Kairos (2011)

      Sepultura are back with their twelfth studio album - Kairos (Greek for the most opportune moment), which seems to be a concept albums of sorts. Musically they take the back-to-basics approach, returning to their straightforward, crushing and unrelenting Thrash of Beneath the Remains. Sure Kairos manages to bludgeon everything in it's path and what not, but does so sort of weakly. What I must concede is that it's definitely a step in the right direction, it still has the Sepultura DNA in it.

    Thematically the album is based on the concept of "Kairos" or the most opportune moment and deals with time and transcendentalism. Four of the tracks, each lasting for about thirty seconds or so are dates and the significance of each of those dates is as follows - 2011 is  Gregorian calendar year we live in, 1433 is current year in the Islamic calendar, 5772  being the current year of the Hebrew calendar and finally 4648 having the same significance in the Chinese calendar.   

     The album sounds very dark, raw and stripped down. The seething anger pulsating in riff after riff is evident from the very first track. Furious drumming, thundering basslines, guttural vocals, violent riffage and stabbing solos all enforce the downright brutality of the album, it seems like the album will explode at any point, but rather unfortunately never does, which is something you really expect given Roy Z is producing the album of one of the most energetic and bombastic bands. Green's pagan chants/yelps on quite a few tracks seem like a kickback to the Sepultura of yore, but if you're expecting the primal slogans and tribal beats from back in the day then forget it, it is but a thing of the past. Kisser after a long time feels unchained and unshackled and its there to show in virtually every solo. All the songs sound very similar which makes the album very monotonous to listen to. 

    Kairos begins its onslaught with Spectrum, some very traditional Thrash/Death that takes it's roots from Chaos A.D. As with most songs in this album, Kisser's solos are the saving grace, beyond which the song doesn't have too much to offer.

    Spectrum is followed by the title track, one of the better tracks on this album. It has that very evil, Slayer-vibe to it that will instantly hook the listener in. No nonsense Thrash, bestial vocals and a battering rhythm section, what the fuck else can you ask for? 

    Continuing in the vein of Kairos is Relentless an enraged, wrathful, nut-wrenching track championed by the aggressive basslines of Paolo Jr. 

    The fourth track 2011 is the conceptual part of the album, with random noises and sounds being played. The same goes for 1433 and 5722.

    At position five is the cover of Ministry's Just One Fix. Works very well surprisingly, impressive cover the way it works it's way around the Industrial elements.

    In at six and seven are Dialog and Mask, the fillers. Nothing particularly interesting barring a couple of bridge sections.

    Seethe, the ninth track, feels a lot like an old school Death Metal song. Exceptional stuff really, feels wasted on this album.

   Born Strong is a blistering, relentless violent Thrash attack that packs a lot of shitload of aggression and power. Amongst the gems of the album.

    Embrace the Storm is a welcome break from all the speed and fury of the previous tracks. Some mid-tempo Thrash with technical leanings and a masterful solo elevate it. The vocals however don't work on this track.

   No One Will Stand is yet again filler material, but the Andreas Kisser's middle-eastern-tinged soloing works wonders on the songs. Goes back and forth from straightforward Death to raw Thrash. Kisser does a stellar job on his part.

   Structure Violence (Azzes) the penultimate track (in the deluxe edition, or the last track otherwise) is a throwback to the Groove Metal days, with tribal drumming, Brazilian chants and the works. Slow, chugging riffs and rhythm surprisingly do well in an album that fields some fast and fiery tracks.

Overview : Kairos is not the top notch stuff that we have come to expect but a sub-par Sepultura, a slowly redeeming one nonetheless. This certainly isn't the best that Sepultura can offer though the return to roots principle is gladly welcomed. Although credit must be given to the band for continuing to experiment with their sound as opposed to producing watered down Metal to appease and bring back to the fold the "It-isn't-Sepultura-without-the-Cavaleras" bunch. 

