Customer Reviews

Nation

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I mean wow..This is easily the biggest surprise thus far for me in 2001. I was expecting a cd akin to Against, good but just lacking and uncomfortable feeling without Max.

Nation finds Sepultura trying not to emulate what they once held with Max Cavalera, which is part of why Against felt so odd to me.It is also a concept album about creating a perfect utopia, at times exciting and full of wonder, and at times frightening to think about the rule of a corrupt government. It is an eye opening and pleasant trip to be on. On the new album, Derrick Green proves he is a far greater vocalist than Max ever was, showcasing his beautiful singing voice on tracks like Water and The Ways of Faith to name a couple. He can also hold his own with Max as far as growling goes-just listen to Revolt or Human Cause. Andreas may not make solos as showy as on older albums, but I personally feel solos can become too cocky or masturbatory if done too showy or too often. On Nation, he does solos that dont take away from the others in the band, only adding more to the song. The rythymic section is intensely strong as well-Paulo creates some pummeling basslines and Igor is still a powerhouse on the kit. The songs are not complex thrash metal like in the days of Arise or Beyond the Remains, but they are GOOD. Songs are strong,with good lyrics and vocals and very talented music to back it. Best songs are Sepulnation, Border Wars, One Man Army, Who Must Die, and Water.

I felt this was one of Sepultura's most stirring albums-they support the belief and need to make a better world, a Utopia if you will, in the lyrics. You can feel that they believe it, in every word and riff and drum kick.

In conclusion, I think this is one of the finest albums by Sepultura to date, Max or not. It is also a high contender for album of the year for me, as it is constantly receiving play. For stirring music, look no further.

This album is Sepultura's best since Chaos A.D. and their most diverse ever, even more diverse than Against (which I also loved). Not to push my opinion on others but if you honestly think that Soulfly's 2 releases are as good as or better than Sepultura's 2 releases without Max...you must enjoy repetitive nu-metal a good deal more than I do. Soulfly has become something of a joke whereas Sepultura have become more diverse and heavier (heavier than Roots, that is...at times at heavy as Chaos A.D.) and more experimental, all of which has added up to two fantastic releases, of which this is the second.

This CD is only 52:25 in length but it seems much longer than that, which is a good thing. There are only two even mediocre songs here, they are tracks 11 and 14 (Politricks and Water); in addition, Reject sounds a bit weak but it's between mediocre and good because of the chorus. The rest of the CD is excellent, within each song it seems as though there's a surprise. Andreas, Igor and at times Derrick are proving themselves to be an outstanding songwriting team.

If I may:

"Sepulnation": kind of cheesy lyrics/title but the main riff is killer and the chorus is devastating. Nice drumming too.
"Revolt": at first I was mad because this song is only about :55 long but it's killer, it and "Human Cause" are the two short thrash songs on this record and they're both great.
"Boarder Wars": sounds like a Chaos A.D. song updated. Nice build to the chorus, which is crazy heavy. Good, good riffage.
"One Man Army": I didn't like this song upon first listen but now I really enjoy it, it's unlike anything Sepultura have ever done before (especially with the clean vocals)
"Vox Populi": GREAT main riff and heavy part toward the end, and a very energetic chorus.
"The Ways Of Faith": This is a good, simple song.
"Uma Cura": A little slow to grab ahold of but good, it's very slow and brooding.
"Who Must Die?": This is the best song on the record. It's so very hardcore, the main riff is so very good, and there are great, soft breakdowns interlaced throughout. Hopefully a concert staple for years to come.
"Saga": Another very heavy song, but the main riff is the same as the intro riff to "Hatred Aside" from Against, however some notes have been taken out. (I could be wrong; this is what it sounds like to me). Very fast and energetic though.
"Tribe To A Nation": I thought this would be mindless reggae and some of the lyrics I don't really like, but the main riff here is very heavy and also very evil. Love it!
Politricks (omitted)
"Human Cause": if one word had to describe this song I would choose "vicious" to be that word. Jamey Jasta (of Hatebreed fame) adds his now-infamous bark of a vocal to the first verse, which sounds killer.
"Reject": Eeh, this is pretty good. It's worth listening to for the start-stop of the chorus.
Water (omitted)
"Valtio": Probably Sepultura's most beautiful song. It's all orchestral and classical guitar and sounds like something from a movie soundtrack. A very moving song and an excellent way to end a CD (and also an excellent way to open their live shows, as they do so with this song).

Overall, one of the best records of 2001, IMO. If you are openminded about music you will probably like this CD, it strikes a rare balance between several different styles of heavy music as well as a lot of softer stuff, too, and little of it sounds out of place. Absolutely worth buying, at least chek it out if you're apprehensive.

That's it. It's okay. Derrick Green does fine, but it's nothing to write home about. Just A Guy, as they say. Seems like Sepultura has trouble writing songs since Max left. There's some nice riffs, and some nice bits here and there, but nothing that really jumps out. Or jumps out, grabs your head and drives it into the wall like, oh, Roots, Chaos AD, Arise, Beneath the Remains...

Okay, I'll say it: Soulfly's better. More energy, more creative, more interesting. I mean, sometimes Soulfly misses the target, but that's because they're aiming higher. I like Sepultura, and I respect that they're not knuckleheads, but it seems like it's just inertia keeping them together.

Rock has a backbone-for most, that means Elvis, the Beatles and, maybe the Rolling Stones. Regardless of who you ask, at least one of those three names will probably pop up. And for good reason.

Metal, too, has a backbone. A central helix. For most, that means Metallica, maybe Megadeth, sometimes that list includes Rush (that's dubious in my mind), but it definitely includes Sepultura. This, too, for good reason.

