Customer Reviews

A-LEX

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A great band always writes its best work in face of criticism, and Sepultura proves this with A-Lex.
I started listening to Sepultura in the Derrick Green era. So I can't compare this to the previous work (Max-era), nor do I care for it. What I can say is that each album starting from Roorback has been a step up. Sadastic Values is, I believe, the best song on the album. Clocking in at almost 7 minutes, it is also the longest and consists of two sections. The first part is a brooding and atmospheric piece until Jean Dolabella's drums kick in followed by Andreas' haunting melody. The songs shifts gears at around 3:20 with the double bass and razor sharp riffs leading to the scalding second section of the song. Andreas is just on top of his game here, absolutely superb riffing - superfast with incredible precision. You have to listen to this song to appreciate it. Other stand-outs include "Filthy Rot", "What I Do", "Conform" and "Strike"; but really there isn't a weak song here. This is a concept album and the songs really do justice to the flow of the story.
With regards to personnel, I will miss Iggor, but Jean is just a beast behind the skins. Derrick delivers venom in all his screaming but also hits his high notes perfectly; check out "Forceful Behavior". Guitar work incredible as usual. Overall, well worth the 3 year wait. If you are into the Derrick Green-era Sepultura - you will love this...the best of the lot. Well worth the money.

Sepultura has been out there, pounding our ears for decades now. They may not have achieved fame in America found by more mainstream thrashers, but they have been a heavy metal fan's band for those who respect the noise. Either through Cavalera or Green, Sepultura cannot be denied.

A-lex is not an album made of tracks or singles. Let's face it, this is not the 80s and people in America are not screaming for metal like they used to. The landscape has changed. But this album is solid and worthy of many accolades. It has a cohesive feel to it. Though there are breaks with the titular songs, almost like interludes, there is still a feeling that this album is an album and not a collection of songs.

I liken it to both Arise and Dante XXI, especially the latter. True, both are related to/based on literature, but more importantly, both Dante XXI and A-lex get close to some sort of rock-opera feel. Not cheesy, just thematic.

I like the orchestral, symphonic feel of Ludwig Van. But then I like classical music anyway. Buy it. Enjoy. Like the guys from Kyuss say on Sky Valley, listen without interruption.

This is, to me, possibly Sepultura's most consistent album since "Arise". The songwriting and textures the reach here is AMAZING my friends. I think they couldn't get to that level of strenght in an album again but here we are. If you're a new-comer to Sepultura you would do great starting your collection right here!!! I have liked almost every record by them but when it comes to consistency this album really outstands!!!

Here's something for every Sepultura fan and more than you would expect.
Every song is great, even "Ludwig Van" which I think is very classy, very mature. They should be very proud of that one. The rest of the songs are incredible metal music, straight to the point. "Strike" (listen to that one), "The Experiment", "Metamorphosis", "Sadistic Values", "What I Do!". NEW SEPULTURA CLASSICS RIGHT THERE. Jean Dolabella is one hell of a drummer (listen to final section of "The Treatment" or "Paradox" or "Moloko Mesto")


No time for the stupid whining. "we want max" "max is Sepultura" OMG!!! Please people get a life!!!!!!!! I don't care about Max no more. I'm sick and tired of all the people denigrating Sepultura's work just beacuse Max left more than 12 years ago!!!! COME ON!! GET OVER IT. Period.


How can you be so miserable to deny the great work on the Derrick Green albums?? I challenge you (use the comment section) to listen to "A-Lex" (especially) or "Nation" or "Against" or "Roorback" or "Dante XXI" an tell me objectively that they can't hold up to ANY other Sepultura album. Here, Listen to "Beneath The Remains" and then right after listen to "A-Lex" (in its entirely of course) an tell me the later sucks. I DEAR YOU!!!!

This is a new age for Sepultura. One age that started with "Dante XXI" and continues with this superb album that tops almost every other record from Sepultura. But without a doubt this is better than "Roots" (way more focused) which I think is an extremely overrated.

If like heavy stuff, this will blow you away!!!!!! Classic Sepultura album!!!!

I have an old college roommate (and still a good friend) who is a thrash/speed metal man. During our stint rooming together,there was one day that we sat around drinking a few beers and he broke out Sepultura's Chaos A.D. It was fantastic to say the least. When I'm in the mood for something that makes me feel like I want to drive 100+ mph, Chaos A.D. is quickly in hand. I also bought and listened to Roots but not nearly as much as Chaos. After Roots, Max Cavalera was out of the band and I didn't really follow Sepultura anymore. Oddly enough, I didn't latch on to Max's new bands Soulfly or Cavalera Conspiracy either.

I had heard from my friend that Sepultura really went back to their thrash roots after Max's departure. I'm sure that's true but I'd say with A-Lex they're walking a line somewhere between full-on assualt and the heavy melodic power of Chaos. A-Lex is a concept album based on A Clockwork Orange and I believe it shows through pretty well. A-Lex, by the way, is a modified form of the Latin phrase for "without law" (ab+ lex).

