This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
When Sepultura singer and founder Max Cavalera angrily left the band to form Soulfly in 1997, plenty of metal fans wondered who would win the inevitable battle of the bands.
At first, the advantage went to Soulfly, whose self-titled debut kicked the stuffing out of Sepultura’s last disc Against. Now, however, nobody seems to be ahead — Soulfly’s latest, Primitive, was a stiff, as is this new offering from his old cronies. On Nation, Sepultura (now fronted by singer Derrick Green) simply go through the expected motions, offering another 15 fist-pumping anthems for the mosh pit, built from the same tired combination of booming tribal drums, barking demonic vocals, detuned guitars and brooding violence. Sure they still rock — but they don’t seem to have any reason to. How cliche is it? Eight words: There’s a drum circle AND a Jello Biafra cameo. Maybe it’s time for all concerned to bury the hatchet and start from scratch.
