Arise

I still don't like thrash. There were a few moments that I kind of liked, and then they thrashed over the top of it.

metal

I do not understand how anyone over the age of 15 can think this is a good thing to listen to. I couldn't make it through a single track. I guess they pass the "sing from the heart test" but it just doesn't hold any enjoyment for me.

Not my favorite album but I have respect for it. Cats love toys set to these beats. Cats might be more metal than we think.

This album does what it's meant to do very well! It's thrashy, boasts some great guitar playing a drumming, and delivers on the heaviness the genre is known for. My main gripe is that the album was pretty monotonous. It was all energy all the time, which got stagnant for me. It's clear why this album is respected the way it is amongst heavy metal fans, and I agree with their sentiment even if it wasn't my own cup of tea.

As far as metal goes for me, pretty interesting. My problem with the genre at large is its lack of versatility - all sounds the same to me. But it still slapped during my morning workout Highlights: CIU

2.5 rounded up to 3. Good thrash. No memorable songs.

A very high three

Not as bad as I was expecting.

This is very much not my jam

Of the early banger Sepultura albums, this is the cream of the crop. Furious thrash that hits just right. Favorite track: Altered State

I didn’t like this one. Not sure I’m qualified to comment on it, but I couldn’t wait for it to be done. Favorite song: they bled together and nothing stood out as enjoyable

It was fine, but not for me

Maybe it's not a bad album per se, I'm just not really into metal

They now their instruments well, but it's basic thrash metal most of the time. That genre is for the most part just not my cup of tea.

Es difícil hacer que el thrash metal suene del todo bien, el chiste del género es que es sucio y fuerte pero creo que sepultura en este album logra hacer todo eso y aparte sonar bien

1.5/5 I don't mind some thrash metal every now and then but a whole album is a bit too much for me. I'm probably a bit harsh with my rating but it's not an album I'll revisit. Maybe a couple of songs.

Good

Not my taste, would go for nine inch nails or tool sounds.

TWICE IN A ROW! ARE YOU SERIOUS? The only positive thing I can say about this album is that it’s shorter than the other one.

Gute Songs, aber ein ganzes Thrash-Album am Stück ist schwierig

UGH, only SLIGHTLY better than the Brazilian HEAVY

Ugh. Would the "singer" just stop already?! The percussion was good. Man, that was a long hour but I persevered. 💪🤕

death thrash bad. ugly sounds. music only ok but same same same. turned off.

Rage and anger so encapsulated in the songs that you just want more

Arise - 5/5 Dead Embryonic Cells - 5/5 Desperate Cry - 5/5 Murder - 4/5 Subtraction - 4/5 Altered State - 4/5 Under Siege (Regnum Irae) - 4/5 Meaningless Movements - 4/5 Infected Voice - 4/5 Average score: 4.4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ basically Brazilian Metallica. i'm not as into metal as i used to be so maybe my opinion matters less here. it's still a pretty good album tho

An unhappy start to the day

It's like a parody of itself. I have no wish to suffer this album again.

I didn’t know this band when it came out, about two years after my metal phase. It is good, old-fashioned speed metal. Well-played too, not just speed for the sake of it. Definitely a fan

It’s very cool that my brother knows the current singer of this band- Derrick Green- but speed/death metal is not my thing. I love punk and screamo and post-hardcore stuff but I just can’t access heavy metal. So I can’t really review this fairly…

This is a classic album by one of Brazils best. I really enjoyed it.

06/04/2026 Pretty decent way to start my bank holiday. I'll take it. Spotify listeners: 2.3 million

If you like your thrash a little more heavy, little more sinister and less introverted, look no further. Feels influential for a lot awesome newer bands like Trivium. Good to see some of the heavier stuff on this list.

I wasn’t expecting trash metal today but I’m not mad about it.

It's thrash metal.... I can't tell if it's good or not but it's interesting.

This is hard hitting thrash and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It sets the stage for what Sepultura would ultimately evolve in to by the time Roots came out, which I think is much more relevant to this list than this album. I think the more primitive thrash songs aren't as good as the stuff that indicates the depth of their talent, specifically Desperate Cry, which is really great. The instruments are all super tight and the voice, while grating, fits the music. This is a genre that most people are not going to be in to, which explains the low rating, but it really is a great example of this specific type of metal/hardcore. I hope Roots has a higher rating because that's a real classic.

Do we really need two Sepultura albums on this list.

This one left me cold - a pretty forgettable album

Apologies to any death metal fans but this really does all sound the same…. Was a chore to get through….

Liked this more than I thought I would. Appreciated the low end vocals and guitar and relative tightness/discipline of the songwriting.

Oooohhhhh dear…dreadful stuff if easily the best of the metal albums so far, one star.

Arise is a well-structured and powerful metal album, however, I don’t find many emotional hooks. It feels more focused on precision and intensity than on atmosphere or emotion.

First couple songs hit pretty hard before it started sounding ‘samey’ to me (which I’m sure it isn’t, but I don’t have metal ears. I would give it another listen or cherry pick some songs.

Amazing album! It combines thrash metal with groove metal and other genres. Max Cavalera's vocals add all the more reason to love this album. It's an amazing album! One of my favorite metal albums. This is truly an underrated masterpiece!

I'm not usually a fan of metal, but I kind of liked this. I'm not sure what differentiated it from other albums in the genre that I've found painful though.

Still sounds good!

3.5 - The other music they have playing at Mary’s. Sounds like a cross between Metallica and slayer.

