Customer Reviews

Dante XXI

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This album is deservedly getting great acclaim world-wide, but I feel compelled to add another 5-star review to the growing amount that are out there already.
I can't say enough good things about the album. I think it's their best work since Arise (if not, dare I say, ever?).
The band have had their critics since Max Cavalera left; a lot of people instantly disliked Derrick Green upon hearing Against, and hence decided not to give the following albums a chance. If you are one of these people, I strongly advise you to buy this album. If you are one of those who kept faith in the band, then you are reaping your just rewards.
As much as I love the Derrick-era albums prior to Dante, I think this album is an amalgamation of all the best elements of its predecessors. It's thrashy, it's heavy, there's a healthy mix of alternative instruments (the use of Horns, I believe!) and it is really creative.
There's also something a little extra in Dante; it's dark. As a concept album, it draws inspiration from The Divine Comedy (the album is split into 3 sections; Hell, Purgatory and Paradise) both lyrically and artistically. There are some intense songs such as "Buried Words" in which you can decipher the book's influence (if you've read it of course!) The art-work also draws inspiration from The Divine Comedy, with some top-notch work.
In conclusion, this is an album that should have the begrudgers running back to the band in their droves (If you are one of them, there's no shame in it!) as well as putting Sepultura back on the radar of metal heavy-weights where they belong. ....this is simply a great album. Buy it!

In short, if you like metal and thrash, you must own this album.

I've been listening to Sepultura since Schizophrenia, and, for some reason, that somehow gives me the feeling that I can say the following with a bit of authority: This is one of the best Sepultura albums of all time. I saw them live for "Beneath the Remains", "Arise" and a few times thereafter (e.g., Tattoo the Earth). Andreas Kisser is simply one of the best metal lead guitarists of all time. The high-pitched yet earthly and "organic" leads on "Beneath" and "Arise" 'remain unique to that Sepul-sound. This album builds off that unique sound. I've enjoyed this album tremendously. BRAVO!

Following the release of 2003's "Roorback," Sepultura have released their fourth studio album (and fifth disc total) without original frontman Max Cavalera. I must say I was skeptical when listening to the new album because "Roorback" was somewhat of a disappointment. But, after listening with an open mind, I can safely say that "Dante XXI" is doubtlessly Sepultura's best release with singer Derrick Green (who joined the band in 1998), and also their best since 1993's "Chaos A.D."

These songs definitely thrash with a great intensity, one that was missing from "Roorback." The rhythm section no longer suffers without the second guitar; in fact, while listening to some of the songs, like the churning fifth track, "False," it's difficult to tell that the band only have one guitarist.

Next, "Dante XXI" is more creative than most of Sepultura's previous releases. The tribal drums and acoustic guitars are omitted, but a couple of the tracks (i.e. "Ostia") feature (what sounds like) violins in the background. Plus, you know this has got to be a fairly creative C.D., because it's a concept album! (The lyrics are based on Dante's famous book, "Inferno.")

Finally, Derrick's vocal performance is improved here. His yells still aren't quite as powerful as Max's growls, but, on the plus side, they are more decipherable.

The first real song on here, "Dark Wood Of Error," sort of brings Meshuggah to mind, because it has pounding, lumbering guitars and busy double bass drumming. The next track, "Convicted In Life," begins with a ten second drum intro, before catapulting into buzzsaw guitar riffs. Other highlights include the machine gun, cascading riffs and fast, pounding drums on "City Of Dis" and "Fighting On," the fiery, churning riffs and careening guitar solo featured in "Nuclear Seven," "Repeating The Horror" (which ends with a catchy, rhythmic drum solo), and the explosive thrasher, "Crown And Miter."

All you need to know about this album is that it's a great return to form for Sepultura; and as aforementioned, "Dante XXI" is the group's best record without Max. My only gripe with it is that it's kind of short (only 39 minutes), but, all in all, Sepultura sound very impressive and much improved!

Their finest work in 10 years! This record is a concept record, much like Zao's 'Liberate to ex inferus' about Dante's Divine Comedy, however unlike Zao, Sep stepped it up and made a very technical release. This is most definetly the best Derrick era release, featuring Andreas making some very technical chug patterns in songs like "Dark wood of Error"(has a very dominating Meshuggah-ish style to it) and "Fighting On"(2 of my favorites). The record tends to get more melodic as it continues on, with the lyrics following the passage of each of the 7 layers with songs like "Ostia". Other releases seam like they masked Paulo and Igor's playing, but on this record it's definetly all equal in the mix with Andreas. I can only see good things for the Seps with this record. Forget about who used to be in this band and start focusing on the fact that they are still making great cds. I'm giving this a 4.5

