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Chaos A.D.

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Chaos A.D.
Studio albumby
ReleasedSeptember 1993[1]
Recorded1992–1993
StudioRockfield Studios(Monmouth, Wales) Chepstow Castle(Monmouth, Wales)
GenreGroove metal
Length47:04
Label
ProducerAndy Wallace
Sepulturachronology
Arise
(1991)
Chaos A.D.
(1993)
Roots
(1996)
SinglesfromChaos A.D.
  1. "Refuse/Resist"
    Released: September 5, 1993
  2. "Territory"
    Released: October 5, 1993
  3. "Slave New World"
    Released: May 25, 1994

Chaos A.D.is the fifth studio album by Brazilianheavy metalbandSepultura,released in 1993 byRoadrunner Records.The album saw a stylistic departure from the band's earlierthrash metalstyle,[2]by featuring a newgroove metalsound.[3][4]Chaos A.D.is also Sepultura's only album onEpic Records,who handled its release for North American distribution, as well as the first album to featurePaulo Jr.on bass after having played with the band in a live capacity since 1984.[a]

Production

[edit]

The band considered a number of producers, includingavant-garde jazzcomposerJohn ZornandAl Jourgensenofindustrial metalpioneersMinistry.They ultimately choseAndy Wallace,who had previously mixedArise.Sepultura wanted isolation, and for that Andy Wallace suggestedRockfield Studios,located inSouth Wales.[9]The recording sessions marked the first time Sepultura had recorded as a quartet as opposed to a trio, which sawAndreas Kisserhandling both bass and guitar duties on their previous three albums; as such,Chaos A.D.was the first album to includePaulo Jr.,who had been playing live with the band since joining in 1984.[a]

"Kaiowas" was recorded live among the ruins of the medieval castle ofChepstow.It was an entirely acoustic track, with Kisser andMax Cavaleraon the guitars and drummerIgor Cavaleraand Paulo Jr. on percussion. When they recorded "Kaiowas", the quartet never even considered playing the track live, because they thought it would be too difficult to recreate the drumming on stage. They changed their minds after seeing a video of the American bandNeurosis:"We saw in that live video that the Neurosis guys put down their guitars and everybody started to play the drums on stage", lead guitarist Andreas remembers. "We decided to try the same thing. We rehearsed it once and it was wonderful. We haven't stopped playing the song live since."[10]

During recording sessions, Sepultura recorded a number ofcovers:"The Hunt", fromNew Model Army,"Polícia",fromTitãs,"Inhuman Nature", from the Americanhardcore punkbandFinal Conflict,and "Crucificados pelo Sistema", from BrazilianRatos de Porão.Igor, a New Model Army fan, convinced the other band members to include "The Hunt" on the record. Paulo joked that the money of the LP would go straight to newdenturesforJustin Sullivan,the toothless singer of New Model Army.[2]The latter 3 covers would be included as B-sides and also on the compilationBlood-Rooted."Polícia" is also included as a bonus track on the Brazilian edition of the album. Up until the time the album was due, the title was originally Propaganda after track 6, but Max Cavalera changed it toChaos A.D.after theMisfits'Earth A.D.[11]

Musical style

[edit]

Out of the boredom of playing theArisesongs for two years straight and concerned about the threat of musically stagnating, Sepultura pushed the envelope onChaos A.D.[12]The new material came out slower, with more emphasis ongroovethan speed.[13][14][15]The first track, "Refuse/Resist",revealed the band's new direction.[16]The song starts with the heartbeat ofMax's then-unborn first son,Zyon,[17]followed by some Afro-Brazilian drumming reminiscent ofSalvador, Bahiasamba-reggaegroupOlodum.[2]About the track's introductory guitar riff, Max acknowledged that it "could have been created by adeath metalband. "[18]

Diversity was the key toChaos A.D.,revealed Max Cavalera. "Biotech Is Godzilla" was "pure hardcore", according to the elder Cavalera.[18]"Nomad", with its characteristically slow riffs, was described by lead guitaristAndreas Kisseras their answer toMetallica's "Sad but True".[10]The album also featured Sepultura's first all-acoustic incursion, "Kaiowas". "It's like a mixture ofLed Zeppelin,Sonic Youthand Olodum ", said Max of that particular song.[16]

