Live Review : Sepultura + Jinjer + Obituary + Jesus Piece @ Academy, Manchester on November 8th 2024

You would have thought that after Slayer and Mötley Crüe both returned to the fray after having retorted that they were going for good, that we would have got wise to the wheeze of the farewell tour. Evidently not, as Sepultura’s final circumnavigation of the world sees them return as headliner to venues they last bothered nearly thirty ago, when it looked like “Roots” was about to catapult them to the higher plains of the metallic pecking order. It is a little uncertain though whether the sold-out signs are in situ because this is a last chance to see situation, or in direct reaction to their undercard. By dragging along the much-fancied Jesus Piece, the perpetually awesome Obituary and the in vogue and in demand Jinjer they have turned this into a super charged package tour that it is very hard to turn down.

Live Review : Sepultura + Sacred Reich + Crowbar @ O2 Ritz, Manchester on November 2nd 2022

You truly had to feel for Crowbar this evening, screwing up the start to their opening song not once, but twice before eventually giving up on it all together. What this meant was that before they’d even got properly started, their backs were well and truly against the ropes. You could tell by the face of guitarist and vocalist Kirk Windstein that he was absolutely pissed, and rightfully so, Crowbar is his passion project and being the only constant member of this band since 1990 gives him complete license to show his infuriation to his band mates.

Live Review : Sepultura + Raging Speedhorn + Cage Fight @ The Tivoli, Buckley on June 12th 2022

Tonight I am a fish so far out of water I might as well be up a tree. Getting Brazillian thrash pioneers Sepultura at the Tiv, one of just 3 appearances outside their Download set, was a real coup for them. There was no way ROCKFLESH could ignore it, I mean these guys are one of the cornerstones of the music most of my colleagues live for. And that’s the problem. They are in the UK to play Download Festival, and essentially everyone else is at Download too. So here I am, clutching my notebook somewhat nervously and wondering what on earth I have let myself in for. I have never heard a single song by any of tonight’s artists, couldn’t even name a band member for you. It’s all new, which is also kind of exciting I suppose. So fortified with a large rum I step into the fray. Let’s do this.