SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SEPULTURA – THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING

SEPULTURA
THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING
NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS

One could not debate the most influential metal bands of all time without Sepultura being mentioned at least once. Having dominated the 90s with albums Chaos A.D. and Roots in particular, the band’s success is undeniable. The résumé and achievements of Sepultura include 14 gold records and live shows in over 80 countries. In 2024, the band announced a farewell tour as they began to wrap up the band’s run. The Cloud of Unknowing, their last EP, is a final farewell to fans and music lovers.

This EP opens with “All Souls Rising,” a punch-to-the-face of a song from the very first note. The drums from Greyson Nekrutman feel like the foundation and focal point of this song, leading the other instruments to their place, and the guitar from Andreas Kisser complements the drums perfectly. In the power ballad “Beyond the Dream,” the vocals from Derrick Green are haunting and beautiful. The instrumentals on this track are played in a way that makes the song feel almost dream-like, leaving the listener with a melancholic feeling.

“Sacred Books” is the only song on the album that feels just shy of perfect. The guitar from Kisser is the most interesting and unique aspect of this song. The piano at the midway point of the song throws the mood of the track entirely off and feels like a rushed way to making an interesting song. The notes played don’t really fit well with Nekrutman’s drums or even Green’s vocals and just feel out of place.

In all, this EP is a very strong farewell for Sepultura fans. The album is well made, and listeners can feel the love that went into the album. Having had such a successful run as a group, this band can now rest knowing that they gave the world a beautiful goodbye EP.

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