Re-affirming their place atop this list, Sepultura's new `Nation' (`Sepultura Nation' is the implied moniker) is just the kind of metal to assuage silence. Sepultura doesn't break boundaries, neither do they re-invent anything or break new ground. Instead, they offer what they've always offered-a good, quality, dependable onslaught of sound and distortion. Of riffs exquisite, of rhythmic speed drums, of screams divine. And the occasional `bark.'

Take `One Man Army,' for instance. So alike to Fear Factory's style (they were, however, presupposed by Sepultura), it rips and wanes. Layered by what sounds like a ringing choir tune, it gets interrupted with Derrick Green's growling screams, to a crescendo of barks.

Similarly remarkable is `Vox Populi.' Except, where other songs interject something silent, this one doesn't let up. An open the throttle, slam the hammer down, relentless assault of drums. Yes, drums. Speed drums, that is.

Culminating this CD, and making it eminently buyable for traditional metal fans, is `Valtin.' The entire song is instrumental mixing violins and some other classical instruments with the three piece that is Sepultura.

Brazilian in origin, Sepultura has always delighted metal fans everywhere. The new `Nation' CD does not disappoint.

2001's "Nation" is Sepultura's second album without original band member Max Cavalera, and the first album where substitute singer Derrick Green had a hand in the songwriting. The rhythm section on "Nation" suffers a little bit without Max's second guitar. But, other than that, this is definitely the group's best album with Derrick behind the mic.

Sep's legendary guitarist Andreaas Kisser doesn't play as fast as he used to, but his riffs are still plenty heavy. Plus, as tracks like "Politricks" and "Human Cause" prove, Igor can still make quick and heavy use of his drum set. But, even though most tracks (i.e. "Revolt" and "Reject") plow and thrash straight ahead, this album is still very accessible. Igor also sprinkles on some soft, tribal-sounding, hand percussion (on tracks like "One Man Army," "Saga," and "Water,"), and some drums even have a Caribbean flavor to them. Derrick's vocals are also pretty good; he can growl, bark, and yell powerfully. Thus, since his vocal styles are more multi-faceted, they're arguably better than Max's.

"The Ways Of Faith," which is mainly a slow, spacey ballad, is one of the most memorable tracks, and probably the disc's most accessible one. Other standout tracks are "Sepulnation," which has catchy drum fills and a groove-y main riff, "Uma Cura," which makes good use of the soft-hard dynamic, with restrained verses, "Who Must Die" almost sounds like a Biohazard song at times, and the album closer, "Valtio," is performed by the string-metal band Apocalyptica.

Sepultura may never fully recover from Max Cavalera's departure, and "Nation" isn't a classic--it won't stand up next to albums like "Beneath the Remains" or "Arise." But this album is probably the closest Sepultura will ever come to sounding like the great band that they were in the 1980's. This is essential listening for all Sepultura fans. Give it a try.

This cd is ok. It has some decent songs and Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta makes a guest appearance. Musically , it's great. Igor's beats as always are incredible, and Derreck Green really has an awesome voice. I would probably have liked this more if it didn't have Sepultura's name on it, because it really does not live up to Sepultura's legacy. Guys, give your fans what they want: put aside your differences and get back with Max!!

Oh, one more comment that makes me feel bad for Derreck Green. I saw Sepultura on tour for this album with Hatebreed and Vision of Disorder. Sep comes onstage and almost immediately about half the crowd starts screaming "WE WANT MAX!!" Very disrespectful of Derreck but so true at the same time . . .

This was a pretty descent CD but is lacking in vocals and lyrics. But the music was excellent especially the last track Valtio which was mind blowing it proves that Sepultura can do more than just play four chords and scream. The rest of the CD was what you would expect to here from a band as great as Sepultura the only tracks I didn't like were Sepulnation (stupid lyrics) and Border Wars (sounds to New Metalish). The tracks I did like were One Man Army, The Ways of Faith, Human Cause (Jamey from Hatebreed lays down vocals on this track in my opinion it is the best on the CD), and Water (my second favorite). The rest of the tracks are pretty good but not spectacular in all this CD is worth the money and is a must have for any true Sepultura fan.

Finalmente, após alguns CDs fracos e com a saida do Max, o Sepultura nos presenteia com um CD a sua altura. Com musicas agressivas e politicamente corretas, Igor e cia. nos mostram porque devemos nos orgulhar do Sepultura ser uma banda brasileira.

I don't know what you'd class this as, you can't put a label on it, the bonus tracks Rise above and Annihilation are hardcore punk in disguise. As for the rest of the album it sees the band expanding their musical horizons, Igor explores a more percussive approachon some song and Derrick has finally managed to fill the titanic sized shoes of Max Cavalera. Some tracks here sound like Machine Head meets, sorry guys, Soulfly. There are one or two that are out and out ' we must play faster than Slayer' thrash and Pollitricks is pants I love the Dead Kennedys, but Jello Biafra ruins it. Overall an amazing fierce metal album, great for anyone into Soulfly, Deftones, Tool, Coal Chamber, Machine Head, Will Haven and perhaps Metallica.

My God this album was big shocker. I though when Max was gone Sepultura was gone. I mean against was good but it showed that they lost their metal touch. But Holy S__t they shocked the world with this one.U really gotta hand it to derrick he has improved his voice immensley I mean every trak is really good especially there last track. THe songs that will get u immediately are sepulnation, my saga, who must die, and politricks. I think even the old sepultura fans who r dedicated to Max will like this album. I think Max better watch out because his brother and the rest have made there comeback.