A-Lex Review

Released: Jan 26th, 2009
Genre: Groove metal/hardcore
Label: SPV Records
Number Of Tracks: 18
‘A-Lex’ is the work of a tight unit, one that truly knows what it is doing despite any preconceived notions.

Sound:	6
Lyrics:	6
Impression:	6.5
Overall rating:	6.2
Users rating:	6.5
Comments:	54

overall: 8.3

Featured review by: UG Team, on january 30, 2009

Sound: Quite a lot has happened in the last few years regarding Sepultura and their related acts. First of all, in 2006 they released ‘Dante XXI’, their best album in 15 years. Shortly afterwards legendary drummer Igor Cavalera left the band; those who believe Sepultura ‘died’ after original frontman Max Cavalera stormed off certainly lost any remainder of hope. They, however, were given Cavalera Conspiracy, the reunion of the two Cavalera brothers and their none-too-shabby debut, ‘Inflikted’. Thing is though, the Sepultura name lives on and in case you hadn’t noticed they’ve come out with a new album called ‘A-Lex’. It is based on a similar premise to ‘Dante XXI’ – a groove filled hardcore/thrash album intertwined with a concept and some artistic flair; this time it is based on Anthony Burgess’ ‘A Clockwork Orange’. There are some differences but there is one other important parallel to be drawn: it is the work of a tight unit, one that truly knows what it is doing.

The song title ‘Filthy Rot’ does, in many ways, sum up the aesthetic and feel of this album; it’s very dark, very dirty and quite a grotesque beast to get your head around. However, that’s the way Sepultura has always been, so any fan will probably be used to it. The performance of new drummer Jean Dolabella is absolutely crucial to holding the album together, but thankfully he, as Igor did before him, lets the band become so powerful in their chemistry that it doesn’t even matter that we’ve heard most of these riffs many times before. It is so typical of Sepultura for a collection of simplistic, groovy riffs to come together so well on the coattails of a stellar collective performance and, it should be noted, a fantastic production job that brings out the crunchy low-end of Paulo Junior in exquisite fashion. In typical concept album fashion, a lot of songs do not seem completed within themselves; instead segments of this rotten, clockwork fruit are joined together as if they’re the results of a very refined jam, beginning and ending with the transitional ‘A-Lex’ tracks. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: As you may have noticed if you’ve ever owned a good set of ears, Derrick Green is a damn good vocalist. His domineering presence on a Sepultura record is only beaten by his absolute destruction of a live venue. Just as well, then, that he is only clutching your neck proverbially through a set of computer speakers. He is certainly far beyond the point of having anything to prove over his predecessor (though for the record, he is infinitely better than Mr. Cavalera), and it shows on his fifth album for the band. Lyrically though, this one’s a bit of an oddball. A set of lyrics based on ‘A Clockwork Orange’ isn’t too far removed from the agitated ‘Rebel Yell’ politics that often come attached to a Sepultura album. Maybe experts on the novel and Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation will be able to comment on accuracy and loyalty to the concept, but for the less well-read of us I will simply say that these lyrics are an interesting read. // 8

Impression: ‘A-Lex’ does bog down a little towards it's middle, but as always with an album like this there’s that conveniently placed track that absolutely rips your gonads off right when you were thinking that the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) was over; in this case that track is ‘Conform’. Even though the aforementioned grouping of tracks is important to the flow of the album, there are definitely some songs that stand out, namely ‘Strike’, ‘We’ve Lost You’ and, as I said, ‘Conform’. The body of work as a whole though is solid provided you can excuse the peculiar ‘Ludwig Van’, and learn to realise that these four guys play music just as well as anyone who may have preceded them in this band. // 9

- Duncan Geddes aka duncang (c) 2009

overall: 4

Reviewed by: Cyanide86, on january 30, 2009

Sound: It's been a lot of talk about this new Sepultura material A-Lex, specially after Igor Cavalera left, so this is first album with new drummer Jean Dolabella.In several interviews present band members declare that this will be something great, a lot of creativity & good ideas.Well, to me A-Lex was disappointment.The fact is that from year to year every other Sepultura album is worse then previous one.There are just a few ''old'' bands (bands from the 80's) who are still creative, unfortunately Sepultura is not among them.

On this new album, they do have a few good ideas but this is all so idle (unaccented), or not used in the right way.As far as style goes it's the same as always, classical death/groove/trash metal.Through album they have 4 intros called Alex 1, 2, 3 & 4 (and that's another thing which is really ridiculous), I've expected something melodic are even acoustic but ''Alex songs'' sounds like bad improvisation on some rehearsal (except beginning and end of A-Lex 4).When you listen through whole album everything becomes so similar.Similar riffs, lack of melody and constant screaming.