With that voice, I can't take this seriously 😭. Every time I hear those low growls I just can't help but laugh in a way that makes me enjoy the album a bit more. As with this kind of metal, I feel like I've heard this sound in some online parody, but have never intentionally listened to thrash/death metal. Even the name of the genre sounds scary. "Arise" sounds like the broodier twin of that Megadeth record I listened to a few weeks ago. Now gaining more metal experience thanks to this generator, the guitar riffs are what I really like the most about this genre. When they match the drum beat, that's *chef's kiss*. (3.5-4)

Chugga chugga growl wiggly wiggly chugga chugga growl...repeat ad nauseum

Arise entstand im Morrisound Recording Studio in Tampa, Florida, und markiert für die brasilianische Band Sepultura einen klaren Entwicklungsschritt. Die Produktion ist präzise und trocken, was den aggressiven Charakter der Stücke unterstützt. Stilistisch bewegt sich das Album im Thrash Metal, mit deutlichen Death-Metal-Anleihen, ohne die Strukturen aus den Augen zu verlieren. Zu den bekanntesten und prägenden Songs zählen der Titeltrack „Arise“, „Dead Embryonic Cells“ und „Desperate Cry“. Inhaltlich und musikalisch wirkt das Album geschlossen, die Band spielt fokussiert und mit hohem Tempo, ohne überladen zu klingen. „Insgesamt ist Arise ein konsequent umgesetztes Album, das Sepulturas internationale Bedeutung festigte und auch heute noch nachvollziehbar funktioniert – in meinen Ohren erzeugt es eher Tinnitus und anhaltende Kopfschmerzen.“

landmark metal

Easily ….

4 out of 5. From the album art to the music this fuckin' shreds.

I'm not a big fan of death metal so I did not like this album

Whenever someone does that vocal style I’m already out. It just sounds so cheesy like the lame kid trying to appear tough with fingerless gloves. Guitars flew by me without an effect. Tribal drumming is the only thing I can latch onto but it’s too late at that point. Rating: 1.2

79/1001 🇧🇷🤘 Oh yes! Seeing Sepultura live at Donnington in 1994, aged 16 was one of the most thrilling things i have ever witnessed. They literally turned the site into a field of flailing limbs. My mind was blown and their music never ceases to give me goosebumps. The 2 albums that followed Arise are the ones that i come back to so it felt really fresh to hear these songs again. From start to finish, this is an aural assault and it really get the adrenaline racing. Igor Cavalera absolutely pounds the life out of his drumkit, whilst his brother Max's vocals are from the deepest recesses of hell! Best Tracks: Desparate Cry, Altered State, Arise

Just not for me

I don’t have the death in me

Death metal is not for me. Did not finish.

let's give heavy metal another shot. hope it's better than slayer. and it better be in portuguese so much for heavy metal in portuguese. it's fine? i dunno. not my jam not my peanut butter not my sandwich i'll give it a 2/5 because i care not to think about further and will not listen again.

After I listened to the album it was like I just smashed my head on concrete because all I could taste was metal.

Absolutely not for me. It escapes me why anyone would gain enjoyment from something that sounds like ‘an angry man throwing tools at a urinal while reading the book of revelations’. It escapes a one by virtue of some good musicianship, the drumming stands out. And I actually The highlight for me was Orgasmatron which had a bit of melody to it and then I realised it’s a Motörhead cover. I liked Roots when it came up too. Oh well

fuckn AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! when i listen to this it makes me so crazy i even bang my head a little aha

People actually choose to listen to this intentionally?! To call this crap is an insult to crap.

Arise 3.4 Dead Embryonic Cells 3.5 Desperate Cry 3.3 Murder 3.5 Subtraction 3.3 Altered State 3.5 Under Siege (Regnum Irae) 3.6 Meaningless Movements 3.3 Infected Voice 3 Score: 3.377777778

While technically good, with it's frenetic guitar and drums, the vocals are not my taste

1.5

Got blessed today. What can I even say… this is one of the best works from the Cavalera era. A true thrash/death metal gem. The album is pure aggression from start to finish, but it’s not just noise—it has purpose. Rebellious energy, heavy riffs, and surprisingly deep themes and lyrics running through it. Everything feels sharp, focused, and alive. Honestly, this is a 0 skip album. Every track hits, and I can’t even pick a favorite—they all stand their ground.

tout le temps le même son dommage car c'est bon en vrai

franchement pas mal

Très sympa de bon matin.

2,5

Great early 90’s metal album

I just didn’t feel it. It’s OK? But Sepultura are supposed to be this genre-bending influential metal band, and I just didn’t ever feel like I was listening to something transcendent. It was fine, but forgettable.

Nootttt for me. I’d call this horse shit, but I’d hate to offend horse shit.

This is a very good thrash metal record. A genre I'm not particularly into but know enough to appreciate. That said, it's really just a straight up tribute to early Metallica, Slayer and Maiden. So why did I need to hear this particular record on top of the ones from those seminal acts? Because these guys are Brazilian? Sadly, not one iota of Brazilian influence here. Solid record, though

Would be great if they had a singer.

Not sure I have much love for thrash, after having heard a few on this list. Fun fast metal with dumb lyrics. There is a lot of variety on these tracks. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? No Owned: No 59/236 (24%) Will I get: No

Music isn't bad, even though I don't like speed metal. Voice is awful.

Nice to see some metal on here. it's been a while. Not a bad album at all, but not really a relaxing album that I'd put on regularly, however I did enjoy listening!

No thank you. It's actually well produced and seems good bybthe standards of its genre, but there's no freakin way. Uh uh. Yuck.

Just, no. Zero

100% no.