Genre : Thrash Metal, Death Metal

Track Listing : 

Title	Writer(s)	Length
1."Spectrum"	Sepultura	4:03
2."Kairos"	Sepultura	3:37
3."Relentless"	Sepultura	3:36
4."2011"	Sepultura	0:30
5."Just One Fix (Ministry Cover)"	Sepultura	3:33
6."Dialog"	Sepultura	4:57
7."Mask"	Sepultura	4:31
8."1433" 9."Seethe" 10."Born Strong" 11."Embrace the Storm" 12."5772" 13."No One Will Stand" 14. "Structure Violence (Azzes)" 15. "4648"	Sepultura Sepultura Sepultura Sepultura Sepultura Sepultura Sepultura Sepultura	0:31 2:27 4:40 3:32 0:29 3:17 5:39 0:29

Total Album Time : 45:51

Personnel/Contributors : 

• Derrick Green  - Lead Vocals
• Andreas Kisser - Lead Guitars
• Paula Jr. - Bass
• Jean Dolabella - Drums
• Roy Z - Production
• Eric Sayers - Cover Art

Release Date : 24 June 2011

Recorded : December 2010 - March 2011, Trama Studios, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Supporting Tour : Kairos World Tour

Back to Sepultura's Page

Call to Arms (2011)

     Saxon's Call to Arms is exactly what the title claims to be - a call to arms, a battle-cry to rouse every denim and leather clad supporter back to the 80's when Metal ruled the day. In return they shall hear deafening roars of approval, for I have to agree with Biff Byford, this really is some of the best material they have written. Saxon adopt a back-to-basics approach and stick firmly to their guns on Call to Arms and the result is an album that can very proudly stand alongside any of glorious 80's back-catalog. 

    While their previous albums from the 2000s were sort of return to form, Byford manages to marshal his troops and prove that they indeed are a force to be reckoned with. Bursting at the seams with steely riffs, catchy hooks and soaring melody Saxon prove that they still are capable of some very inspired songwriting with Call to Arms. There really isn't much to differentiate the fillers from the rest of the tracks. From the interesting guitar work on Scarratt and Quinn's part, thudding basslines courtesy mainstay Carter, energetic drumming ala Glockler and Byford's solid pipes everything fits together liked a well-oiled machine.

    Kicking off the album with a groove/speed metal hybrid that both hearkens to Saxon of yore and yet has a modern polish to it, Hammer of the Gods is a song that will instantly grab you. The choppy riffs and resounding bass serve to tell the tale of a soldier being drafted in the first world war. Powerful solo to boot, anthemic choruses and you know why this song is one the standout tracks on this album.

    Up next is Back in '79, yet another monster of a track. Slow, chugging riffage that stomps all over the place, coupled with Byfords shrieks and a bluesy solo that is set off at just the right time, this is the perfect vehicle to reminisce about the glory days of the band. Saxon managed to get 79 fans during the recording to scream their heads off during the chorus and the result is self-evident.

   Blazing furiously back from the 80's is track number three, Surviving Against the Odds. The lyrics are standard Saxon staple - holding your own and standing your ground. If anything on the album felt like a filler it's probably this song, which goes to show the consistency in songwriting.

    In at position four is Mists of Avalon one of the more superior tracks on this album. Treading a progressive path, a nod to the albums of the new millennium, it's indicative of the direction Saxon intends pursuing in the near future. Clean riffs, tremendously melodic soloing, epic-romantic lyrics - stuff that normally doesn't stick well the average listener makes this track soar. Exceptional Metal, but I can't quite put my finger on what exactly sets it apart. On a side note, very reminiscent of Battalions of Steel.

    Following the epic is the title track, Call to Arms. A down-tempo tracks that lumbers along between heavy and light riffs, lead by strong vocal lines this is yet another exemplary song. Byford is in his element, and the rest of the band supports him passionately. Typical metal power ballad, with a bit of Saxon's charm imbued in it.

    Track six, Chasing the Bullet is straightforward, no frills, rhythm driven, 80's Heavy Metal. Nothing particularly spectacular about this song, and yet makes its impact felt.

     Stuck in the same mentality is the up-tempo Afterburner with it's lightning fast riffs and thundering drumming. Custom built to cause a riot during their live shows with the aggression and frenetic energy it displays.

