Roadrunner "Against/Nation 2 for 1" - Sepultura

To not acknowledge the post-Max Cavalera Sepultura is to write off a great band in its own right. Could Igor, Andreas and Paolo take up the mantle and do it justice -- yes. In fact, where "Roots" headed off into proto-nu-metallisms (further borne out in Soulfly) "Against" channels the fury of the Seps at the time. With hulking frontman Derrick Green (a controversial choice at the time), the title track opens the record with the intensity of the world's most musically proficient hardcore band. Straight up, it rips!
No denying "Against" has a vibe: "Choke", "Common Bonds" and "Old Earth" are as strong as many tracks from the Seps "classics". Really, "Against" remains perhaps the most overlooked record in the Sepultura catalogue.
"Nation" is the band's ambitious and uneven work to date. From the title track to the absolutely thundering "Border Wars", Sepultura Mach 2 makes an impressive showing here.
However,there's a few tracks where things get fairly strange: one where Jamey Hatebreed shows up to demonstrate his style. On another Brooklyn dub artist Dr. Israel "Tribe To A Nation" attempts a blending of culture conscious dub and extreme metal on "Tribe To A Nation" with less than fantastic result. However, on "Politricks" former Dead Kennedy Jello Biafra scores mightily voice-overing in the role of a greedy, world-enslaving industialist. Haliburton: F.U! Also be sure to note the awesome Sheppard Farey package artwork. It's no coincidence that his artwork was also utilized in the Obama campaign -- build a Nation indeed!
Sure, "Nation" is a mish-mash of ideas. They're largely good ideas.
Both these records are the product of a band finding its feet after a massive lineup shift that would have stopped lesser bands in their tracks.
They prove how deep and bloody Sepultura's roots really go.