Sepultura @ Birmingham Institute – 2nd February 2014
It’s been many years since Sepultura played Birmingham, and it’s ironic that these founders of thrash metal are playing on a Sunday (day of rest) in a venue called the Library based in the Institute.
It’s also odd that the venue is not packed, and a rough guess would be 300 are here.
At 9.30 the lights dim, a waft of dry ice and intro music while the band take to the stage. There have been several line-up changes over the years with only bassist Paulo Jr remaining a constant, and of course Andreas Kisser a long serving member from the late eighties. Founder Max Calalera left in 1997 to be replaced by current vocalist Derrick Green, whose energy knows no bounds and during the set he never stands still once. Opening with ‘Trauma of War’ and then ‘The Vatican’, both from last years album “The mediator between head and hands must be the heart” which this tour is to support, however it’s the classics that really get the crowd going, and shouting for more.
The sound is huge, and even with earplugs very loud, touching 100 decibels (yes I did check) but this may be due to the venue size and design. It also may be why some of the lighting was blinding at times and very dark at others, to the degree you couldn’t really see what was going on.
Tribute is paid to Birmingham and its metal roots and heritage, accompanied by short guitar bursts of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest from Mr Kisser.
The superb New Model Army song “The Hunt” is a particular favourite of mine, and whilst keeping to the original also adds without destroying. It’d be very easy for a metal band to completely re-work the song.
Merchandise is the usual affair, £20-25 for a T-shirt, and some vinyl, sadly not signed.
Support tonight is by a band called Primitai, who also had some discs for sale, but arriving late I missed a lot of their set so I’m not able to comment.
Whilst “thrash” “speed” or whatever you wish to call Sepultura’s style is not to everyone’s taste, I’m still puzzled why thep place was not packed, indeed why they were playing such a small venue, given the ticket price being less than £18 and when other bands, who will remain nameless, sell-out bigger venues in town. Yes there have been some line-up changes, but the body of work remains, and was so influential that to hear it live (as it should be) should see folks queuing up.
The encore of Ratamhatta and Roots Bloody Roots couldn’t be bettered, the perfect ending.
They’ve been away too long.
Welcome back!
Setlist:
Trauma Of War
The Vatican
Propaganda
Kairos
Impending Doom
Manipulation Of Tragedy
Convicted In Life
Dusted
The Age Of The Atheist
Dead Embryonic Cells
Biotech Is Godzilla
The Hunt
Da Lama Ao Caos
Inner Self
Territory
Refuse/Resist
Arise
______
Ratamhatta
Roots Bloody Roots
Review – Glenn Raybone
Photos – Katja Ogrin