Search - Sepultura :: Under a Pale Grey Sky

(Another) one for the ages

A. Stutheit | Denver, CO USA | 12/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even though Sepultura's manager's son had recently passed away from a fatal car accident, the band still demanded she be fired. Unfortunately, she was also married to singer Max Cavalera. So, four months after the death of his wife's son, Max played his last ever show with Sepultura. Roadrunner records released this concert (recorded on two C.D.'s) as a cash-in, of sorts. Sepultura (with new singer Derrick Green) had left the record label in 2001 and Roadrunner wanted to compete with Max's newly formed and successful band, Soulfly. Like most live albums, "Under A Pale Grey Sky," which was recorded at the Brixton Academy in England, is like a greatest hits album (it's composed of the band's best and most popular songs), but it is probably better than any greatest hits album could ever be. A superb vitality and intensity runs throughout these songs, and the album is never monotonous, because it's composed with just the right amount of fast and mid-tempo songs. The crowd noise is at a very controlled minimum; the fans are only audible when the band isn't playing, and when Max trades off singing parts with them (which he does rarely). And there is some post-song banter with the crowd (i.e. "What's up, London?!"), but it never gets in the way of the songs. Andreaas Kisser is still the same iconic, nimble-fingered guitarist that he was on the studio albums, and Max's deep, growly vocals sound tailor made for the band's downtuned riffs and roar. But Sepultura also make room for their innovative acoustic strums and tribal drums (on tracks such as "Itsari," "Attitude," and, of course, "Kaiowas"). The first track, the intro, is worth listening to, so you can hear Max bellow "Greetings!" But "Roots Bloody Roots," the hit single from Sepultura's then new album, "Roots," is the first real song of the album. Its surging, bullying guitars and gnarly yells sound great."Territory" also sounds quite awesome, with churning guitars and pounding, bottom-heavy double bass drumming. Track five is just an interlude, and "Attitude" (which Max dedicates to Dana, his deceased step-son) never really gets off the ground, so, by track nine, you're longing for some fast and brutal song from Sep's first four albums. Luckily, Max asks "Ready for something old?", and the band rocket through renditions of "Troops of Doom" and "Beneath the Remains/Mass Hypnosis." These songs have vicious, blindingly fast guitar work and insane drumming. Two songs later, "Necromancer" is another fast thrasher, with buzzsaw riffs that rip through the listener's speakers. Then for track fourteen, Max and Co. leap forward a decade ("from 1986 to 1996") and play the catchy tune, "Dusted." Aside from track seven, "Attitude," the listener has to wait until the second disc to hear anything off of 1993's "Chaos A.D." album. Fortunately, the wait pays off. "Refuse/Resist" and "Biotech Is Godzilla" are so energetic and bouncy, they're arguably better than the original versions. The mosh pits (during these songs) must have been stupid! Later on, "Arise/Dead Embryonic Cells," "Innerself," and "Policia" are also seething, immensely heavy thrashers with scorching guitar work that sounds made to get the mosh pits swirling (in fact, "Policia," which features a guest cameo by Stryper, is dedicated to "everyone in the mosh pit.") Song number eleven, "Kaiowas," which is a famous staple of Sepultura's live show, is perfectly executed and sounds beautiful (except for an out-of-place, mid-song yell of "Come on London!" from Max). The album (and concert) end on a strong note, however; "Ratamahatta" and "Orgasmatron" (a famous Motorhead cover) are both powerful, heavy rockers. "Under A Pale Grey Sky" does have a few small flaws; Max's voice sounds kind of hoarse on "Spit" (even though the concert just started). Plus, "Born Stubborn" is pretty catchy, but not as catchy as the original, and "Endangered Species" kind of stalls in the middle and drags on for too long. But, as a whole, this is another great, classic Sepultura album that's essential listening. It's primo if you're new to the band and you want a sampler, but it's also great for nostalgic fans. Max will probably never rejoin Sepultura, but "Under A Pale Grey Sky" is an excellent C.D. for remembering his glory days."

Sepultura at his best!!!

Osmelpad | Venezuela | 11/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this double CD three monts ago with no big expectations; "Roots" was a so-so album with weak lyrics and poor production efforts compared to "Chaos AD" and "Arise", of course. When a friend of mine told me that U.A.P.G.S. was mainly based on the Roots album I hesitated a little but listened to it any ways... boy, was I wrong!. This is THE BEST Sepultura album with Max Cavalera and I don't think they could ever regain that kind of power again. If you're a Sepultura fan this is a "must have" album!!"