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Sepultura - Morbid Visions/Bestial Devastation
1991 Roadrunner Records
 Sepultura - Morbid Visions/Bestial Devastation

Track Listing:
1.  Morbid Visions
2.  Mayhem
3.  Troops Of Doom
4.  War
5.  Crucifixion
6.  Show Me The Wrath
7.  Funeral Rites
8.  Empire Of The Damned
9.  The Curse
10. Bestial Devastation
11. Antichrist
12. Necromancer
13. Warriors Of Death

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Max Cavalera
Guitars:  Max Cavalera, Jairo T.
Bass:  Paulo Jr.
Drums:  Igor Cavalera

Website:  sepultura.com.br

Uncle Meat's Rating:  C+
Average Album Rating:  C+

Also be sure to read:
Sepultura - Chaos A.D. by Horatio
Sepultura - Dead Embryonic Cells by Uncle Meat
Sepultura - Roots by Horatio & Shev
Death Metal's Greatest Hits by Horatio
Nativity In Black:  A Tribute To Black Sabbath by Shev
Soulfly - Dark Ages (Max Cavalera) by Horatio

Uncle Meat's Review:
This is not the early ‘90’s Sepultura (Arise).  Putting together Sepultura’s first two releases was a novel idea.  Coming from nowhere (okay, Brazil) must have seamed strange at the time, but the work these guys have put out is outstanding (I haven’t listened to an post-Max Sepultura).  Everything up to Chaos A.D. and even some Roots is excellent.

Sepultura took the fierceness of Slayer and combined it with some Celtic Frost rhythms and their own distaste for their country to forge their vision (this combo would be seen most clearly on Arise and Chaos A.D.).  Being that this is their first couple of releases one can expect certain things:  Production; half-assed song; and no direction.  However Sepultura overcome the faults on Morbid Visions/Bestial Devastation to make some great albums.

Song summaries include...

  1. Morbid Visions - Slayer-like, especially the verse.  The breakdown in the middle is a good way to break up the song.  Vicious vocals from Max.  The outro guitar squeals is annoying.  B-
  2. Mayhem - Another fast number broken up by a slower almost bouncy mid-section.  B-
  3. Troops of Doom - Probably the most famous song from this era Sepultura.  Slow, almost sludgy, followed by some Celtic Frost-esque rhythms.  Again with the squeal lead guitar.  B
  4. War - The only thing saving this track from ruin is the drums.  The middle two minuets could have been cut and this would have been a much better track.  D+
  5. Crucifixion - Not so much squeal on the guitar in this one.  It sounds like he is actually trying to go with an idea.  The middle, with its whammy-bar dives, unholy than hell vocals and bells, is a distraction but short.  C+
  6. Show Me The Wrath - In the vein of Morbid Visions but with out the guitar squeals.  Awesome.  B+
  7. Funeral Rites - The guitar that chimes in at 1:06 kills what is otherwise an outstanding track.  B
  8. Empire Of The Damned - Killer opening riff.  Excellent drumming (with the exception of the pulsating drums 1:37-2:00).  More squealy guitars.  Ok breakdown in the middle.  C
  9. The Curse - 0:39 of wind bells and Satan (ok, some guy who sound like Satan).  Perfect time to grab a drink.  A+
  10. Bestial Devastation - Great all around track.  B
  11. Antichrist - Repeating the word "Antichrist" four times in a row does not a chorus make.  The middle part, right before the solo, is better than the solo it self.  C
  12. Necromancer - I swear I hear Entombed in the opening riff.  This track is absolutely frantic (maybe they needed to be out of the studio).  Jairo really shines on this track.  The Necromancer part in the middle is excellent.  B
  13. Warriors Of Death - The drum intro is an excellent way to start off this track.  Another track where everything comes together.  The vocals and guitars are well done (even the lead guitar).  B-

Uncle Meat's Rating:  C+

Discography (last updated 11.5.05):
Bestial Devastation/Século XX split with Overdose - 1985
Morbid Visions - 1986
Schizophrenia - 1987
Beneath The Remains -1989
Arise - 1991
Arise EP - 1991
Dead Embryonic Cells EP - 1991
Desperate Cry EP - 1991
Morbid Visions & Bestial Devastation - 1991
Under Siege (Regnum Irae) EP - 1991
Third World Posse EP - 1992
Chaos AD - 1993
Refuse/Resist EP - 1993
Territory EP - 1993
Slave New World EP - 1994
Attitude EP - 1996
Natural Born Blasters EP - 1996
Ratamahatta EP - 1996
Roots - 1996
Roots Bloody Roots EP - 1996
The Roots Of Sepultura - 1996
B-Sides - 1997
Blood Rooted - 1997
Procreation Of The Wicked EP - 1997
Against - 1998
Choke EP - 1998
Against EP - 1999
Tribus EP - 1999
Nation - 2001
Revolusongs EP - 2002
Under A Pale Gray Sky - 2002
Roorback - 2003
Live In São Paulo - 2005