, April 27, 2000
Sepultura's first dip into the tribal element of their music is a masterpiece and a half. As soon as the opening track `Refuse/Resist' kicked in I was in love with this album, its a real romper-stomper of a track and also an early version of `Roots Bloody Roots' from the `Roots' album. Its clear this album was a transition point for Sepultura, they still thrash with the best of them but the introduction of tribal drums adds that bit extra flavour. Sepultura were later to plunge more tribal with `Roots' but I felt they dropped the thrash element which is what makes `Chaos AD' so special. The tracks themselves are awesome, no turkeys here. `Territory' continues to rage as hard as the awesome opener and theres plenty of variation to follow. The acoustic `Kaiowas' is certainly a step away from the norm for Sepultura and its pretty good too. Its plain to see this is where Sepultura took a major step away from being `just another thrash metal band' and introduced a bit more experimentation into their style. And Max's vocals are as beautifully aggressive as ever.If you like the tribal element to this check our the album `Roots', but if its the thrash which appeals more then check out the album before this, `Arise'. Fast, loud, heavy, thrashy and tribal - this is Sepultura at their peak with all the best elements.
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