Chaos A.D.was their first record to utilize some lowerguitar tunings.Half of the songs in the album are tuned down toD standard,except for "Kaiowas", which is in drop Ctuning.[19]

Themes

[edit]

After travelling extensively abroad for theirArisetour, the band came to see their home-country in a new light. Brazil's political issues and music then came to the fore. Sepultura targeted and denounced racism, discrimination,xenophobiaandneocolonialism,and how they fueled destructive policies and power-hungry politicians. Writing forVICE,authorJ.J. Anselmideclared that the "social messages ofChaos A.D.are timeless and universal, making it one of the most important metal albums ever recorded. "[20]

The lyrics of "Refuse/Resist" mention "tanks on the streets, confronting police, bleeding the plebs."[17]Its chorus ( "Refuse! Resist!" ) resembles a protest march slogan,[21]and when released as a single featured a photograph of a South Korean student rushing atSeoul's riot police contingent while holding aMolotov cocktail.[22]Speaking toKerrang!,Max Cavalera remembered: "This certainly got in touch with the dark side of Sepultura." Refuse/Resist "is an anti-police song – a real piece of anarchy. You could call the album riot music. It was full of heavy shit and some of it was risky, but it was just where we were coming from at the time."[23]The next song, "Territory", dealt with the conflict between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.[21]"Slave New World" — with its lyrics co-written byBiohazardbassistEvan Seinfeld[10]— was a protest against censorship.[24]

Massacres were a major part ofChaos A.D.'s overall theme. "Amen" tackled the massacre ofDavid Koresh's followers inWaco, Texas."Manifest" had a faux-radio report of theCarandiru massacre,[10]and "Kaiowas" was made in honor of a Brazilian Indian tribe that committed collective suicide in protest against the government that wanted to drive them off the land of their ancestors.[25]"Nomad", written by Andreas, talked about people expelled from their homelands.[10]

OnChaos A.D.,Sepultura honored one of their biggest idols,Jello Biafra.Max had called Biafra asking him to contribute to the album with a song about the growing neo-Nazi movement. "I asked for something like 'Nazi Punks Fuck Off - Part 2'", remembers Max, referring to the anti-Nazi song "Nazi Punks Fuck Off"by theDead Kennedys.But Biafra wasn't interested in recycling old ideas and he suggested a song called "Biotech Is Godzilla", that he had written during his visit to Eco '92, a world conference about ecology organized inRio de Janeiro."Jello spent ten minutes explaining me his crazy theories", said Max to Anamaria G. ofBizzmagazine, "he said thatGeorge Bushhad sent a group of scientists toBrazilto test germs and bacteria on human beings and use them as guinea pigs. The lyrics claim thatbiotechnologycreatedAIDS.But they don't say that technology is bad, just that it's in the wrong hands. "[26]

Touring and promotion

[edit]

By the timeChaos A.D.arrived, Sepultura were the biggest act of Roadrunner's roster. Aware of the band's increasing popularity, the label spent nearly$1 million on a "marketing blitz" which quickly guaranteed them silver and gold records in Belgium, France and the UK.[27]The group also signed an exclusive distribution deal with a major label,Epic Records,home ofPearl JamandRage Against the Machine.[28]This deal eventually went sour: Epic paid little attention to Sepultura,[29]preferring to invest inFightandProng.[28]

TheChaos A.D.tour launched on October 23, 1993, withgoth metalbandParadise Lostas theopening act.The tour went well, except for an incident whereBerlin's police received a false tip claiming that Sepultura'stour buswas loaded with a major cocaine shipment.[27]Enraged by the unjustsearch and seizureprocedure, Max re-wrote "Antichrist", from their 1985Bestial DevastationEP,as "Anti-Cop",[30]and then the band proceeded in playing the song live throughout the tour (a recorded version is available on the combined re-release ofBestial Devastation/Morbid VisionsandThe Roots of Sepulturaalbums).[31]

While touring Europe, rumors floated around that Sepultura would be part of the latest edition ofBrazil'sHollywood Rockmusic festival,taking place in January 1994. The event would happen simultaneously onSão Pauloand in Rio de Janeiro.Chaos A.D.has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide.