It's just unfair, man. You have these guys honing their craft for years, getting their double bass kicks straight as a line, their screeches pitch perfect to a pterodactyl and their songs full of odd twists and turns... and still, upon hearing all that, my auditory system will simply filter all of it into a single blob of noise - 'metal noise', even. I love punk, I love noise rock, yet when I hear this style of metal, I am instantly transformed into some poor old-timer, waving his stick and screaming "it's all just noise!". These guys deserve a better audience than me, and as such I'll do them the honour of never listening to this again.

Really impressive album. Loved the guitar work and heavy melodies throughout the whole album.

Early Metallica but a lot heavier and without the catchy tunes. Didn't love the singing style, liked a lot of the guitar tone. Just felt it could have done with some catchier tunes.

Absolutely brutal that there is a second album from this band on the list. This is just as bad as the last one.

71/100. This is a really solid thrash record that hits you with a ton of intensity right from the start. It is super consistent with its heavy material.

Just wasn’t for me.

Love it! 5/5

fav songs: arise riff-driven, punchy, intense 40/100

don't like this style of yell singing, but music is alright. super cringey edgelord lyrical stuff

As an early fan of thrash metal I remember when Sepultura broke through with Beneath The Remains and we were all eagerly waiting for the follow up Arise to come out. Unfortunately I was not able to get deep with this album back then. I think the problem was the production as everything sounds so compressed and flat. Since the production didn’t breathe, all these great songs just went over my head in a big mid-range wash. The songs here are great. It’s pretty much the pinnacle of Sepultura’s thrash metal era. I would say that there’s a progressive element here in just the sheer amount of riffs displayed here. I also forgot about some of the industrial touches in some of the intros which were well placed. This is probably one of, if not, the last great thrash metal album that was made in that era. It’s great to see this album on this list and also to see that they included Roots which is a different sounding but no less important album. It really is too bad that there aren’t albums by other great thrash metal bands on this list as there are many awesome recordings out there. If Sepultura gets to have the two then Slayer and Anthrax also deserve to have at least one more each. Then there’s all the other great albums by Death, Carcass, Testament, Exodus, Flotsam and Jetsam, Death Angel, Kreator, Coroner, etc…

Spare a few unique time signatures and interesting riffs, most of this listened as pretty standard thrash metal. Interesting to hear some Brazilian metal, though. 3/5

Standard thrash metal. Kind of Metallica adjacent but I didnt really enjoy the vocals. Instrumentation was fine though.

2/3. Not my thing, but it was good gym music I guess. Drummer is off the charts though.

Trash metal : )

I did not like this at all

decent metal album some really good songs

woah guys I think I like metal, actually enjoyed this a decent bit more than I thought i would. the instrumentals are really cool

Primeira vez ouvindo Sepultura, curti bastante, vou voltar mais nesse album.

I was surprised at how much liked this album as Sepultura largely passed me by back in the day. It holds its own against other thrash of the era; musically it's tight and interesting, with songs whose tempo move up and down through the gears like good thrash does. Case in point at roughly 4 minutes into 'Dead Embryonic Cells'. Only point of personal preference is that I prefer a cleaner, sharper vocal like James Hetfield's rather than this throaty, sludgy style. These days I would listen only occasionally, and in small doses but good nonetheless. Notable: 'Altered State', 'Orgasmatron', 'C.I.U.'. Subsequently listened to Caos A.D. which, as others have pointed out, is arguably better.

Some old school metal! Was wondering if I was going to get a metal album!

Yes, Brazilian heavy metal is a thing, but it’s not always my thing.

Oh I forgot to rate this after listening to it. Well, nothing much to say here. It was definetly an album I have ever listened. I think it was somewhere around the third song I started looking around if anything was going to change but the album sounded the same all the way through, not my cup of tea.

I'm listening via YouTube music and the first 2 tracks played with music videos, and I honestly just found the combination of music and video comedic. "Arise" featured a guy being crucified, while wearing a gas mask, overlaid in various ways with flames. It just tried so hard to be edgy that it gave me the opposite impression. "Dead Embryonic Cells" had basically the same vibe, but when the singer yelled "NO HOPE FOR CURE" I got this image in my head of a caveman, and then I kept giggling throughout the song at the angry caveman. The fact the whole band have really long hair and stand there whipping it about or having it dangling over their faces while they lean over their guitars... I don't know... how do you take this seriously. Anyway, moving on from the videos... I can't stop being amused by angry caveman. I misheard the lyrics of "Murder" as "same hand that feeds birds" and I was really confused why he was so angry about someone feeding birds. Had to look up the actual lyrics. As for actual critique, every track sounds the same; it's just fast-paced drums, repetitive guitar powerchords, and angry caveman shouting nonsense over the top - there's not enough difference between the tracks. I don't hate it, but I also really don't see the appeal. I find the lyrics pretty cringe, which is also why I can't stand a lot of the classic metal bands that people rave about, despite actually quite enjoying metal in general.

I think album does a great job of demonstrating why I dislike thrash metal. It's incredibly monotonous. I think some of the riffs are cool I just wish they weren't the same chord over and over. Vocals are samey throughout even if I quite like his style. I've never got on with *just* harsh vocals. Some wanky guitar solos here and there Despite all this I think they have a certain groove which I fundamentally vibe with. Very high 2

*1991. Brazilian heavy metal. *If you told me this was Metallica, I would believe you (up until the vocals - which are more Brazilian Rammstein). *This was pretty melodic and accessible for metal. *I actually like it. RATING - 7/10

Great metal, I just can’t stand the vocals in this stuff.

I love to indulge in some metal, and I've been looking to expand my horizons, so this album was a great listen for me. There's so much energy in these songs, and so many cool riffs, drum parts, guitar leads, etc. It was nice to hear the punk influences that clearly shaped the sound of many of these tracks. That is to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this, and I'll definitely be returning. Favorites: Altered State, Under Seige (Regnum Irae), Meaningless Movements

Finally get a metal record on this thing. Shout out to my middle school friend Stuart who was a big Sepultura fan and held fast in calling most other non-metal music shit. Hope you're doing alright, man.