Positive things about A-Lex is super fast ''Moloko Mesto'' which reminds on ''Policia'', a real (short) singing from Derrick Green in "Sadistic Values", and song "Ludwig Van" which is Sepulturas adaption of Ludwig Van Beethoven and sounds very cool. // 4

Lyrics and Singing: A-Lex is based on the 1962 book ''A Clockwork Orange''. The title is a pun on the main character, Alex is Latin for "without law''.Andreas Kisser declare that he is under the influence of Anthony Burgess (writer of ''A Clockwork Orange''), so part of lyrics on this album is based upon Burgess life.The rest of lyrics is classical Sepultura lyrics about hate, pain, agony, suffering, anger, forceful behavior and everything else which is standard in metal. // 4

Impression: Overall, A-Lex has lack of melody, similar riffs, but a few averagely good songs (like "Moloko Mesto","What I Do!","Ludwig Van" and parts of "Sadistic Values" ) makes this album bearable.If you are hardcore Sepultura fan and you like death metal you probably will not be disappointed as I (because the fact is also, album such as this is still better than most other death metal bands).Sepultura which I (long ago) liked is ''Beneath the Remains'' and "Roots Bloody Roots" Sepultura, A-lex is very far from that... // 4

Comments

[Pingis_Or_Death]

If you are hardcore Sepultura fan and you like death metal you probably will not be disappointed as I (because the fact is also, album such as this is still better than most other death metal bands).

I couldn't possibly disagree more. This album is NOT death metal, Sepultura were never death metal and I don't think a death metal fan would enjoy this.

[postmortem2006]

This album is terrible and just a further insult to the Sepultura name.

[farfaraway]

Typical 'it's not real metal so it's not good' review from Cyanide86 there.

[scottishmob]

^actually farfaraway, this was the reason that cyanide86 gave for his rating: "Similar riffs, lack of melody and constant screaming.
He didn't even mention "real metal"! Actually read the review before you post about it.

[AdriKaleya]

I ****ing love this album!

[AdriKaleya]

I ****ing love this album!

[etniesmuzikskat]

Sepultura should have called it quits when Max left.

[webbtje]

I thought this was pretty terrible myself, but good reviews.

If you are hardcore Sepultura fan and you like death metal

Except for that bit. No death metal here.

[goest]

etniesmuzikskat wrote:

Sepultura should have called it quits when Max left.

This.

[The JesterHead]

Are there, like... ANY original members in Sepultura now? :S Everything Sepultura made with Derrick Greene really sucks and I simply don't get anything in the post-Max era... This is NOT Sepultura. Anyone who claims otherwise has probably never heard anything from Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation to Chaos A.D. ...

[Sly Taco]

CHANGE YOUR NAME!!!!
YOU ARE NOT SEPULTURA!!!!!

[vaderbassist]

refuse resist. enough said

The JesterHead wrote:

Are there, like... ANY original members in Sepultura now? :S Everything Sepultura made with Derrick Greene really sucks and I simply don't get anything in the post-Max era... This is NOT Sepultura. Anyone who claims otherwise has probably never heard anything from Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation to Chaos A.D. ...

One original member, one who's been in the band for 22 years, one who's been in the band for 12 years and the new drummer.

I have heard Morbid Visions, Bestial Devastation and Chaos AD. I think A-Lex is better.

[RUSTDOGG666]

Sepultura died when Max left the band. He was Sepultura. Now since we hear all these musicians suing other musicians over riff rights and image rights I think Max should sue the band for keeping the name. After Roots Bloody Roots anything Sepultura puts out is a waste of time, pointless and it sucks. I Refuse to give them the time of day on any recent efforts and I will Resist saying anything is good that they released after Max left. Thats the truth about this band.

[postmortem2006]

I have two words to say to these guys now;

Bestial Devastation. That is all.

[ghost14]

meh I never really liked the post- Max Sepultura but after listening to Dante XXI a few times, it grew on me (don't get me wrong I'm more of a fan of anything up until Roots). A-Lex has the similar sound to Dante XXI. They're both good album's for what they are but they'll never be as good as early Sepultura. But yer I agree they should change their ****ing band name. Plus i don't think Derrick is a great singer, he actually ****ing blows as a singer.