The North American leg, which was co-headlined byPantera,coincided with the1994 FIFA World Cup,with the concert inIrvine, California,taking place on July 17, a few hours after thetournament final,in nearby Pasadena. Sepultura, whose members attended the match, took to the stage decorated in the Brazilian colors in celebration of the national team's triumph in the tournament.[32]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[33]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal10/10[34]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[35]
NME6/10[35]
Q[35]
Rolling Stone[36]

Chaos A.D.received positive reviews from music critics, with many commending the album's experimentation and sense of the band coming into their own.AllMusicdeclared it one of the best heavy metal albums of all time, calling it "a remarkable achievement not only in its concentrated power and originality, but also in the degree to which Sepultura eclipsed their idols in offering a vision of heavy metal's future."[33]Entertainment Weeklyproclaimed that "Sepultura will separate casual headbangers from rabid addicts fast... even nonmetalheads will be impressed by the variety in [Chaos A.D.]: they're not averse to slowing things down. "[35]

Legacy

[edit]

Chaos A.D.was a watershed moment for the band. The quartet faced many challenges with the record. For one, they made a risqué transition from their earlier death/thrash sound. Sepultura also traversed the radical shift in the rock music scene of the 1990s, with the sudden popularity ofalternative rock."We made a record that was very metal", said Max Cavalera; there "was an explosion ofgrungeand nobody wanted anything to do with metal. "Despite everything,Chaos A.D.was ultimately a triumph. "It was a magical and very inspiring time" remembers the elder Cavalera.[37]

Sound of the BeastauthorIan ChristecreditsChaos A.D,along withPantera,for developing the groove metal style, which would later influence other artists in the '90s.[3]It is one ofJoe Duplantier's top-ten albums, guitarist-songwriter forGojira.In his opinion,Chaos A.D."gave birth to the wholenu-metalscene. "[38]In fact,Kornwere very inspired by the album when they started out.[39]At least two members fromSlipknotattested howChaos A.D.was important to them.[40][41]

Sepultura's newfound interest in the music and socials ills of Brazil inspired - or ran parallel to - their fellow countrymen's ownMPB/metal experiments. One particular case was Overdose, Sepultura's formerCogumelolabelmates. Overdose's 5th album,Progress of Decadence(1993), opened with "Rio, Samba e Porrada na Morro", aindustrial-meets-sambaintro five years in the making. The rest of the album segues into their own brand of groove metal.[42]Furthermore, Overdose inserted political themes in their lyrics, although they had being doing such way before Sepultura.[43]A worthy mention also goes to "saravá metal" groupGangrena Gasosa.TheirWelcome to Terreiro(1993) debut opened with "Troops of Olodum", a spoof on Sepultura's "Troops of Doom" complete with the song's intro riff and Olodum-styled percussion.[44]Last, but not least, there'sHoly Land(1996), aconcept albumby Brazil's premierpower metalbandAngra.[45]Lead guitarplayerKiko Loureirosaid that, when composing for their sophomore album, the MPB influence "came naturally".[46]Despite this statement there was, indeed, a concerted effort by the group to explore their Brazilian musical identity. It was partly a response to the criticism directed towardsAngels Cry(1994), which drew many comparisons toHelloween,Iron Maidenand others.[45]Holy Landand Sepultura'sRootswere released a month apart from each other, and they both highlighted a big moment for Brazil's metal scene.[47]

In 2017, it was ranked 29th onRolling Stone's "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time".[48]"Refuse/Resist", the album's firstsingle,charted at number 26 inVH1's "40 Greatest Metal Songs" list.[49]

Track listing

[edit]