All of the songs titled as "A-Lex" (i.e. I, II, III, and IV) begin with electronic intros, lead into a pounding instrumental, and then transition back out with some electronic sounds. It's almost as if these pieces serve as segues between different portions of a musical storyline and they do so pretty successfully. My only gripe is that the album starts off with one and it was a big of a stutter start to the album. After the first track, "Moloko Mesto" is some blazing thrash. THIS is more of what I expected. The album has a great flow to it. Most of the songs are short and to the point while keeping your blood pumping. The tracks go from thrash to some more melodic metal to a concept song to thrash, etc., etc. When I say more melodic metal, think Pantera's "Walk". The screaming is there. The energy is there. And this ain't no Metallica Black Album. These guys mean business. Then they throw in another "A-Lex" track to remind you that it's a concept album.

There were some songs on here that had a bit of a different feel to them. "Sadistic Values" is the longest song on the album at 6:50 and it has about three minutes of a dark and mellow electronic intro followed by some thrash. "Metamorphosis" seems to have aimed for a much darker sound than many of the other songs. "Filthy Rot" gives you some of those classic Sepultura drums like "Refuse/Resist" did on Chaos. "The Experiment" sounds like it was lifted right off the Chaos album. The only song that really sticks in my side is "Ludwig Van". It has orchestral strings with the occasional guitars thrown in an attempt to make it sould like Beethoven if he wrote for a metal band. My issue is that it ends up sounding more like one of those lame Trans Siberian Orchestra commercials. It flat out bites.

"Ludwig Van" aside, I really like A-Lex even if the title tracks break it up into pieces. I made the comparison earlier in the review and I'll expand on it here. I believe if you take out the "A-Lex" tracks and "Ludwig Van", you have an album that's got a pretty similar feel to Pantera's Far Beyond Driven or The Great Southern Trendkill. You'll see mosh pits in your mind without the music ever getting monotonous in the way that some thrash does. If you liked Chaos A.D. or the Pantera trilogy of Vulgar Display through Trendkill, I'd highly recommend A-Lex to you.

I'm not sure if everyone gets the idea this is the "real" Sepultura, or they just grew up in a different time period than myself. I grew up in the 80's when thrash was fresh and brutal. Sepultura, i would put way ahead of Anthrax and Megadeth anyday, the REAL Sepultura that is. Ever since Maxes departure in 1997 or so, the band has just plain sucked. I have not had the slightest interest in Derrick Greens vocals, and now especially with Igor out the door, they are really horrible. I've tried several times to listen to an album with Green only to just think, this is NOT Sepultura, much like Anthrax without Belladonna, only Max being more valuable because of his awesome voice and guitar playing. Maxes riffs and voice made Sep, and it has never been the same since. Every song on this album, is just slop, and punk sounding fast noise. Where are the creative structures of Chaos A.D and Arise, or the technical speed and brutality of Beneath The Remains. Actually i'll tell you where. Soulfly, since 2005's Dark Ages Max has given a new name to Sepultura, that being the previously stated name. Sepultura should turn over the rights to Max, and let him use the name since you can barely tell the difference anymore. This band should definitely be called something else. Maybe, Green, Jr., Jr.Green, or the Mass Brazilian Derrick Destructor. Anything but Sepultura. So when all is said and done, this album just stinks, and it's nothing but a band trying to keep their head above water, by having little teen kiddy fans who don't know the "real" Sep. That's all. Give it up!

Oddly enough you want Sepultura, with a fresh new sound with a variety of new things? Listen to Soulfly. Dark Ages, Conquer, and Omen. It will take you back to the good ole days. Max Forever, and Igor. And Cavalera Conspiracy isn't half bad either. More like Nailbomb.

Why would anyone who has given with Derrick a listed even question this excellent release. A-Lex is probably my favorite Sepultura release, yes Chaos and Arise w/ Max were also great but I think the newer line-up and the last three releases were heavier, smarter, thoughtful and just a more diverse band then they use to be.

Give this line-up some credit. If you want to hear Max listen to Soulfly.

Ok, so this is going to be quick. If you are still moaning because Max left Sepultura, you are losing some great thrash metal music here. Sepultura is back to their thrash roots on this. Derek is a singing his gutts out, and Jean is a hell of a monster drummer. You will almost forget about Igor.

So, if you are a metal head, do yourself a favor and buy this album.

With Derrick Green maturing nicely as the front man, they have proven they can build on the name, make a truly great tour that was one of the best I have seen. A rather great and complete metal album. Brutal, honest, heavy and addictive.

I've been a Sepultura fan since the days of Arise. I stuck with them through the lineup changes and was wondering how the band would sound after losing Igor. The answer is [...] great! A-Lex is the best thing Sepultura have done since losing Max after Roots. All of the alblums had their merits, but some were a mixed bag and Dante 21 sounded like pieces of songs that were never finished. After the horrendous live alblum (I've got bootlegs that sound way better) I was starting to wonder. A-Lex restored my faith. The alblum is fast and furious. The new drummer seems to have invigorated everyone. Andreas sounds more focused and actually plays some real solos. Derrick has never sounded so good. For those of you who think Cavalera Conspiracy even comes close to this, wake up cuz your [...] dreaming! SEPULTURA!!!!!

gotta be honest, ever since MAX left the band, Sepultura was never the same. But you gotta go with what is, and that would be that this album is the best since ARISE. if you like that album, A-LEX is great. But i admit also, i like SOULFLY but CAVALERA CONSPIRACY meets the expectations of all Sepultura-BNR era. Again, this album is great, so just go buy it, you wont be disapointed.

Now that "Kairos" is out, I can definetely say that Sepultura are getting better, no doubt. the bond among these band members are definetely coming to a great accomplishment. The last two albums are awesome!!!!!!!