I've been one of the biggest sepultura fans since i was a little kid (now 25)...it was hard seeing Sepultura breaking up with max and everything but there's gotta be a moment where you gotta let things go....and even tho the past 3 albums weren't "great", i always thought that Derrick's voice is really good.
this album without a doubt put sepultura back to that pedestal where the legends gotta go....best album with Derrick and actually one of their best albums in their whole carreer....Arise always will be #1.
trust me the money invested on this album is something you will never regret. an amazing album.....and the production is just fantastic....the guitars are not even this chunky and beefy on the chaos a.d album....you can feel the speakers shaking with the distortion.
P.S: I know nowdays there's drummers that are fast as a lighting and they sound like drum machines....but if there's something about igor's drumming....is that you can feel the soul of this guy in every single note, maybe he's no the fastest....or a blast beat for 30 minutes....but for me....one of the best and most creative drummers ever.

Did you like Roorback? Did you hate Nation? Did you care for Against? Was Roots an abomination?
Regardless of what you answer on these questions, a new Sepultura album always deserves a chance. Sepultura have the strong tendency to evolve within the areas of heavy music. From their death metal beginnings, soon adopting a thrash sound, on to experiencing with more hardcore and some groove, on the edge of nu-metal with Roots, swaying away from that to an underground fusion of metal and hardcore on Against to more experiments with Nation. Shorter, more simple and heavier on Roorback. So what's the next step taken?
I don't like to compare Sepultura's albums to each other because it's virtually impossible due to the difference in genres throughout their career. But if I have to describe Dante XXI in terms of previous Sepultura albums I say this: Take a basis of Chaos AD, add some of the best elements of Nation and Roorback to that, then add some thrash that falls somewhere in between 1991 and 1993: thrashier than Chaos AD, but not really like Arise. When you're thinking that we have a nice mixture here... also add some total fresh new elements - horns and strings on less than half of the songs.
After the intro, Sepultura kick into Dark Wood of Error, and one thing becomes clear: No compromise. In a Meshuggah-ish intro of palm-muted riffs and double-bass kicks it becomes clear that Sepultura are not going to hold back this time. The clear and raw production is a true danger to your ears and the whole album sounds way heavier than Roorback or Nation. After almost two third of the song Dark Wood of Error kicks into some pure thrash. Raging vocals by Derrick Green, who once again expanded his versatilty, sounding different on almost every song, adapting his aggressive (and sometime more or less melodic) roar to the atmosphere of every song. No clean vocals on this disc except for some background vocals to enhance the atmoshpere of darkness.
Next up is Convicted in Life wich is an ideal song to be played live, reminding me of Slave New World when I hear the main riff accompanied by the typical Igor drum pattern. But it doesn't stay there, it goes way faster than anything on Chaos AD (except Biotech, but hey, that's hardcore, not thrash) and after the first two songs we can conclude that Andreas rediscovered the palm-muting technique again.
City of Dis feautures this palm-muted riff with the enormous double-bass under it that reminds of Propaganda. False has this kind of punk-thrash vibe before kicking in to an omnious slow, palm-muted riff accompanied by some dissonant strings. Awesome.
Fighting On begins with a soft intro.. of a few seconds, then a huge and heavy (doomy perhaps) riff enters, and it is clear that Sepultura mean business. No time to rest - we keep fighting on. Literally.
A second intro, this time of classic instuments starts as we enter Purgatory (Yes, we just travelled through Hell, ask your ears), and once Ostia kicks in, you will know that this will be an epic song of unsurpassed magnitude. A great riff by Andreas, while Derrick roars "The Skies Are Open Before Me! The Crowd Of Souls In Sudden Flight!" What an epic. What a heavyness, what a lyrics, what a song. After a middle part of now and then an chord strummed by Andreas, some cellos and a piano (?), the volumes rise again, the main riffs kicks in while Derrick screams "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell!". You know that this is how it's supposed to be done.
Buried Words doesn't let down, especially the chorus, with Derricks rasping (is that a word?) vocals. Another highlight on the album of highlights is Nuclear Seven. A great atmosphere is created by Andreas' riffing and Derricks melodic roars doubled by some very low vocals.
repeating the Horror sees Derrick in the end peforming alone with the drums, he screams at the top of his lungs, higher than we're used to, wich creates an eerie atmposphere that perfectly transmits the title 'Repeating the Horror', not intended to be liked by your ears.
Crown and Miter is a fast song, with Derrick showing his versatality by perfectly adapting his voice to the type of song.
As the last song we have Still Flame, wich is an experiment. Probably not liked by everybody, but hey, it's the last song, let them. Imagine a crossing between Sepultura and Massive Attack, and you got it. Some beats accompanied by the guitar, and in the end also some strings, building it up to an epic end where Derrick roars the song title along before the track suddenly ends at its high point. A perfect show intro as far as I'm concerned. I imagine this as the intro tape, and as it ends Sepultura kick into Dark Wood of Error/Convicted in Life.

