Band:	Sepultura
Album:	Arise
Style:	Death metal, Thrash metal
Release date:	March 25, 1991
Guest review by:	Stuart

01. Arise
02. Dead Embryonic Cells
03. Desperate Cry
04. Murder
05. Subtraction
06. Altered State
07. Under Siege (Regnum Irae)
08. Meaningless Movements
09. Infected Voice
10. Orgasmatron [Motörhead cover] [bonus]
11. Intro [bonus]
12. C.I.U. (Criminals In Uniform) [bonus]
13. Desperate Cry [Scott Burns mix version] [bonus]

Sepultura has always had an incredibly straightforward approach to writing music. This is not to say that their music lacks complexities, in fact quite the opposite, but it does mean that their songs are structured in a very accessible manner. This album is no exception as it contains every element you could want from a Thrash Metal album and yet doesn't sound clichéd for a moment. The Death Metal leanings of their previous three full length efforts are far less obvious and on this album they hit the mark perfectly between their earlier style and the tribal feel which would emerge later on in their career.

Max is at his potent best here with his screams of frustration at religion and third world despair and despite his limitations with the English language it actually adds to the songs in hammering home their message through the use of clear and concise phrases lacking any over-complex subtlety.

Igor really comes into his own behind the drum kit on this record and proves that he really is the heartbeat of the band as his unique style does a lot to propel the riffs along. There are numerous breaks throughout the album where the drumming takes centre stage and drives the album forward with complete fluidity. You get the feeling that a few of these riffs were written to the beat rather than the other way around.

Every single song on this album is utter class and stands up alone just as easily as they do in the context of the album. It is not very often you hear a band sounding this tight and it is not only due to the excellent production but because Max and Igor Cavalera have a unique musical understanding of each other like only two brothers who grew up learning music together can share. Over their strong rhythm section Andreas Kisser layers the album with powerful and memorable guitar solos and Paulo Jnr does the necessary in his bass duties.

There are some strange intros to a few of these songs and for the very first time we are exposed to the tribal edge they developed, with the intro to "Altered State", which sounds as though it comes straight out of the jungle.

The song "Arise" has become an anthem and this album will definitely stand test of time. It is one Sepultura's best, if not the best, and its sheer quality gained them a lot of respect in the metal world, it lifted them beyond simply being that pretty good Brazilian band to being just a pretty damn good band.