Last year, the Cavalera brothers released re-recordings of Sepultura’s EP “Bestial Devastation” and debut album “Morbid Visions.” Now, they are back with a re-recording of Sepultura’s second studio album, “Schizophrenia,” originally released in 1987. “Schizophrenia” is widely recognized as a thrash metal classic, delivering relentless aggression from start to finish with killer guitar riffs, ferocious drumming, and the distinctive vocals of Max Cavalera.
The decision to re-record such a classic album has raised many questions, primarily: What is the point? Isn’t the original good enough? Do we need this? First, I see this as a way for the Cavalera brothers to reclaim what was once theirs. After all, their name and music were more or less stolen from them, particularly from Max Cavalera, who was fired in 1996 from Sepultura. The firing of their frontman, vocalist, songwriter, and creative force might be considered one of the most foolish decisions in the history of metal. The Cavaleras not only came up with the band’s name and logo, but they also wrote the music. However, that is not the only reason to re-record this album, as the re-recordings are actually quite good.
The re-recorded tracks retain the original’s feel but benefit from good production values. Listeners will notice some differences between the original and the re-recording, with small changes that work well. “Troops of Doom” was already re-recorded for the 1990 release of “Schizophrenia,” which had a much wider distribution than the first press since it also came out on Roadrunner Records. Many fans regard the song as part of the album even though it was originally on “Morbid Visions.” However, the Cavaleras re-recorded the song for “Morbid Visions” last year, so there was no point in doing it again. Instead, it has been replaced by “Nightmares of Delirium,” a brand-new song from the brothers.
Songs like “R.I.P. (Rest in Pain),” “Septic Schizo,” and “Screams Behind the Shadows” benefit greatly from the re-recording, sounding much better with the updated production. The Cavalera brothers have successfully revitalized “Schizophrenia,” creating an elevated product that is likely to attract a new generation of listeners. And more importantly, the recordings now belong to their own band. And you must admire Max Cavalera for his relentless force within metal.
Released June 21st, 2024 on Nuclear Blast.
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