Sepultura

Brazilian thrash-perts Sepultura have reached another tipping point in their career with the departure of founding drummer Igor Cavalera. Replacement skins man Jean Dolabella adds a whole new vibe to their latest platter, a more streamlined neo-thrash slant, as the band continue to explore new realms of sound. Just as 2006's Dante XXI was based on Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, A-lex is inspired by Burgess's A Clockwork Orange and is peppered with short atmospheric interludes that provide breathing room between the album's 18 tracks (a record for the band). Opener "Moloko Mesto" raises the bar, rippling with latent hardcore aggression. "We've Lost You!" and "Filthy Rot" hearken back to Chaos A.D., with Dolabella providing tribal tom work. The seven-minute "Sadistic Values" runs the gamut of adamantine thrash with moody elements, while "Forceful Behavior" and "Confirm" demonstrate Dolabella's ebullient synergy with his band-mates. The only misstep is "Ludwig Van," a bizarre cavalcade of Beethoven's greatest hits that should be attempted only by qualified bands like Skyclad or Rhapsody. A-lex rightfully expands Sepultura's opus, with the band entering yet another phase of metal fecundity.