Best Sepultura Albums

Sepultura is a Brazilian metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk, industrial music and extreme metal.

They have released eleven studio albums. Their most successful records are Arise (1991), Chaos A.D. (1993), and Roots (1996). They have sold over 3 million units in the USA and almost 20 million worldwide.

Personally, I think they are one the greatest thrash/death/groove metal bands; and the greatest Brazilian band. Also, the 'new' Sepultura (with Derrick Green) is very bad compared with the 'old' Sepultura (with Max Cavalera)
The Top Ten
1 Beneath the Remains

Raw and fast while also displaying stellar musicianship. Schizophrenia and Morbid Visions may be faster, but they lack the same musicianship that Beneath has, while Arise lacks the ferocity, speed, and aggression of Beneath the Remains.

All killer, no filler, unlike Arise, Chaos AD, and Roots. The riffs and drumming in particular stand out on this album. The lyrics serve as a bold statement of individualism and a critique of a hypocritical society.

An album that I'd put as the fourth best thrash metal album of all time, behind Bonded by Blood (#3), Master of Puppets (#2), and Rust in Peace (#1).

Rating: 100/100

2 Arise

Beneath the Remains is a thrash classic, but Arise is the one that got me into Sepultura in the first place. It's the song "Dead Embryonic Cells" and the juicy breakdowns that really do it for me

A great album and a classic in its own right, but definitely not Sepultura's best work. It is not as raw or fast as Beneath the Remains or Schizophrenia, yet it's not as original as Chaos AD or Roots (albeit better than the latter).

Arise is a brutal death-thrash record with elements of groove thrown in. In my opinion, these groove elements are what bring the album down. Whereas the groove is what drives the songs on Chaos AD, on Arise, it slows down the momentum the songs have. Beneath the Remains is superior precisely because it doesn't have as many of these moments.

Essentially, if I want to listen to some early Sepultura, this is not the album I put on first, and if I want to hear groovy Sepultura, I don't put on this album on either.

This album does have some outstanding tracks, including, obviously, Arise, Dead Embryonic Cells, and Desperate Cry, but I also like Under Siege (Regnum Irae) for its originality, and Infected Voice, because it is faster. The album does get a bit bogged down in songs such as Murder, Subtraction, and Meaningless Movements, however.

I'd have to put this as my fourth favorite Sepultura album, with Beneath on top, Schizophrenia second, and Chaos AD third.

Overall rating: 94/100

3 Chaos A.D.

A critical transition between the death-thrash of Arise and the tribal nu-metal of Roots. The best way to describe this album would be tribal thrash mixed with tribal groove.

The album is heavily front-loaded, but this is forgivable because Chaos AD is more about the concept of sticking it to the man than the music itself. That said, I thoroughly enjoy it, even more so than Arise, just because Arise feels a bit redundant in places.

This would be my third-favorite Sepultura album, behind Schizophrenia (second) and Beneath the Remains, Sepultura's magnum opus.

Rating: 95/100

4 Schizophrenia

Inquisition Symphony is worth the price of admission, by itself. Add the crunchiest thrash guitar work of all time in Septic Schizo, and the tantalizing rhythm throughout the record, Schizophrenia is the quintessential Sepultura album.

This is their best album. Wish the sound quality/production didn't sound so awful because the compositions and riffs are the best Sepultura have ever done.

More raw than Beneath the Remains; blends death metal and thrash metal to great effect. My second favorite album by them.

5 Roots

A controversial album, but one that I thoroughly enjoy. Although many claim they sold out on this record, there are no sappy ballads; the songs are heavy as ****, the only difference being that the style is firmly entrenched in groove and nu metal, and the lyrics continued the more political/personal overtones of Chaos AD.

I'm actually glad Sepultura decided to innovate, as I feel like BTR/Arise again would have been a stale affair. This record is what nu-metal should have been: savage vocals, brutal riffs, and wild atonal solos.

Although there is some filler, the best tracks more than make up for it, and the acoustic/tribal stylings are a welcome continuation of Kaiowas.

Rating: 91/100

6 Morbid Visions

Darkest Album. Hail the Spirit of angry Youngsters!

This how Sepultura started,this is how they should be remembered.

7 Dante XXI

It is very boring to see the narrow minded, infantile, HM fanboys just dismissing everything the band have done post Max out of hand. At least give this a chance and LISTEN to it, and THEN if you don't like it, you can leave it alone - no one is forcing it on you. I personally prefer this to any Max era album. If others listen to this, and think that it is not as good as 'old' Sepultura, then that is fair enough. Opinion by definition is very subjective. There is no need for people to act like they are 6 years old. If you don't like it, then at least respect that there are others who do, and who are glad that Sepultura are still going and making albums.

8 Machine Messiah

Dante, Against & The Mediator where really good albums but with this one you can't deny the post Max era anymore. If you are still doing it you are a Dinosaur who deserve to die.

From start to finish, this album just pummles you with great instrumentation, hard shredding riffs, and outstanding vocal. I typically only like Max albums, but wow this really feels amazing to listen to. to all you max-only fans, please give it a try. its absolutely amazing.

"First album of the band that I listened and I am already a die-hard fan of them! "

9 Bestial Devastation

Bestial devastation and morbid visions are the best sepultura albums

10 The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart

This is a very good album. its not the type of music sepultura used to make. but if you like this type of metal sub genre then its nice. the problem with sepultura is tat they are too diversified. a headache for their fans. sometimes trash, sometimes tribal, then groove, then death bla bla bla

The Contenders
11 A-LEX

The best song Sepultura ever wrote: Sadistic Values...
Very consistent album despite unnecessary instrumental cuts.

Prefer this over Kairosand the mediator by a long shot, Much more exciting and rhythmic album.

Better than Kairos, should be on list right behind dante.

12 Against

The Japanese drumming on this is sick, it has a similar raw feeling as Roots.

13 Nation

The best post Max album...check it out again...great album!

14 Roorback

Has my favourite Sepultura song ever 'Apes of God'. A truly ferocious piece of music.

I love this album! Best album since roots!

15 Kairos

The first great Sepultura album with Derrick Green in my opinion.

This album is their best with alex greenem bordering on death metal. Epic!

Riffs on this one are really nice, not my favorite for sure, but one of my favorite albums with Derrick

16 Quadra

Waaay to low! I get the point that the oldschool albums were classics and part of history. But it's just plain ignorance that makes people piss on "new" Sepultura... Best one m/

This one is probably their best since Roots, some really good songs on here

17 Dupla Identidade

This is a very unknown album. Sepultura recorded the soundtrack for a Brazilian T.V. series called "Dupla Identidade" and the album is available on Spotify. It's only 22 minutes long, but it's perfect.

18 SepulQuarta
19 Revolusongs
20 Blood-Rooted
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