Single Slam – Isolation by Sepultura (Quadra)

A band needing no introduction, Sepultura, are back with a new single called Isolation. Isolation will feature makes on the bands new album, Quadra.

Quadra is due out via Nuclear Blast Records on the 7th of February 2020.

Quadra is a concept album. It’s a little confusing, I think, in what exactly the concept is so let’s have guitarist Andreas Kisser explain it and the coin depicted on the album cover:

“Quadra, among other meanings, is the Portuguese word for “sport court” that by definition is a “limited area of land, with regulatory demarcations, where according to a set of rules the game takes place. We all come from different Quadras. The countries, all nations with their borders and traditions; culture, religions, laws, education and a set of rules where life takes place. Our personalities, what we believe, how we live, how we build societies and relationships, all depends on these set of rules that we grew up with. Concepts of creation, gods, death and ethics.”

“Money, we are enslaved by this concept. Who’s poor and who’s rich, that’s how we measure people and material goods. Regardless of your Quadra you need money to survive, the prime rule to play this game called life. Hence the coin. The coin is forged with the senator skull, who represents the set of rules and laws we live by; the world map on his head delimiting the borders of all nations, imaginary lines separating people by concepts of race and the sacred.”

Got it? Good. On to the single, Isolation which was originally debuted live at this years, Rock in Rio.

Isolation is just under 5 minutes long and continues a recent trend of straight up excellent metal from Sepultura. Their last album, 2017’s Machine Messiah was a phenomenal metal record. Based on Isolation, that form is continuing and Quadra could be something really special.

Isolation is a fast and heavy track. It builds in nicely with some drum blasts, a little synth and a little blackened atmospherics with some backing choir and a really full sound. That tails off for a huge introductory roar and explosion of forceful thrash. Banging riffs and speed drums hit you with relentless power. Derrick Green’s vocals have real strength and bite and are delivered at speed. We get a nice chugging instrumental that builds into another atmospheric section that blends a little blackened death into the mix with background chanting mixing into Green’s bark. The solo that follows is great, the second part of the solo brings the choir back in and sees Green hit new depths with a huge growl before we head back to the speedy thrash through to the close.

Isolation is an absolutely cracking metal song. A straightforward thrash song at heart but with a little experimentation here and there. The backing choir is used sparingly but at the right times, the guitar tone occasionally moves towards death metal or even blackened death at times. The choir and guitar solo mixing is brilliantly crafted too. Green’s vocals are strong too with some ear destroying roars in the mix along with his powerful and speedily delivered uncleans. It’s really good!

Isolation is out on all the usual streaming platforms now. No news just yet on preorders but we will bring you that news as soon as it’s available.

Sepultura Links

Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube – Nuclear Blast