Andreas does some kickass leads, rediscoveres palm-muting and churns loads of kickass riffs. Igor holds back on the flashy drumming a bit and gives us some more straight-forward thrash drumming with a lot of double bass throughout the album. Paulo as always puts some accents here and there. And Derrick really shines here. Staying within the boundaries of screaming/roaring he uses a great variety of different types of roars wich absolutely degrades the next metalcore Phil Anslemo or Max Cavalera wannabe to a pile of dust.

All in all..
A great album. Those who don't like Sepultura anymore since Arise or Chaos AD or Roots or Against or Nation or Roorback should all defenitaly try this one, because its once again fresh. More metal, more thrash, better solos, and a bit less simple than Roorback.
An amazing album by Sepultura - featuring some classics that are easily on par with any of the earlier classic songs.

its 2006, and Sepultura has proved to the metal community that they can exist as an entity beyond the confines of one record label or any one person in the band. not many bands can survive after the departure of it's main songwriter. not to mention their independance from their longtime label, Roadrunner records. Andreas, Paulo, and Igor have allowed Sepultura to evolve and have re-created the band into a leaner, more compact metal machine. gone is the Roots era of the band. they've now settled into their own style of music far beyond the mid-90's Max dominated period. to all old-school skeptics: this is an entirely new band. to compare them to what they were 10 years ago is pointless and irelevant. Derrick Green is no longer the rookie of the band. Dante XXI, Sepultura's 4th album with Derrick, shows that he has now cemented his place as an 8 year veteran of the band who now has significant creative input. by the time they get around to their next album, Derrick will have been with the band just as long as Max had been. however, in this age of reunions and comebacks, Sepultura may do a total 180 and welcome Max back into the fold. but only time will tell if old wounds have been healed enough for this to happen.

the only cd of their's i didn't enjoy 100% was "nation" first off. derrick green does not suck and has more vocal range than max did as well as stage presence.period.saying otherwise is not intelligent,however the opinion of some kids.if you haven't read "the divine comedy" please do so you can better understand the feeling behind the songs on this new cd because it's a great work of art in itself to admire! anyways,all the instruments rip it up,the vocals/lyrics are indeed derrick's best and most heartfelt,and it's the best album since "roots"! can't wait for the pits that will erupt for "false" and "crown and miter"!!!!

After Nation, I had grave fears for the direction of this once awesome, mighty band. Although Against was obviously an attempt to forge themselves post max, with some success(Punk is the word here), Nation let me down with an album full of boring tracks, one after another. I was somewhat reluctant to spend my hard earned $$ on roorback when it hit the shelves, but i was more than happy that I did. Although the blistering Sepultura sound still lacked in many areas, this album had style and substance. (Although this view isn't shared after reading many reviews)

Dante XXI is an awesome follow up to a band definately on the improve post Max. Derek seems to have also improved with his vocals over the journey. Much clearer and more defined. Sepultura have added more grunt to go with their ever evolving sound, and this recording has a rounder, more defined feel to it from a band that seem to be climbing out of the shadow of their former self.

I love this album and recommend it highly

Concept albums are usually hit-and-miss for metal bands, so I was a little sceptical when I heard the new Sepultura album was a concept piece based on Dante's Inferno. But first, a word of warning. If you're an old-school diehard elitist who STILL hasn't let go of the fact that Max Cavalera is gone, nothing on this disc will change your mind.

Like any Sepultura fan, I was bummed when Max left, and less-than-impressed with "Against". But the boys from Sao Paulo (by way of Belo Horizonte and now Cleveland) won me back with "Nation" and "Roorback" as Max was collaborating with Fr*d D*rst. Needless to say, I was jonesing to hear a new Sepultura album...

...and I was NOT disappointed with Dante XXI. The ominious cello intro of 'Lost' quickly gives way to 'Dark Wood Of Error'. Twenty years on, and the band can still deliver. Although I DO miss Max's guitar, it's nice to hear more of Paulo. And as for Max's 'replacement', you're dealing with an intelligent, educated man (for more proof, compare Derrick's lyrics with Max's - you can almost picture the Portugese-to-English dictionary used on 'Beneath The Remains') at the helm of a legendary metal band who have had two decades to refine their craft.

Album-wise, there's not a second of filler. On the contrary, I would have loved an extra five minutes or so, but that's my only gripe. This album is the best $35 I've spent all year, and I'd recommend it to ANYONE. If the other post-Max stuff has left you cold, for whatever reason, take a shot on Dante.

Stand out tracks: Ostia, Buried Words, Nuclear Seven