[HelloHalo]

Cavalera's are gone, no hope left.

I'll still listen to Beneath The Remains/Bestial Devastation/Morbid Visions every now and then, but otherwise the band is dead to me.

[karoultd17]

the new sepultura might as well call it quits or a least change their ****ing name to somethings else because this album suck major dick everything is too long and boreing!

[SolidState85]

This album is no surprise to those who have been listening to sepultura throughout the years. Since max left it has been a steady decline (But I did like against)

[nolifetilTHRASH]

One original member, one who's been in the band for 22 years, one who's been in the band for 12 years and the new drummer.

I have heard Morbid Visions, Bestial Devastation and Chaos AD. I think A-Lex is better.

listen to Beneath The Remains and the Arise album
the two best Thrash albums around

[sambargun]

If Max was Sepultura, why does Soulfly suck so bad. It sounds like LInkin Park. Same old lyrics, same old riff played over a double bass blast. To be very honest, Cavalera Conspiracy is not too different. But I really liked Dante XXI. I heard a few songs from this one. To me they sound heavy and the vocals do kick some serious ass. There is something really unique about Derek's vocals compared to the normal thrash/metal vocalists. Its good to see them going full speed ahead. Keep up the good work guys.....

nolifetilTHRASH wrote:

One original member, one who's been in the band for 22 years, one who's been in the band for 12 years and the new drummer.

I have heard Morbid Visions, Bestial Devastation and Chaos AD. I think A-Lex is better.

listen to Beneath The Remains and the Arise album
the two best Thrash albums around

Gee, thanks for the recommendation. I've listened to EVERY Sepultura album and A-Lex ranks as one of my favourites.

Checked.

[postmortem2006]

sambargun wrote:

If Max was Sepultura, why does Soulfly suck so bad. It sounds like LInkin Park. Same old lyrics, same old riff played over a double bass blast. To be very honest, Cavalera Conspiracy is not too different. But I really liked Dante XXI. I heard a few songs from this one. To me they sound heavy and the vocals do kick some serious ass. There is something really unique about Derek's vocals compared to the normal thrash/metal vocalists. Its good to see them going full speed ahead. Keep up the good work guys.....

No, you're just a fanboy. Derrick green is terrible. And if you're comparing SOulfly to Linking Park, then you obviously haven't heard thier last two or three albums. Dark Anges and Conquer are btter than everything Sepultura have done since Max left, so quit the fanboyisms and go listen to Beneath the Remains.

[Reviewer Pete]

Mediocre.

[Siandos.BCRich]

postmortem2006 wrote:

sambargun wrote:

If Max was Sepultura, why does Soulfly suck so bad. It sounds like LInkin Park. Same old lyrics, same old riff played over a double bass blast. To be very honest, Cavalera Conspiracy is not too different. But I really liked Dante XXI. I heard a few songs from this one. To me they sound heavy and the vocals do kick some serious ass. There is something really unique about Derek's vocals compared to the normal thrash/metal vocalists. Its good to see them going full speed ahead. Keep up the good work guys.....

No, you're just a fanboy. Derrick green is terrible. And if you're comparing SOulfly to Linking Park, then you obviously haven't heard thier last two or three albums. Dark Anges and Conquer are btter than everything Sepultura have done since Max left, so quit the fanboyisms and go listen to Beneath the Remains.

shut up man. he's got a point. except the comparing soulfly with linkin park part... yiak... anyway since max left, sepultura maybe generic but they record some decent songs over the years and although max and derrick are very different singers they are both good. and to those that say that max is sepultura, cavalera conspiracy aint that good really... beneath the remains, roots, chaos AD, all fantastic albums but the new stuff is good too

[THEREDiNFLiKTED]

I'm surpirsed no one's metion 'Roots'...
I don't see the point in keeping a name when theres barely any original 'Tura sound in these albums. I don't mind this new album, but it's lost that early 90's grit which Cavalera had!

[BlackSymphony6]

THEREDiNFLiKTED wrote:

I don't see the point in keeping a name when theres barely any original 'Tura sound in these albums.

the point is simply because it helps sell records.

this record is pretty dull, and releasing it under the sepultura name will generate more attention. If it was released under a different name, it would have been largely ignored.

