When tribal beats, distortion, catharsis, and the energy of several generations unite under a roof of amplifiers and a love for art – that is what happens at Sepultura’s ‘Celebrating Life Through Death’ farewell tour at The UC Theatre in Berkeley, CA. The evening was accompanied by a spectacular line-up featuring such artists as Exodus, Biohazard, and Tribal Gaze.
There were no doubts about the hype outside the doors of The UC Theatre in Berkeley as the tickets had already been sold out in advance. Metal fans dressed in battle jackets, leather jackets adorned with patches, vintage tour shirts and torn denim walked down the Berkeley street, sharing their experiences of listening to Arise or Roots by the Brazilian pioneers of metal. The UC Theatre is known for hosting one of the best venues for heavy music in the whole of the Bay Area. With an intimate setting, perfect acoustics, and multi-tiered interior design of the club, the show promised to be nothing less than an unforgettable experience.
One can hardly imagine a band that possesses a more recognizable sound in the metal genre. Having been active for almost forty years now, Sepultura shaped a unique musical identity consisting of violent thrash metal, death metal elements, and traditional Brazilian rhythmic beats. The Brazilian band perfectly mixes aggressive and harsh songs with ritualistic and atmospheres and never fails to impress the audience by its versatility. Being on the stage, the band becomes even more expressive: sharp guitar riffs performed by Andreas Kisser and the charisma of Derrick Green create the right atmosphere for a show to be remembered for ages.
After several minutes of anticipation, the band proudly appears on the stage of The UC Theatre. As soon as the opening riffs are played, the audience starts cheering and chanting the lyrics, which is followed by a wave of crowd surfing and massive circle pits on the floor of the club. The audience was so eager to get acquainted with every new song that it seemed like the concert would never end.
The Brazilian heavy metal band chose a brilliant way to start their set by playing “Inner Self.” The aggressive and furious atmosphere created by the track did not fail to impress the audience that enthusiastically responded to its iconic opening riffs. Released in 1989, “Inner Self” did not lose its power and became an embodiment of the fight of Sepultura fans with their own destiny and environment around them. With the performance of the song, Sepultura managed to establish the atmosphere of fierce domination on the stage and among the fans.
One of the most emotional and memorable moments of the concert took place when Sepultura decided to play “Kaiowas.” By the time the iconic song started sounding, the stage was full of members of Exodus and road crew as well. The band performed an impressive drumming performance of all members, giving the song an additional ritual and ceremonial meaning. The huge number of drums sounded in one piece making everybody in the audience admire the incredible performance that combined rhythm, culture, and community.
Despite the lack of distorted riffs and vocals, the performance became extremely popular with all audience members that danced and cheered to the rhythmical beats performed on stage by many people. This moment proved once again that the band was able to make its fans experience emotions that only few other metal bands may provoke. With a performance like this, Sepultura proved its dominance among other heavy metal bands, giving the audience one more unforgettable memory.
One could not but expect one of the greatest hits of the band after such an impressive set. By playing “Roots Bloody Roots,” Sepultura managed to attract everybody’s attention and make people sing with all their heart and voice. It seems like the whole of The UC Theatre erupted from excitement while listening to this track that was performed so brilliantly by the musicians of the band. Derrick Green and Andreas Kisser gave a brilliant show that impressed many spectators.
What makes the event especially unforgettable is not only the impeccable performance by the band members but also the historical context of the songs played. Celebrating its legacy and leaving its influence on the following generations, Sepultura left unforgettable memories in the hearts of many fans. For one night, they performed pain, rhythm, aggression, and unity together inside the Berkeley venue.
For one more night, Sepultura left its undeniable imprint in the history of heavy music.
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