Sepultura are currently hard at work on their new opus, which is estimated to be due for release sometime in October of this year on Nuclear Blast Records. The Brazilian/ American legends have reunited with equally legendary producer Ross Robinson, who previously handled production on their seminal 1996 record ‘Roots’ (their last with vocalist and founding member Max Cavalera) and are tracking their new full-length at Robinson’s Venice (CA) Studio, with Steve Evetts handling co-production duties. Evetts previously worked with the band on 2001’s ‘Nation’, as well as ‘Revolusongs’ in 2002 and ‘Roorback’ in 2003. Andreas Kisser, the band’s hardened six stringer has posted the following update from the studio:
“We are flowing with the recording now, things are going great and we are capturing an amazing performance from Eloy [Casagrande] [drums] , Ross is a master on motivating a musician in the studio, he can find the right words and the right manner to say things, the songs grow so much. Every time we prepare to record a song we, the band and Ross, spend about 30 to 40 minutes talking about the theme of the lyrics, why we wrote what we wrote? They are incredible conversations and doing this we know ourselves better we know and each other better, we build a stronger band, a real unity. When we are ready to record all the ideas are fresh in our heads, with full meaning and strength, a process that making not only a great album but is making this band stronger.”
“We have six songs recorded, [The process] is going in a rate of two songs a day and Ross is also giving important suggestions on some arrangements and directions, he is so sensitive and very close to nature, philosophical but real, very real.”
“We are all together in a very small room playing our hearts out, Ross is jumping and screaming making us explode on the room. All is sweaty and full of energy that you almost can grab it, is amazing. Every time that Ross has an idea he stops everything to try out the changes, 95% of his input we use, it’s a team effort for the better of the song.”
Kisser also gave insight into the working titles of the new record:
“We have 12 songs to record and 2 bonus tracks as I mentioned before, originally we had 13 songs but once we were here we decided to cut one and focus on the 12. I would like to share too some of the working titles for the songs we have. When we write the music, most of the time we don’t have a name for it so we create some nicknames to help us identify the songs, it can come from the style of the songs or anything else that will make us remind the riffs we are working on. For instance, the style of the music can help like Puxada’ (‘Pulling’) that reminds the style of riffing I’m playing on the guitar or ‘Porrada’ (‘Punch’), which is the fastest song on the album. Other nicknames are: Strangiatto,’ ‘Xisto Riff,’ ‘Fu Riff,’ ‘Levada Eloy,’ ‘Balada’, ‘Tsunami’ and ‘The Vatican,’ which is the actual name for the song but started as a nickname ‘cause we wrote the song the very day and time the Argentinian Cardinal Francis was chosen as the new Pope in Rome. It’s one of the most evil lyrics I ever wrote.”
“As we decide the names of the songs I will let you all know here so you all have a feel how these things works.”
It’s not all work, work, work it seems though for the Sepultura boys; apparently bassist Paulo [Xisto Pinto Jr.] has been dusting off his culinary skills when he’s not been laying down the albums low-end:
“Paulo is cooking for us, he’s a very good cook and Eloy’s mom can be sure that he’s eating properly and healthy, all good with the kid but today a friend of Ross will prepare a barbecue for us, it will be cool to give a break to Paulo from the kitchen. At the living room there’s a pinball machine from the 70’s working perfectly, is our favourite pass time. Of course the house stays right at the beach and is always cool to walk around and enjoy the vibe from Venice beach, a nice way to recharge the energy for the recording.”
“It will be a week tomorrow and things are going strong!”
For more updates as they happen you can visit the band’s official Facebook Page.