[joe van g]

Without Max Sepultura really was not what they were

[Sanitarium91]

postmortem2006 wrote:

sambargun wrote:

If Max was Sepultura, why does Soulfly suck so bad. It sounds like LInkin Park. Same old lyrics, same old riff played over a double bass blast. To be very honest, Cavalera Conspiracy is not too different. But I really liked Dante XXI. I heard a few songs from this one. To me they sound heavy and the vocals do kick some serious ass. There is something really unique about Derek's vocals compared to the normal thrash/metal vocalists. Its good to see them going full speed ahead. Keep up the good work guys.....

No, you're just a fanboy. Derrick green is terrible. And if you're comparing SOulfly to Linking Park, then you obviously haven't heard thier last two or three albums. Dark Anges and Conquer are btter than everything Sepultura have done since Max left, so quit the fanboyisms and go listen to Beneath the Remains.

Not to be a c**t or anything but look who's talking Posty! You're the biggest Max fanboy I know. I'm not familiar with this album at all really, so I'm not gonna say anything about it, but I'm guessing you've never really given Green any chance (which is not the same thing as liking his vocals). I'm not a fan of groove, especially when we're talking low tunings, so I probably won't like it, but people do have different opinions and there's always the option of them. That is all.

[Sanitarium91]

always the option of *respecting them

[Peres.T.Peanut]

Unnoriginal, repetitive riffs over a boring voice.No substance in this album...I give it a 4. A-Lex is definitly not up to what Sepultura deserves (or deserved).

[huevos]

Just wondering,
How would a white guy say sepultura?
I just wanna hear how it's pronounced. lol

[not_dead_enough]

F**K ALL THE HATERS!!!
It's good to finally see someone else who agrees that Derrick is actually BETTER than Max as a singer (I'll admit - Max is the better songwriter).

[powerhead]

Pretty average album, imo. Not terrible but not good.

[AEnima18]

i bought this on itunes, but i know now after a couple of songs that i'm not gonna want to listen to the rest.

[_velkan]

i see some ignorant people here... There's NO original sepultura members in the actual line up, go study some sepultura bio for a change!

And yes, Sepultura was ONCE playing death metal, in a early stage.

About the album, not bad, not great... not Sepultura IMHO.

[_velkan]

_velkan wrote:

i see some ignorant people here... There's NO original sepultura members in the actual line up, go study some sepultura bio for a change!

And yes, Sepultura was ONCE playing death metal, in a early stage.

About the album, not bad, not great... not Sepultura IMHO.

i know what you guys are going to say "oh, you're the ignorant, Paulo Jr is a original member!"

Wrong. Sepultura suffered plenty of line up changes in the beggining, and they invited Paulo Jr (who in that time did not knew how to play bass) just because his bass guitar was "cool".

Paulo Jr was a member of the first SIGNIFICANT lineup of Sepultura; one that actually released anything. Now get off Wikipedia.

[Vicryl 2.0]

i agree with changing their name. this guys deserves a little more credit now.although ditch the name.i think its whats keeping them being hated all the time.. DANTE XXI is a great record..i have only heard a couple of tracks from A-Lex.so far from what ive heard i like it allot.

i used to hate the line-up after Max left but then came to my senses after i heard Dante. saw them last november. Derrick's voice is far more menacing than Max.

[Azwethinkwedo]

sambargun wrote:

If Max was Sepultura, why does Soulfly suck so bad. It sounds like LInkin Park. Same old lyrics, same old riff played over a double bass blast. To be very honest, Cavalera Conspiracy is not too different. But I really liked Dante XXI. I heard a few songs from this one. To me they sound heavy and the vocals do kick some serious ass. There is something really unique about Derek's vocals compared to the normal thrash/metal vocalists. Its good to see them going full speed ahead. Keep up the good work guys.....

I assume you havnt heard much soulfly then?

their second album, i'll admit was a poor, generic nu-metal album.

but listen to dark ages, it sounds like a completly different band.

huevos wrote:

Just wondering,
How would a white guy say sepultura?
I just wanna hear how it's pronounced. lol

sepple-toora? just how i've heard max say it, with his accent.

[benman7]

I've heard a lot of punk bands doing clockwork style tunes. But this is one of the first times ive heard of a metal band doing it.

[rasveer]

i personally like this album i thought it had some nice stuff in it

[efferus]

I gave it a listen. Meh-ish.

[efferus]

I gave the album a listen. Meh-ish.

[CTFOD]

Pingis_Or_Death wrote:

If you are hardcore Sepultura fan and you like death metal you probably will not be disappointed as I (because the fact is also, album such as this is still better than most other death metal bands).
I couldn't possibly disagree more. This album is NOT death metal, Sepultura were never death metal and I don't think a death metal fan would enjoy this.