     Next up is the middle-eastern-tinged track eight, When Doomsday Comes which was written for the movie Hybrid Theory. With it's slow, dark and despondent sound it isolates itself from the rest of the songs on this album. Don Airey makes a guest appearance on this track, and his keyboard work lends an epic feel to the song. 

    No Rest for the Wicked, the ninth track again feels like a filler but is a pretty strong song overall. This is the second song of the album written for the movie Hybrid Theory. Chunky, heavy riffs and an interesting solo apart the song has nothing new to offer. 

    Ballad of the Working Man is another solid effort on the band's part. Saxon take their classic sound and give it a modern twist with this track. This song exemplifies the Saxon of the 80's, during their golden age. The twin lead guitar attack is much appreciated, excellent riffing and kickass soloing to follow it, it's pure magic. 

    The album closer is an orchestral version of the title track, providing an interesting alternative to the listener. Being a ballad, the orchestral version seems to the have upper hand because it makes the song feel that much more grandiose and eloquent.

Overview : Why does Call to Arms work so well? Because it's not a simple nostalgia trip down memory lane that the band aim to send you on, but put forth a refreshing set of songs that reflects heavily on their origins as well the progression they intend to take. The lads are back with a lot of swagger and it most certainly shows. From figuring out how to garner more MTV airplay in the 90's to making a resounding, to-be-classic masterpiece, the band has done right by its legions of fans keeping its roots alive. Saxon is still very relevant in Metal today and their re-surging popularity is a testament to that. Classy, potent, somewhat-dogmatic 80's Metal that's pure joy to listen to is what Call to Arms really is. Ergo essential Saxon. Go get this album right away.  

Genre : Heavy Metal

Track Listing : 

Title	Writer(s)	Length
1."Hammer of the Gods"	Saxon	4:23
2."Back in '79"	Saxon	3:28
3."Surviving Against the Odds"	Saxon	5:02
4."Mists of Avalon"	Saxon	5:02
5."Call to Arms"	Saxon	4:29
6."Chains the Bullet"	Saxon	4:14
7."Afterburner"	Saxon	3:06
8."When Doomsday Comes (Hybrid Theory Soundtrack)" 9."No Rest for the Wicked" 10."Ballad of the Working Man" 11."Call to Arms (Orchestral Version)"	Saxon Saxon Saxon Saxon	4:29 3:09 3:48 4:28

Total Album Time : 54:55

Personnel/Contributors : 

• Biff Byford  - Lead Vocals
• Paul Quinn - Lead Guitars
• Nibbs Carter - Bass
• Nigel Glockler - Drums
• Doug Scarratt - Lead Guitars
• Don Airey - Keyboards (Guest Appearance)

Release Date :  3 June 2011

Recorded : 2011, Chapel Studio, Lincolnshire/ Brighton Electric Studios, Brighton, U.K.

Supporting Tour : Call to Arms World Tour

Trivia : 
The artwork is a play on the famous World War I recruitment posters Britain used - Lord Kitchener Wants You!

Two of the songs, Tracks 8 (When Doomsday Comes) and 9 (No Rest for the Wicked) were written for the movies Hybrid Theory.

They got Don Airey to play on the album, when they met him in the American Embassy, waiting to collect their Visas.

Back in '79 has 79 fans shouting out the chorus, Byford rounded the fans the night before the recording.

Back to Saxon's Page

Saxon

Genre : Heavy Metal

Active : 1976 - Present

Current Band Members :

Biff Byford - Vocalist

Paul Quinn - Lead Guitarist

Doug Scarratt - Lead Guitarist

Nibbs Carter - Bassist

Nigel Glockler - Drummer

Albums Reviewed :

Saxon (1979)

Wheels of Steel (1980)

Strong Arm of the Law (1980)

Denim and Leather (1981)

Power & the Glory (1983)

Crusader (1984)

Innocence is No Excuse (1985)

Rock the Nations (1986)

Destiny (1988)

Solid Ball of Rock (1990)

Forever Free (1992)

Dogs of War (1995)

Unleash the Beast (1997)

Metalhead (1999)

Killing Ground (2001)

Lionheart (2004)

The Inner Sanctum (2007)

Into the Labyrinth (2009)

Call to Arms (2011)