CAVALERA
“Schizophrenia”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Cavalera Conspiracy are an American based thrash metal band formed in 2007 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera – possibly better known by many as the founders of the Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura. Emerging in 1984, Sepultura were instrumental in bringing a brand of extreme thrash come death metal to a worldwide audience releasing the bands debut E.P. ‘Bestial Devastation’ in 1985, followed by two genre defining landmark albums – ‘Morbid Visions’ (1986) and ‘Schizophrenia’ (1987)…

…and it’s those three groundbreaking releases that the Cavalera brothers have recently re-recorded and released under the (band) name Cavalera – both ‘Bestial Devastation’ E.P. and ‘Morbid Visions’ emerging in 2023. But it’s the third of Sepultura’s early days trilogy ‘Schizophrenia’, that stands out as the best of the bunch, the bands meld of thrash and death metal spawning a whole new genre.

I was just seventeen when ‘Schizophrenia’ was originally released, my musical direction shaped by the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Helloween, Rage, Metallica, Slayer, and many many more…so when ‘Schizophrenia’ landed on my radar, it smashed it to fucking pieces! The ferocity, aggression and snarling menace was mind-blowing, and to this day ‘Schizophrenia’ still remains as one of my standout releases from the eighties, ranking alongside Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ (1986), Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’ (1986), Dio’s ‘Holy Diver’ (1983), Iron Maiden’s ‘The Number Of The Beast’ (1982), and Motorhead’s iconic ‘No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith’ (1981).

So to say I was looking forward to the re-recorded ‘Schizophrenia’ may just be the biggest understatement of the past decade – maybe longer! And the band don’t disappoint either, Cavalera’s ‘Schizophrenia’ retaining the raw energy, blistering speed and brutal savagery of the original – Max and Igor quite possibly, improving upon one of the greatest thrash come death metal releases ever! Even the album cover has been revisioned, restored in hand painted watercolours by artist and illustrator Eliran Kantor (known worldwide for creating album covers for metal bands such as Exodus, Hatebreed, Helloween, Testament, and Soulfly to name just a few), who has managed to make it look more terrifying than the ’87 original!

Cavalera’s ‘Schizophrenia’ features the line-up of Max on vocals and rhythm guitar, Igor on drums and percussion, Travis Stone (Pig Destroyer) on lead guitar, and Max’s son Igor Amadeus Cavalera (Go Ahead And Die) on bass – the band roaring through every song on offer with top level aggression, menace and brutality! Not to mention the insanely high head bang ability, the albums intensity higher than Mount fucking Everest! “schizophrenia” may mean (among other meanings) “losing touch with reality via delusions and hallucinations”, but it ain’t no delusion or hallucination that one of the greatest thrash metal albums of all time has been re-recorded and improved upon – as from the past comes a piece of history, ‘Schizophrenia’ (by Cavalera) making just as big an impact today as it did when Sepultura released the original thirty seven years ago.

Overall, ‘Schizophrenia’ is a must listen for every thrash and death metal fan, Cavalera re-recording and improving upon one of metals greatest albums.

TRACKLIST

Intro (Sepultura cover)
From The Past Comes The Storms (Sepultura cover)
To The Wall (Sepultura cover)
Escape To The Void (Sepultura cover)
Inquisition Symphony (Sepultura cover)
Screams Behind The Shadows (Sepultura cover)
Septic Schizo (Sepultura cover)
The Abyss (Sepultura cover)
R.I.P. (Rest In Pain) (Sepultura cover)
Nightmares Of Delirium (new, never before released)

https://www.cavaleraconspiracy.net/
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