Though this album isn't death metal, Bestial Devastation and Morbid Visions were a more classic death metal, then they became thrashier, then they became how they more or less are now.

[Filip413]

Can people please get over the fact that the Cavaleras left the band, shit this was fukn years ago. Enough with the "sepultura died when max left" and "quit using the sepultura name" remarks, for ****s sake this is so old. Cant people simply enjoy Sepultura for what it is now. Im so sick of hearing the same shit over and over again. I really enjoyed this album, Ive listened to it quite a few times and im still not bored of it. People just dont appreciate a good band when they see one and would rather waste time whinging and whining about irrelevant aspects of the bands current situation.

[not_dead_enough]

Filip413 wrote:

Can people please get over the fact that the Cavaleras left the band, shit this was fukn years ago. Enough with the "sepultura died when max left" and "quit using the sepultura name" remarks, for ****s sake this is so old. Cant people simply enjoy Sepultura for what it is now. Im so sick of hearing the same shit over and over again. I really enjoyed this album, Ive listened to it quite a few times and im still not bored of it. People just dont appreciate a good band when they see one and would rather waste time whinging and whining about irrelevant aspects of the bands current situation.

Well said. I mean, it's been Derrick's band for about as long as it was Max's...and one detail people always forget to mention is that MAX DOESN'T MIND THEM USING THE NAME!!! EVEN IF MAX MORALLY 'OWNS' THE NAME HE LETS THEM HAVE IT!

[AEnima18]

anyone else find the production on the vocals on this record to be pretty bad?

[malfeitor665]

etniesmuzikskat wrote:

Sepultura should have called it quits when Max left.

That about sums up my feelings as well...I have not liked anything really to come out of them since he left...though honestly...I haven't liked much of what he's done since either...

I think they only work well together...

[DaMnatioN_696]

This album is so strange, is a involution of Sepultura...Who is the singer of this album? Max Cavalera)I don't think so!

[ozkr80]

This is the BEST album from Arise... Chaos AD was a mix between hardcore and groove. Roots was more hardcore and some nu-metal... But A-LEX comes THRASH - GROOVE & HARDCORE with awesome guitar solos, great vocals, amazing drums and very good basses. It's a powerfull album from the beggining to the end!!!

And for all that don't knows the real face of Max Cavalera:
He uses guitars and amps with the Brazilian flag, and tell to the fans that BRAZIL IS AWESOME and I LOVE BRAZIL. But recently he says to a european magazine that BRAZIL IS THE WORST PLACE IN THE WORLD and I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN BRAZIL ANYMORE... Hmmm, now I ask: if Brazil sucks for Max, Why he uses and abuses the brazilian flag? But I have the answer: Max only uses the brazilian flag cause his fans love that, only for bussiness. He hates the place in that he born and now all of you can understand why Max never comes to Brazil, never plays in Brazil, he plays in another south american countries (Argentina-Chile), except Brazil. And now I ask: USA don't have problems? The answer is simple YES. Drugs, narcotraffic, insane murderers, Madoff, Bush, racism, gangs... So I say if Max says that Brazil sucks, he should make anything for help brazilian people, but I know that he never help us, cause he hate us...

Otherwise, look the Andreas Kisser way. He don't need uses guitars or amps with brazilian flags to show that he loves Brazil. He don't talk, he makes good actions to help Brazilian people. Andreas helped a foundation called MENINOS DO MORUMBI (Children Of Morumbi in english) that works with children, and now he is a part of that foundation...

And like stupid ******* Max says: "Nevertrust - the two-faced" Cause nothing is more two faced that Max!

Last but not least: ¡Kisser ****s Cavaleras!

¡¡¡E SEPULTURA CARALHO!!!

[Sic_Maggot93]

I think the album is pretty good..

[Jester InFlames]

I've only given a deeper listen to songs until We've lost you. And it's great! Very very good. The concept is really ok, to precise it's perfect for me. I didn't listen to sepultura new stuff. +0 A.C.(=cavalera)but when in a review I heard it treats the mechanic orange (or however you say it int the original version)I immediately decided to check out the stuff

[Jester InFlames]

Clockwork Orange sorry

Jester InFlames wrote:

I've only given a deeper listen to songs until We've lost you. And it's great! Very very good. The concept is really ok, to precise it's perfect for me. I didn't listen to sepultura new stuff. +0 A.C.(=cavalera)but when in a review I heard it treats the mechanic orange (or however you say it int the original version)I immediately decided to check out the stuff