It was ok! Not my favourite album on the list, but it had some good songs Didn't enjoy this as much as Roots though 3 ⭐️

The origin of life for death metal, and still goes hard as all hell to this day.

Like the drumming and the instrumentals. I can only consume metal in small doses, though.

Jesus, someone give this dude a throat lozenge!

Сепультура без бразильских корней - говно

I do like a bit of Brazilian death metal.

Relax, guy. It’s all a bit silly. And not Sepultura’s best.

I enjoyed this at the beginning, the problem is that most of the album stayed inside that one sound.

Not into hard rock anymore

WOWWWWWW SOOO GOOD

I liek a lot

Wow! Not the music I would necessarily associate with Brazil, but that’s what makes this list enjoyable. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to listening to this when I read what sort of music it was but man these guys can play, singing leaves a bit to be desired but far more fun than ever imagined.

Woah. And not in a good way.

At one point I took off my headphones to talk to someone and forgot to pause the album. It was utterly impossible for me to figure out where I left off.

Good drum fills throughout (those are what make or break a metal album in my opinion) Vocals weren't totally inaudible. I didn't feel the urge to skip any track. 3/5 won't listen to again

Screaming is not music

Better then expected

Yeah, I don't think death metal is my thing. This is not demonic shit like Slayer, but it's a Brazilian dude yelling over hard beats and frequent switch-ups. I can understand that appeal a bit more, but the structure and execution of death metal is just too much for me to process. I can only do 30 seconds of it before I find myself lost on another planet with a tempo change and atonal guitar solo. Hey, I mean these guys are putting little tribal elements into the mix, but it's not enough for me to want to listen to this again (4/10, 2/5 on this scale)

Don’t know this kind of metal music well at all. Generally dislike it, so would avoid it. We’ll see. Oh boy. This guy is growling. Do not like. These lyrics are garbage too. There is a track titled Murder. Is this supposed to be cool or edgy or angry or something? A guy with a chain wallet somewhere loves this album though. Don’t like his voice. The guitar solos are the only thing worth a damn here and they’re not worth the price of admission. Not for me. I’m sure there’s talent here, but this style of music with such miserable lyrics is just as far from my style or anything I would enjoy. That being said, I understand the inclusion of an album like this on this list. To show a genre of music if this is the best version of that. Just can’t enjoy it. 1 for me.

This was rad. Just a really good metal album. Definitely a different style compared to Roots. Favorite songs were Dead Embryonic Cells, Desperate Cry, and Altered State.

I am typically not one to enjoy Thrash Metal, at the very least not nearly as much as most of the "extreme" metal genres, but I think Arise as about as good as I can expect out of the genre. Is it because it strays away from most Thrash formulas in favor of a more Death-esque sound in many aspects, no doubt thanks to Scott Burns? Yeah, probably. Enough about my hatred for Thrash Metal, this album rips. For how extreme and visceral the album is, it never comes off as cheesy or performative. The riffs are next-level brutal, on par with Human, substituting technicality with heaviness and groove. The vocals are a little James Hetfield but a tad darker and harsher, in a good way. In general the production on this album is massive, destructive, and in all ways amazing. Arise doesn't do anything extremely progressive or groundbreaking, only harnesses the best parts of each metal sub-genre at the time to create an apocalyptic amalgam not unlike the one on the cover.

Oh dear. Cheerful bunch aren’t they? Turgid.

A find it hard to be subjective and difficult to judge some of these albums. Do I hate all heavy metal, no. Did I enjoy this album, no.

People actually listen to this for enjoyment?

Not my favourite genre, but this was very good

Pretty boring. Speed of drumming is impressive but nothing really happens. Bland.

Taattua brasilian thrashmetallia. Suosikkejani oli ”Murder” ja ”Under Siege (Regnum Irae). Levyllä myös hyvä Motörhead-cover ”Orgasmatron”.

Great album. High energy Standout songs: Dead Embryonic Cells Subtraction

Got to song 2 in the studio and had to retreat

FUCK YEAH MOTHERFUCKER

Sepultura operating at maximum efficiency

Sepultura- I like the crab monster on the cover art. I was more familiar with their album Roots that had more of a slower groove nu- metal style. This is way more thrash which is cool but not what the band does best I don’t think. Some cool riffs and some really cool drumming with all the double kick stuff and crazy fills. I don’t know if it’s the mix, but feels like it should be heavier/thicker sounding maybe more bass or it’s the snare sound. Wish they had a more versatile vocalist. I like these kind of grunty vocals every once in a while like in a bridge but I don’t think they give enough melody to the music.

This was cool, i enjoyed listening but didnt feel super memorable. I wish it felt heavier, riffs were good but not great. Felt kind of derivative and not sure why its on the list.

The drums sound like garbage and the vocals are too similar.

Wuatafak la bateria tan limpesita, pero me lastiman las guitarras tan filosas xd , la portada esta perrita

Not for me thanks!!!

Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.

Shit mix A little creative at times Mostly not that creative Repetitive In my opinion Feel like the band could be pretty good with proper execution and a mix that doesn't sound like cardboard

Thrash metal is angry. Groundbreaking as florals for spring.

Is this good? Maybe for this style of music. Not for general listening.

no thx

not even the best album with a mangled crab on its cover (the mollusk by ween)

Seemed repetitive and uninspiring.

Maybe it was just the mood I was in, maybe this album is better than most other metal albums I’ve heard on this list so far, but really not that bad.

Boah, bin ja Metal Fan aber dieses Album war schwer auszuhalten

gar nicht mein Ding, ist für mich nur Geschreie. Das Instrumentale ist nicht so schlecht.

Ne, das war zuviel für mich. Hätte ich vielleicht als Teenager gemocht.

Thrash metal. Arise sounds like a Metallica/Slayer copycat. It's decent but not groundbreaking? There is a bit of the industrial in there too, but very little. Altered State has a nice atmospheric intro. Shame it just ends and isnt incorporated into the main track. Best track - Desperate Cry, Altered State 3 stars

Not my type of music

I had never heard this album! Pretty solid, classic metal!

I was so busy moshing I accidentally tried on the cat. They definitely have the riffs - and whilst it isn't my favourite metal album (or metal sub-genre) it's good to see some of the heavy stuff represented on this list.

that was supposed to be for this one giving this a 5 simply to see if i can goad rob into listening to the opening 40 seconds

9/10 03.02.2026

Peak late 80's early 90's heavy/death metal. First time listening to a record by these guys, but I've heard of them before. Has a ton of similarities to the Big 4 (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer.) Solos are ripping, drums? Shoutout to the drummer for laying down the tempo I mean good lord. Vocals aren't my favorite when it comes to metal. good riffs and drums. The acoustic riff from Desperate Cry is one of my favorites. Solid heavy metal album. 7/10

Meh

amazing, Sepultura always kick ass and i cant wait to see them in 2026

tracks i liked: jasco, ratamahatta

heavy. visceral. angry. in your face.

Blind album and artist. Brazilian Death Metal? I guess I won't be listening to this very much in the future.

Absolutely not my scene, but I got almost half way through without having the urge to switch to something else, so that's a good sign, I guess?

Could enjoy the music itself but death metal vocals are too abrasive for me

I believe the ideal album in the subgenre of hellish thrash metal is Slayer's Raining Blood. Sepultura sounds undoubtedly monolithic, uncompromising, and devastating, but the runtime is a bit too long, so 4 out of 5.

who knew that i was missing Brazilian heavy metal in my life

I was just griping yesterday that metal didn’t have a strong presence in this project, and then Sepultura’s Arise popped up. Ask and you shall receive, I guess. I really got into Chaos AD and Roots in highschool, but never sat down with this one. It’s pretty solid, though a bit more of a thrash vibe than those other records. Thankfully, they’re really good at what they do. I still prefer those other two records, but Arise is pretty legit. 4/5

Sepultura sounds like what Metallica would sound like if they were good

I think I like metal now

I found 'Arise' far more enjoyable than Sepultura’s previous entry on this list. It leans into a more straightforward early ’90s thrash metal sound, which made it a much easier listen overall. I was still a bit worn out by the end, but nowhere near as drained as I was with 'Roots,' where the vocals really started to wear on me. The vocal approach here is slightly less guttural, and the classic metal guitar riffs are sharp, effective, and consistently on point. That said, there isn’t a ton of range across its 46-minute runtime, so it ultimately settles at a solid 3.5 out of 5. It teased the possibility of a full 4 early on, but just doesn’t quite get there.

This is right in the pocket for 16yo me. Though I was aware of Sepultura back then, I just never got into them. Listening to this now, I know I would have loved it. Now that 52yo me has listened to it, I still dig it. This is straightforward thrash metal and is fucking great. Having said that I really preferred the tribal rhythms that were interwoven throughout their Roots album more than this.

Disclaimer: this is not at all in my genre wheelhouse so I have no thrash metal listening experience to compare this to. While I do find some of the instrumentals to have a really satisfying groove to them, especially in good headphones, but the vocals are just unbearable. I appreciate something this new to me though and found myself often head-nodding to it, oddly decent work music.

The playing is amazing(hence the 3 stars), but I just can't get past the lyrics and the vocals of this genre

Hated it

Not a fan. Couldn’t tell most of the songs apart.

too metallica

Compared to the other thrash classics on this list, Master of Puppets & Rust in Peace, this one is really lacking in the production department. It often sounds muddy, and a couple of the songs could have used one more pass to add some more interesting arrangements. Still brutal and awesome, with an incredible opening trio of songs.

OMG! Hell yes!! It's not often a heavy metal album comes through here. This will be a treat! The riffs in Dead Embryonic Cells are sick!! Fuck that was a sweet album! 5 stars!!

pas mon style habituel mais j’ai bien aimé

Really wanted to love this, because the music itself is perfectly fine. But I REALLY hate the singers voice. I saw another reviewer describe it as sounding like cookie monster and sadly that sums it up really well. Also some of the lyrics are kinda cringe. 3/5 I guess?

I don’t listen to this genera of music often, but I think what makes an album a classic is if it sounds like what I could hear today.

good, not my favorite, but good

I just really can't do it with these metal vocalists I'm sorry

This, like Roots from earlier in the Proj, was right on the cusp or what I find palatable with metal. And it came down on the right side of the line I think. The shouting vocal are offset nicely by really good and interesting guitar work and suitably ferocious drumming. Is it the right music for a sunbed? No, it makes you feel absolutely psychotic. But still, who doesn't want that?

Some tracks are too long without doing much but Sepultura is a goated thrash band

Foundational, heavy and driving, maintained momentum through the album

Ahh, okay. Some serious grooves here, but it's just so relentless that for me, it wears out its welcome quickly, and the vocals are definitely not my style. I like my metal more melodic. Still, this is solid, even if I'll probably never listen to it again. Like the intro to Altered States was bad-ass, but then . . . oh well.

It's a good album, but slightly too long and repetitive.

im sorry I can't

Some solid thrash

Good riffs, but an overall boring listening experience. I'm aware that Sepultura has better records, though I do not consider myself a fan.

I have nothing against this kind of music. I just can’t tell when it’s supposed to be good.

Totally get why it's here, just doesn't do anything for me.

1,4/5

Good album The band is really good but the singer/songwriting could be better 6.5/10 3.8/5 best: Altered State Worst: Under Siege

Brutal just how I like it!

Totally not my thing. 3 stars because I can’t judge if it’s bad or good.

I'm not a metalhead, but I appreciate metal. I know not everyone does, so for that reason I can't claim you must hear this before you die, for which reason I can't give this a 5. That said, this definitely got my head bangin', so it'd have to be a 4 from me.

Not for the early morning I had

banger

Very good metal album. I wish Sepultura leaned more into their groove sound over the thrash blast beats in the songs, but that comes down to my own enjoyment of the former significantly more. This is a very good album with plenty of raw energy and lots to headbang to. Top tracks: Dead Embryonic Cells, Desperate Cry, Altered State

Sepultura's fourth studio album 'Arise' is an arrestingly chaotic journey through a doom-laden landscape, articulated via a suitably apocalyptic lyrical lexicon to match. Riotous and bleak laments at the state of the world are par for the course here: human nature and all its ills, oppressive totalitarian systems, and religious impropriety are dissected and lambasted in equal measure here by both songwriters, lead singer Max Calavera and lead guitarist Andreas Kisser alike, bulleting their sepulchral takes across the canvas like the last days of Sodom sent for the MoMA. The title track establishes a portentous mode, erupting from the bowels of some otherworldly dimension into a meaty, muscled thrash number for the ages. 'Altered State' rides a parallel track with the production on the haunting intro evoking a looming jungle storm that suddenly caves into alternating brash punk phrases and tumbling hardcore breakdowns. The record doesn't lose much steam across the body of its nine core tracks. The groove shifts are a little less stark and thrilling on the final two tracks, 'Meaningless Movements' and 'Infected Voice', but Kisser's guitar solo at around the two-and-a-half minute mark on the latter track is as bloodthirsty as any other he delivers on this album. Overall, 'Arise' is an austere yet sizeable demonstration of dynamism and cohesion, each track walking a barbed-wire tightrope to the meter of Igor Calavera's rumbling freight-train drums. A morbid, nihilistic polemic brimming with anti-religious and anti-political messaging would be a hard pill to swallow for anyone, but the depth and breadth of vision in the uncompromising and passionate production offers up a lot to appreciate if one can look past the album's gory and sinister exterior.

Not my fave but interesting

morose

While I'm really glad there are people out there exploring these areas of music, its not a genre that I can listen to for more than a few minutes at a time!

Trash

Не помню, слушал ли альбом раньше. Запись меня захватила. Мощный и вдохновляющий треш.

Just alright. Leans into a level of incoherent that while high octane, wasn't engaging.

If you can handle metal this is some pretty freakin good metal.

Heavy Metal

ultra ultra

There are some cool things here. People tend to go straight polarization with country and metal. They either make it their identity or thumb their nose completely and disengage. There is a place for both in the musical continuum but they do had more distinct times and places than some other more traditionally “mainstream” genres. I’ve gotten better at being open to listening and engaging lately. But I still have to do it on my own the wife and kids ain’t here for the Brazilian metal…

I had really low expectations for an album that contains songs called “Dead Embryonic Cells” and “Orgasmatron,” but this really wasn’t that bad.

Metal is such a rapidly changing genre from decade to decade, and sometimes even year to year. The artists who stick it out and evolve are keynote. As a youth I always enjoyed Sepultura as noted in my last review of Roots. But it is really engaging and exciting to listen to this album that predates the grunge nu metal sound and shines a light on the pure unadulterated Thrash metal sound. A tough listen for those with weak ears. As my buddy mike said "Turn the good shit up. Yerrr".

Later stuff is what I dig more

2/10 - waaaaay too heavy metal, like death metal, not for me

Genuinely one of the greatest metal albums of all time. It’s so solid, it has brief atmospheric moments that never overstay their welcome, which always give way to super powerful and booming guitar riffs. Genuinely if you like metal I couldn’t imagine how you could have any problems with this album it’s just so perfect. It has variety without helps cause it never feels stagnant, but it also feels like it never deviates from the metal genre which is truly impressive. Honestly my “hot take” on Sepultura is that this is their best album, I know the consensus is that their best album is “Roots” but I’m so underwhelmed by that album. THIS is the best album by them for my money.

Fav: Desperate Cry Least Fav: Arise Yeah I think death metal just isn’t for me. I can tell they’re talented tho so it’s not them it’s me

no me gustan estos albumes

Metal is one of my favourite genres but I never listened to Sepultra much. I love instrumentals on this album but vocals are not really my thing.

Tja, dat is metal

Erittäin armoton rässilevy jossa kivalla tavalla jo vähän kuuluu muukin kun täysin länkkärikulttuuri ja -asenne 4/5

Ei ihan oma genre mutta onhan se kovaa ajoa!

This album clearly was groundbreaking for its time, and it's pretty fun to listen to. But a bit repetitive. Some fun singing and little flourishes here and there.

Nice metal album for a workout

3.6

instrumentally good monotonous can't stand the vocals

I had another album from these guys about their Brazilian roots, and I said the metal was the worst part. This was all metal. 3/10

I don't really like thrash sorry. Boring wall of noise, cringy vocals. I'm fine with hearing some local band sound like this but can't bring myself to listen to this kind of bullshit at home in my own time

What an awful album; I found really no distinction between the tracks; an annoying compilation of noise that assuredly leaves the listener with a pounding headache.

Excellent album with good tracks from top to bottom. My first time listening to Sepultura and I’m now a fan.

2.5/5 - I think this is probably good for what it, but just doesn't work for me

It’s a little rough around the edges, but I really appreciated the rhythm, especially the double bass parts.

Didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I do. Not totally for me, but I didn’t hate this and wouldn’t mind hearing this again! Don’t know much about the genre, but this sounds like pretty solid metal to me.

not a fan

23/12/2025 1. arise - dramatic start..... more visceral scott giger vibes from art and continuing with fleshy electronic sounds. liking so far. guitar just started and i do not like metal i am not in for a good hour. this is what i feared when i had to listen to iron maiden. the lyrics are nice ig but the music is not my thing at all, can appreciate the guitar at times though :) 2. dead embryonic cells - the intros are great, even if i don't like the rest lol. even though the music isn't my thing, it still sounds good. will never like metal vocals though. lyrics kind of emo..... 3. desperate cry - loving the intro again. doesn't immediately start with banging guitar!!! just started now. drums are great at the start, as well as the guitar. literally cannot hear the bass though :( this is probably really great for people who like metal, but i don't know how i'm going to get through an hour of this. 4. murder - all of these songs sound basically the same to me. to me, this is just angrier emo music, which i also don't like..... 5. subtraction - found out about halfway through this song that it's 40 mins without bonus tracks, cannot wait for it to end sooner. oh my god i can hear the bass. guitar just started again halfway through typing that. 6. altered state - wind at the start reminds me of threads or eraserhead. again, cannot fault the intros, but don't like the majority of the song. liking the echoing on the vocals. ending was nice :) 7. under siege (regnim irae) - quieter start, liking it so far. drums kicked in, bit loud but better than the rest of the album. guitar just got loud again, but slower than all of the other songs. lyrics are nicer. loving the effect on the vocals again. still not my thing, but enjoying it (more than i can say for the other songs). liking the slower, more distorted verses, like a more energetic swans, but the rest of it sounds the same. 8. meaningless movements - liking the screeching guitar parts. nothing else to say. cannot wait for this album to be over. 9. infected voice - thank god i'm onto the last song. this is probably a really great album if you like metal but i just don't. some of the intros were nice before it started with the constant noise. all of the songs just blended into one another. even though i haven't enjoyed it at all, i can understand why people who are into metal would like it, which is why it's getting two stars and not one lol. if i had to pick a favourite, it would be under seige, but i did not enjoy listening to it. will be immediately clearing my brain with 60s pop.

Heavy AF. Strangely my infant daughter loved listening with me.

This record slays. The chord progressions are awesome and the music flat out rocks. Love the energy and tempo throughout and it kept my attention the entire time. A true metal record.

Seems ok for angry rage music.

ABSOLUTE CINEMA 🔥🔥

Boring. Somehow.

511/1001

Fucking incredible record. Don't know how I've never heard this one before. Raw, angry, focused and INTENSE. 10/5 on this one.

Seems the best thing going for this album is how crisp and clean it sounds for a metal album from the early 90's. The material itself? It took it's toll on me. But I'm soooo out of my depth with metal, so I can recognize how this may have been an important record in it's day. I don't have a favorite song or a least favorite song, as it all kinda blends together. Let's go with a strong 2/5 on this one

Dude

I’m not a fan of Heavy Metal. I could not wait for this album to be over so I could listen to something else.

Always bummed out that I just kinda of missed Sepultura growing up even though I was into Soulfly. This album has a more raw and angry feel than a lot of the thrash and metal from the early 90s.

Was not expecting to like this but I was low-key vibing

152/1089 i’m just not a metal fan really in general and thrash metal is no more accessible… That said i did enjoy some of the music, mainly bits with no vocals because the kind of vocal on this album just doesn’t resonate with me. faves: Desperate Cry (scott burns mix + original), C.I.U. 47/100

Drums: chopsticks played on a damp pizza box Vocals: recorded while straining on the toilet Bass: what bass? Guitar: pretty sick

Not really a Metalhead, but I do listen to metal sometimes. Didn't really turn this one up but still have it a good listen. Arise, Dead Embryonic Cells and Desperate Cry is a brilliant start to this album. You can immediately hear how influential Sepultura's sound is through listening to the first few songs. Altered State is a other good one, the quality of music remains pretty high throughput the whole album. There's some nice experimental-ish sections, too. Honestly this album is better than many Iron Maiden or Slayer albums.

Blah metal

Sepultura is the band Metallica wish they were

Never been a fan. They were top quality at what they did, but just not my thing.

I hate giving these metal albums low ratings. They are probably really good metal albums. I just don't like most metal.

I'll echo what I said about the slayer album the other day: you know what you're getting into with this one and none of it is very surprising. That being said, I did enjoy this album more than the Slayer album, there were some pretty interesting tracks. Probably not quite enough to warrant an extra star, but close. The album art is cool. Favorite track: either "Murder" or the "Desperate Cry" alternate mix

it's like I enjoy it but just not quite as much as I think I should Will I listen to again: 83%

3.5/5

Amazing musicianship to say the least. No song really made me take notice and headbang as I thought they might.

Not a huge fan so far. I think it all kinda blends together, which is fine I guess, but none of the songs are really memorable so far. Not bad, just not especially interesting.

Give how much classic Metal albums were being released at the time, the inclusion of this one in particular seem a bit random. It's not like the book ever strays from the more mainstream accepted (and anglocentric) metal. Not really my thing, but a welcome inclusion. Key tracks: Arise

I have been known to like metal but I find this sort of thrash quite unengaging to listen to. Very technically proficient but not doing much for me.

Some nice guitar rifts. Definitely a hard driving thumping energy. Songs sound too similar though.

I remember standing in the record store trying to decide between buying Arise or Roxette’s Joyride. I ended up buying Joyride but I have only vague memories of the tracks it contained (other than the title track). All of Arise’s tracks I still know by heart after all these years because luckily my friend Thomas dubbed me a tape and thanks to him I‘ve been revisiting one of the most formative records of my entire life today.

I always like these albums for the first couple songs, then I just get so bored of it and my head starts to hurt. Little something called variety never hurt anyone but I guess that’s besides the point for artists like this

I have tried to get into metal and haven’t yet succeeded

Original review: "Top metal album! A lot of influences can be heard. Was the perfect anthem for my Friday." It's not Friday this time, it's Wednesday. Much needed to give me a kick to get through the rest of the week! Obviously still a 5.

Yup I still hate metal

These dudes chug and doom.

Not my jam.

This is the 2nd album by this band on this list. And I wasn’t a fan of the first one. There has to be thousands no, millions of more deserving albums to be on this list.

I feel like thrash metal is a genre that is only meant to be enjoyed in person in the middle of a massive mosh pit. In album form it really just all starts to sound the same and drag after the third song. While I haven't been to a thrash concert before, I've been in a lot of pits at hardcore shows and I love the vibe. Just not an album I must hear.

It my style

This thing has some of the nastiest riffs I've ever heard in metal, but the album tries to make the riffs the main part of the song rather than a building block of the song, and the rest of the song feel a bit half-assed and in some cases unengaging.

When I think about Sepultura, I only think of Roots, I feel that album is kind of universally agreed upon in the heavy metal community as 'the' hardcore Brazilian metal project. When I'm in the mood I like to put it on, it's probably been some 6+ years in all honesty, but it's a near perfect soundtrack to Latin rage. This album art is a bit better than that of Roots, it also strongly and accurately represents the energy of the project. Nightmare fuel, the only reference I had before giving this my first listen. I felt straight up thrash metal, very little Latin or Native American influence, although it's mentioned there, it's like adding a pinch of salt to a large cauldron of noise stew. They're not even practicing their native tongue at all, it was a little confusing to me how US based it sounds. Now, on the thrash side of things, very impressive. I've heard Megadeth albums that have felt less rugged and powerful. I'm sure I'll be coming back to this, maybe even more frequently than I visit Roots. 4/5

Some Ok songs, can get a bit repetitive at times.

Krass. Das muss ich also hören bevor ich sterbe? Dann hoffe ich, dass ich nie sterbe.

Love the energetic, frenetic drumming often found in these metal albums, the almost overstimulating nature seems to calm me for some reason. Metal really feels like the most maximalist music, really cramming as much drum into every fill, as much guitar riff into every solo, and as much scream into every vocal. Musically, I really enjoy this. Lyrically, it’s alright, sometimes it’s a bit too much. Also, sometimes metal singers sound like Cookie Monster to me and that’s pretty funny. Anyways, I’m adding this to my workout repertoire.

I hadn't listened to metal, like real metal in a long time. This was fun to throw back to. I had never listened to this album or artist before.

Doesn't sound dated which was nice, but not a fan of the amount of screaming.

decisamente ghiozzo

Swap this one for Chaos A.D. and it's a win!

Seems a fine example of a deep heavy thrash record (to my untrained ears.) Personally though, I enjoyed it most when it stepped away from the thrash tropes a little bit in tracks like meaningless movements. Would have also liked to hear more bass - I guess it's tightly sticking to the root notes of the guitar lines but I was struggling to make it out for most of the record.

Det här är inte min grej, men jag kan förstå varför metalheadsen gillar det. Gillar inte heller den rätt platta mixen, känns töntigt och inte hårt/tungt. Imponerad av mig själv att jag tog mig igenom detta tidigt en bakissöndag. En del gitarrgrejer rätt snygga, säkert roligt att lira på guitar hero lol

Pangskiva! En av sepulturas bästa. Dead embryonic cells är en perfekt thrashlåt - dubbeltramp, groovepartier och ett kerry kingigt gitarrsolo som låter som det skrivits på måfå.

Äntligen metal!

Tror aldrig jag kommer kunna bli ett metalhead 😭 Dom har tydligen Greyson Nekrutman på trummor nu!

Jag ser ju mig aldrig någonsin lyssna på det här igen. Och jag är som sagt livrädd för att lurarna lägger i kontorslandskapet. Men bara ett tag. Sen vrider jag upp volymen ganska mycket. Och lite till. Sen tar jag på mig mina kortbyxor och flipflops och spår nästa börskrasch. Men ja, något urlakad känner man sig efteråt, det får jag erkänna. Men fan det här var sjukt fett.

äntligen något man kan respektera! emo för vuxna? mer avgrundsvrål och djävulsmusik åt folket!

Efter andra halvan av dead embryonic cells är jag såld. Just där undrar jag också om de utökade teumsetet med mer än kick och virvel, för jävlar vilket smattrande det är på virvel o första. Man blir ju sugen på att spela Doom och slakta demoner eller gå på hus 7 med Freddi och headbanga sönder hjärnceller. Är för dåligt insatt i genren för att kunna dra paralleller men hittar många intressanta inslag, även om det kanske blir lite enformigt ibland. Det är en sjuk produktion också. Man måste lyssna ashögt för att det ska låta bra, och då låter det jävligt bra. Blir dock bara en feg trea.

I enjoy the occasional metal like megadeath or Metallica, but this just kinda sucks. Guitar seems a bit amateurish, drum is just double bass to death, and every song just sounds the same. Could not listen through full album.

That eye is freaking me out, subtitles needed, this guy needs therapy, out of this world drumming.