The most successful Brazilian heavy metal band of all time, Sepultura has been pushing the boundaries of thrash and death metal for more than 35 years.
∙ Formed in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera, the band chose the name Sepultura (which means “grave” in Portuguese) after translating the lyrics to Motörhead’s “Dancing on Your Grave.”
∙ Once their 1987 LP, Schizophrenia, started to make waves outside of Brazil, US label Roadrunner signed the group to a record deal—before even seeing them perform live.
∙ Sepultura’s 1989 LP, Beneath the Remains, was included in Kerrang!’s list of the 25 Greatest Thrash Metal Albums Ever.
∙ Chaos A.D. and Roots, two of the band’s most celebrated albums, both went Gold in the US, the UK, Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
∙ Following the 1996 departure of Max Cavalera (and his subsequent formation of the group Soulfly), Sepultura added vocalist Derrick Green, who has fronted the band ever since.
∙ The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart, from 2013, reunited the band with Roots producer Ross Robinson and also featured ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo.