CAVALERA

Bestial Devastation / Morbid Visions (Nuclear Blast)

Most musicians would baulk at the thought of re-recording albums they made whilst 13 and 14 years old, choosing to bury that stuff forever. But most musicians aren’t the Cavalera brothers: founder members of Brazilian extreme metal pioneers Sepultura, Max and Iggor Cavalera’s influence on heavy music needs no further embellishment from the likes of me. Bestial Devastation and Morbid Visions were Sepultura’s first two releases – respectively a 1985 EP and 1986 album – and whilst the duo, neither of whom have been Sepultura members since the mid-00s, don’t need to go back and re-record these, a 2023 overhaul proves a superb move.

The product of teens brought up on a steady diet of Hellhammer and Discharge, both Bestial Devastation and Morbid Visions’ venomous riffing and accompanying vicious thrash beats showed just what the Calaveras were capable of, even at that young age. Nearly 40 years later, they can tune their guitars and keep a steady beat, meaning songs like Troops Of Doom can finally realise their full potential. The finished result isn’t a million miles away from recent Cavalera Conspiracy outings – bringing the brothers full circle, and serving as a reminder that nobody does heavy like Cavalera.

words CHRIS ANDREWS