Any sizable change is often looked upon in a dim light. However, more often than not, a new, brighter beginning will arise from the ashes in due time. In heavy metal, a change of band members can sometimes become a detriment to the original band’s future success. It can also give a new version or spin-off band created by the departed members a great future of success. Specifically, Sepultura, which was started by Brazilian brothers Max and Igor Cavalera, was such a unique mix of groove, thrash, death, etc. Then once the album “Roots” was made, it added in more of that Brazilian tribal culture into the cocktail, fully embodying that true Sepultura sound.
Max Cavalera’s departure led to his next band, Soulfly, which featured many great musicians as guests on his albums, making a typical stagnant four band members null and void. While Max and Igor both left the Sepultura band early on, starting with Max in 1996 and ten years later with Igor, the remainder of the continuously changing band members still carried on as Sepultura and are still touring to this day. Sepultura managed to get some continued fans and some new ones for the post-Cavalera era. Despite all that, there is only one real Sepultura band, now called Cavalera Conspiracy, featuring the incredibly intuitive dynamic duo Max and his brother Igor Cavalera.
Onto the present life, Max and Igor Cavalera’s latest “Morbid Devastation Tour” tour has just completed a notable American leg in Los Angeles at the Wiltern theater on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023. This tour was supported by California’s death grind heroes Exhumed, and Phoenix-based thrashcore/groove-enhanced band Incite. Opening the Los Angeles show, was local band Thrown Into Exile.
As another band with quite a few member changes over the last ten years or so, Thrown Into Exile has returned to the stage with a stronger-than-ever team. The line up now features their original vocalist Evan Seidlitz who definitely brings back that genuine familial collaborative vibe that original guitarist Mario Rubio always enhances. While always an entertaining time live as a familiar local support name on some large heavy metal tours, this particular show felt like an all over strong performance. The levels of the string instruments were perfect with the crushing vocals, and the drums were not overpowering in a hit you over the head kind of way. There was exuberant hairwhipping and some power punching metalcore to be had that night for sure.
Next up, thrashcore/groove enhanced band Incite brought some great energy to the stage. For those who know the Cavalera family tree, there are now some younger Cavalera dudes hailing some good heavy metal of their own. Incite, led by stepson Richie Cavalera proved to be a very compatible and worthy support band to their elders. As a powerful vocalist, Richie Cavalera also has the youthful agility to jump off high speakers and run around the stage. There was something special about their overall style, but enhancing what makes them their own over their future albums seems the right direction to go in. Being an exceptional musician is only half the battle. Putting a comfortable band family together who is capable of rising to uncharted creative levels is another. Incite is capable of this full package, as is the case with the younger Igor Cavalera who is a part of the band Lody Kong. The future for them is definitely going to be an exciting one.
Meanwhile, the audience was getting feisty as they prepared for Exhumed to blast off the stage with their special brand of death grind. During the previous set which was all before nine in the evening, one metalhead got unwillingly escorted out of the mosh pit by two security guys. Then during Exhumed, the crowd broke into more chaos as they made a 2nd mosh pit on the floor above the pit level. What is exciting about Exhumed is that they have a unique melodic death sound that they will mix with the goregrind which gives them a substance that most grindcore/goregrind bands aren’t able to achieve. Their creative riffs enhance the energy on stage to be more “classy” despite the TV monitors having videos of body parts being pierced and operated on which of course sends out that gore vibe. It’s sometimes a good contradiction that makes it all come together when stirring up different genres into one song. However, their mascot butcher man who came out a few times during their set to add some gore, by bringing a severed head or arm and wielding a chainsaw, was actually a slight distraction from the music. It’s a fun idea, and the character did his role well, but it just seemed slightly unnecessary this time around. Regardless, after a fun “everyone say fuck you!” birthday wish moment to guitarist/vocalist Matt Harvey, they carried on with some raging tunes. Exhumed set fire to the energy of the evening, and they ended their set with a beautiful live rendition of their song “Utter Mutilation Of Your Corpse.”
Just after ten o’ clock in the evening, Cavalera Conspiracy set fire to the stage, in a somewhat literal sense, as the TV monitors were images of flames for a decent portion of the time. They opened with a recording of the Sepultura song “The Curse,” and then battled their way into “Bestial Devastation.” Max Cavalera seems to always be filled with a soulful spirit, even if he’s playing some fast and furious death metal grooves. Despite the previous mentioned conflict between Max and his brother Igor for the ten years they spent apart, which was sparked by a loss of close family due to a car accident, they are still very mentally connected on a musical level. For those who think drummers are replaceable, they really aren’t, when they have what it takes to make the band the best version of itself like no other.
Around thirty minutes into their stacked primarily Sepultura song set-list, they played a recording of “O Fortuna” by Carl Orff which is that ultimate ritualistic dark worship sounding song that makes me picture witches trying to use their magic to destroy everything around them, while they try to escape burning at the stake. This was followed by a somber moment of remembrance for Max’s past deceased family and friends. Spirituality is a hell of a healing drug, and Max has found energy in that to carry on as the heavy metal badass that he is known and loved to be. Ripping through some other heavy weight Sepultura songs like “Necromancer,” “Morbid Visions,” and “Funeral Rites,” the audience was fully engaged. They most likely were thinking what Max said at the end of the set, which is the undeniable fact that the real Sepultura lies with Max and Igor, similarly to how the real Skid Row lies with Sebastian Bach.
Around eleven at night, Max shouted out to the audience “If you want more you have to fucking screeeeeaaaaam!!!” So, of course, that was very effective. For some reason it was interesting to note the different commentary tactics the vocalists of all four bands used to engage the audience. From “Make some fucking noise,” to “Let me hear you scream,” to “Los Angeles, California how we fucking feeling tonight?,” it’s all a slightly different outcome for the fans. One notable fan moment was the dude that got sneakily by the security standing in the front of the pit, making a nice hoist onto the stage, followed by an excited prance across the stage that led him to jump off the other side into an impressive tuck and roll, in which he ended up crowdsurfing on his back. This art was always meant to be crafted in just that way.
Concluding the excitement of the Cavalera Conspiracy set was a Motorhead cover of “Iron Fist” that the Exhumed boys helped out with. Just as the thought of “This is a great cover, and not the typical “Ace Of Spades” song.” entered my head, they ended with a bit of “Ace Of Spades” thrown in for good measure. After “Troops Of Doom” and another version of “Morbid Visions,” the show had finally come to an end. For a final takeaway thought of this heavy as fuck evening, names of bands or members may change, but talented musician blood never sleeps. Any show involving Cavalera is a force to be reckoned with but never missed. Stay metal, and stay real!
