SEPULTURA

SEPULTURA

By Carlos Zaldívar

 

Some farewells leave no silence behind—only an eternal, thunderous roar in one’s ears, and a chest forever marked by the fury of four decades.

 

Sepultura's true fans

It was December 16^th, 1989. My great concert-going companion, Jorge, and I set out on a journey toward the Cathedral of Mexican Metal: the legendary Arena López Mateos. It was barely midday, so we stopped for a bite to eat before arriving, sensing that the event would be a long one. For the first time, that monumental NEW BAND from Brazil was coming to MEXICO, and expectations were sky-high.

A sense of excitement—along with all sorts of eccentricities—permeated the streets of Tlalnepantla.

Ultimately, the concert—scheduled to begin that Saturday at 5:00 PM—didn’t get underway until around 8:30 or 9:00 PM. Good grief, there were so many unforeseen issues, such poor organization, and so many complications; after all, they were still just learning how to put together events of this kind.

A long video still circulating online showing us fans packing the venue on Emilio Carranza Street, completely immersed in pure, unadulterated, and absolute BRUTAL DEATH METAL from the Amazon.

The Brazilian band.

That concert marked a watershed moment in this country—so much so that, to this day, people still share, discuss, and enjoy the footage someone captured of that “first time.” I’m… We’re in that footage!

Like many bands, they were no exception; they went through various ups and downs—experiencing both hardships and triumphs—until they finally solidified their status as the best extreme metal band in Brazil, with a stable line-up.

When Morbid Visions fell into my hands, my life took an unexpected turn. There is so much to say about this monumental album. Later, I managed to get a copy of Schizophrenia from Germany; it caused such a stir that it wasn’t even released in the United States. Finally, there is Beneath the Remains—a true gem that cemented the band’s standing in the international market—and it was during the tour for this album that they first set foot on Mexican soil. Yeah!

Years went by, until they eventually decided to say goodbye, expressing their gratitude for more than 40 years of sharing the best music in the world.

Forty years that are not easily recounted—years that often navigated against the current, yet always emerged unscathed and forged ahead.

And for this farewell tour, a date in Mexico City was scheduled for October 11^th, 2026.

Upon hearing this news, my heart began to race, and my pulse remained elevated. I simply had to be there—having attended their first show in Mexico, I had to be present for the last. My dear Jorge should have been there too, but due to circumstances beyond his control, he couldn’t make it; so, in a way, he joined me for this latest adventure in spirit, his metal spirit!

I arrived at what was once the Gran Hotel de México—now a vast urban complex—which households the PEPSI CENTER. The entire lower level was cleared of seats, while the upper level remained available for those who couldn’t manage to stand for long periods.

At exactly 8:30, the lights went out, and “War Pigs”—by the greatest band in the universe, BLACK SABBATH—began to play. Goosebumps washed over me, instantly transporting me back to 1989, when the Cavalera brothers and their bandmates—before wrapping up an incredible, high-octane concert—tore into a cover of “Symptom of the Universe.”

Seconds later, another cover was heard—this time “Policía,” by the punk band Titãs.

Derrick Green

Moments later, the imposing vocalist Derrick Green stepped out, unleashing his powerful vocals on the majestic “Inner Self”—which, as it happens, is my favourite track from these Brazilians. It was also the second song they played back in ’89. Damn, what a fantastic track!

There were many young fans present, and I could say with certainty that many of those who attended the first show at Arena López Mateos were missing. Only a few of us were privileged enough to have been at both concerts.

Next came “All Souls Rising,” “Desperate Cry,” and “Kairos,” with a stage performance that stirred up memories—especially while watching Paulo Jr. and Andreas Kisser.

Then came “Means to an End,” “Attitude,” the incredibly powerful “Against,” “Choke,” and “The Place”—by this point, the mosh pit was absolutely exploding with bodies spinning, punches flying, and beer spraying everywhere. It was a sublime experience, reminiscent of the mosh pits back in 1989.

Greyson Nekrutman

“Propaganda” kept this high-calibre ritual going, featuring a young guitarist—Ethan Kahn, from the band Chained Saint—as a special guest; Kisser mentioned that they had once seen him play a SEPULTURA cover and were completely blown away.

The atmosphere at the venue next to the WTC was shaking with the intensity of a ten-degrees earthquake on the Richter scale. My ears had drifted off to another plane, completely entranced, and my soul—needless to say—was in a state of total, ecstatic climax.

They tore through “Escape to the Void” and “Kaiowas”—the latter featuring a performance by several young musicians on individual percussion instruments—before launching into the flawless “Dead Embryonic Cells,” another one of my personal favourites. It was a track packed with raw energy and decibels so high they were sure to leave us deaf for days.

They continued with “Corrupted,” “Beyond the Dream,” and then the sublime “Territory.”

Wow—what an incredible concert I was witnessing!

Paulo Jr.

Next came the fantastic “Refuse/Resist,” which sent the crowd into an even greater frenzy—followed by an even more intense reaction during “Slave New World” and “Arise.” What powerful memories—after all, not everyone can claim to have been a fan of this legendary band since 1986.

The band stepped away, and we knew it was time for an encore. A young drummer—blessed with an immense, natural gift—returned to the stage, took his place behind the kit, grabbed his sticks, and delivered a masterclass in extraordinary drumming. I have no doubt he’ll soon rank among the top 20 drummers in the world. His name is Greyson Nekrutman, and he’s only 24 years old. We were left absolutely stunned by this young prodigy’s virtuosity. Then, to our great delight, Paulo, Andreas, and the powerhouse that is Derrick returned to the stage to conclude this “holy mass” with “Ratamahatta” and the magnificent “Roots Bloody Roots.”

The perfect concert, a massive send-off, and an eternal sense of gratitude.

Andreas Kisser

I would have loved to include “Troops of Doom” in the setlist, but it doesn’t matter.

A grand, deeply emotional finale—and a flood of nostalgia—because a full 13,449 days passed between the first concert and the last… Wow! That Cronos knows why he does things—or rather, “Cronos’s timing is perfect.”

All of us

And so, I began the journey home, elated and craving even more SEPULTURA.

Amen.

Dedicated to my bro Jorge & my Partner, love ‘em.

SEPULTURA, forever.