Sepultura's History Explored in New Biography

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Oct 29, 2013

Sepultura fans are probably busy soaking in the band's new The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart, which was released today (October 29) through Nuclear Blast. Soon enough, though, they'll also get to learn about all the behind-the-scenes action the Brazilian-bred metal icons have experienced over the years via an upcoming band biography. Dubbed Relentless - The Book of Sepultura, author Jason Korolenko's look at the band is set to be released by the end of the year in Brazil via Benvirá.

Described in a press release as a "a celebration of the music, the integrity, and the attitude" of Sepultura, the tome will cover the group's early days following their formation in Sao Paolo in 1984 up to their 30th anniversary. While no doubt weighing in on classic albums like Arise, Chaos A.D. and Roots, it'll also analyze founding vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera's departure in the '90s to form Soulfly, and the band's more recent activity. Additionally, Korolenko will look at Sepultura's place in their native country's political landscape.

"Sepultura is a phenomenon," the author said in a statement, "having formed at the tail-end of Brazil's military dictatorship, during a time when artists and musicians were still recovering from the 1978 redaction of a law — the AI-5 — which saw supposed 'subversive' songwriters and filmmakers exiled from the country. Sepultura was born in the turmoil of a shifting political and economic landscape, and went on to become Brazil's most popular musical export, selling over 20 million albums worldwide in the process. Theirs is a story with universal themes of struggle, change, and evolution, and it's fitting that the book will be released in Brazil first."

An English edition of Relentless - The Book of Sepultura has yet to be announced, but in related news, Max Cavalera's autobiography My Bloody Roots: From Sepultura to Soulfly and Beyond is expected to receive a North American release April 15 through Jawbone Press.

As previously reported, the current lineup of Sepultura begin a North American tour with Unearth, Kataklysm and more this Friday (November 1). You can see all the dates here.

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