All music is composed bySepultura,except where noted

No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Refuse/Resist"Max Cavalera3:20
2."Territory"Andreas Kisser4:47
3."Slave New World"
2:55
4."Amen"Max Cavalera4:27
5."Kaiowas"(instrumental)3:43
6."Propaganda"Max Cavalera3:33
7."Biotech Is Godzilla"Jello Biafra1:52
8."Nomad"Andreas Kisser4:59
9."We Who Are Not as Others"Max Cavalera3:42
10."Manifest"Max Cavalera4:49
11."The Hunt" (New Model Armycover)3:59
12."Clenched Fist"Max Cavalera4:58
Total length:47:04
1993 bonus track version (American edition)
No.TitleLength
13."Polícia"(Titãscover)1:47
1996 reissue (American edition)
No.TitleLyricsLength
13."Chaos B.C. (from the 1996 albumMortal Kombat: More Kombat) "
5:12
14."Kaiowas (Tribal Jam)"(instrumental)3:47
15."Territory (live)"Max Cavalera4:48
16."Amen/Inner Self (live)"
  • Andreas Kisser
  • Max Cavalera
8:42

Notes

  • The original release contained a hidden track (laughter outtakes from "We Who Are Not as Others" ) after "Clenched Fist".
  • "Territory" and "Amen/Inner Self" were recorded live inMinneapolisin March 1994.

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1993-1994) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[51] 27
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[52] 19
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[53] 21
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[54] 4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[55] 11
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[56] 23
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[57] 15
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[58] 16
Scottish Albums(OCC)[59] 84
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[60] 11
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[61] 15
UK Albums(OCC)[62] 11
USBillboard200[63] 32
Chart (1996) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal Albums(OCC)[64] 21

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[65] Gold 35,000^
Indonesia[66] Gold 25,000[66]
Netherlands (NVPI)[67] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[69] Gold 500,000^

^Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^abDespite being credited as bassist on the band's first four albums, the members of Sepultura have stated in interviews that Paulo Jr. had not played on any albums prior toChaos A.D.[5][6][7][8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Korolenko, Jason (2014).Relentless: Thirty Years of Sepultura.Rocket 88. p. 86.ISBN978-1-906615-92-5.
  2. ^abcBarcinski & Gomes 1999, page 131.
  3. ^abChriste (2003),Sound of the Beast,p. 264
  4. ^"100 greatest heavy metal albums".NME.August 14, 2009.RetrievedNovember 28,2015.
  5. ^"MAX CAVALERA Says PAULO JR. Didn't Play Bass On Any Early SEPULTURA Recordings".Blabbermouth.net.December 3, 2010.RetrievedDecember 22,2020.
  6. ^"MAX CAVALERA Talks About Getting 'Kicked Out' Of SEPULTURA, Hanging Out With OZZY OSBOURNE".Blabbermouth.net.April 16, 2014.RetrievedDecember 22,2020.
  7. ^"SEPULTURA Bassist: Reunion With MAX CAVALERA Would Have To Happen 'Naturally'".Blabbermouth.net.January 31, 2020.RetrievedDecember 22,2020.
  8. ^"Hall of Fame Countdown: Sepultura's Arise".Decibel.February 18, 2016.RetrievedDecember 22,2020.
  9. ^Lemos 1993, page 42.
  10. ^abcdeBarcinski & Gomes 1999, page 128.
  11. ^"5 Things You Didn't Know About Sepultura's 'Chaos A.D.'".Revolver.October 18, 2017.RetrievedJuly 15,2020.
  12. ^Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 123.
  13. ^Noakes, Tim (August 2013)."Max Cavalera's chaos theories come true".Dazed & Confused.
  14. ^"They Did It All for the Nookie: Decibel Explores the Rise and Fall of Nu-Metal".Decibel.August 13, 2015.(August 13, 2005). Retrieved on September 15, 2015
  15. ^McIver 2008, page 73.
  16. ^abLemos 1993, page 43.
  17. ^abCavalera, Max (1993). "Refuse/Resist".Chaos A.D.(CD booklet).Sepultura.New York,NY:Roadrunner Records.p. 2.
  18. ^abHaagsma, Robert (1993)."Sepultura".com Aardschok/Metal Hammer. Archived fromthe originalon December 6, 2008.RetrievedMay 3,2008.Archived atSepultura.be
  19. ^Sepultura Chaos A.D., 1994.
  20. ^Anselmi, J. J. (April 12, 2016)."Sepultura's 'Chaos A.D.' Is the Anti-Colonial Rallying Cry that Thrash has Always Needed".VICE.RetrievedJune 22,2024.
  21. ^abBarcinski & Gomes 1999, page 126.
  22. ^Refuse/Resist(CD booklet).Sepultura.New York,NY:Roadrunner Records.1994. p. 2.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^Cavalera, Max / Beebee, Steve. Kerrang! Magazine. #1213, June 7, 2008. Treasure Chest. An Intimate Portrait Of A Life in Rock. P. 52
  24. ^Mayhew, Parris (Director) (June 27, 1995).Sepultura: Third World Chaos(motion picture). United States of America: Roadrunner Records.
  25. ^Chaos A.D.(CD booklet).Sepultura.New York,NY:Roadrunner Records.1993. p. 6.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 130.
  27. ^abBarcinski & Gomes 1999, page 132.
  28. ^abMudrian 2004, page 189.
  29. ^Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 143.
  30. ^Barcinski & Gomes 1999, page 133.
  31. ^Prato, Greg."The Roots of Sepultura".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 24,2008.
  32. ^Placarmagazine, August 1995, p. 15. Available onGoogle Books.
  33. ^abHuey, Steve."Chaos A.D. - Sepultura".Allmusic.RetrievedJuly 28,2013.
  34. ^Popoff, Martin(2007).The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties.Burlington, Ontario,Canada:Collector's Guide Publishing.p. 392.ISBN978-1-894959-62-9.
  35. ^abcd"Sepultura - Chaos A.D. CD Album".Cduniverse.com. August 20, 2001.RetrievedMay 28,2014.
  36. ^Darzin, Daina (May 5, 1994). "Metal Thunder".Rolling Stone.No. 681. p. 52.
  37. ^Alderslade, Merlin (July 27, 2023).""It was a magical and very inspiring time." Max Cavalera reveals his favourite Sepultura album, whether he'd ever reunite with the band ".Metal Hammer.RetrievedJuly 11,2024.
  38. ^Grow, Kory (June 29, 2017)."Gojira's Joe Duplantier: My 10 Favorite Metal Albums".Rolling Stone.RetrievedJune 20,2024.
  39. ^Munro, Scott (October 7, 2016)."Korn's Jonathan Davis: Sepultura ripped us off on Roots".Metal Hammer.RetrievedJune 20,2024.
  40. ^Vlahos, Dimitrius (December 17, 2022)."Slipknot: Disco novo, polêmica e admiração por Sepultura; baixista V-Man fala sobre Knotfest no Brasil".Rolling Stone Brasil.RetrievedJune 20,2024.
  41. ^Teixeira, Rafael (August 2, 2023)."Corey Taylor fala sobre importância do Sepultura para o Slipknot".Tenho Mais Discos Que Amigos!.RetrievedJune 20,2024.
  42. ^Oliveira 1994, page 62.
  43. ^Oliveira 1994, page 63.
  44. ^Alves, José Antônio (November 15, 2011)."Gangrena Gasosa: Para bater cabeça no terreiro".Whiplash.Net Rock e Heavy Metal.RetrievedJuly 15,2024.
  45. ^abMonteiro 1998, page 14.
  46. ^Monteiro 1998, page 12.
  47. ^Maiato, Gustavo (March 3, 2023)."Andreas Kisser e Rafael Bittencourt explicam sucesso de" Roots "e" Holy Land "em 1996".Whiplash.Net Rock e Heavy Metal.RetrievedJuly 17,2024.
  48. ^Kelly, Kim (June 21, 2017)."100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time".Rolling Stone.Wenner Media LLC.RetrievedJune 21,2017.
  49. ^"VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs",1–4 May 2006,VH1Channel, reported byVH1.com;last accessed September 10, 2006.
  50. ^"Sepultura - Chaos A.D. (CD, Album) at Discogs".Discogs.com. June 2, 2011.RetrievedMay 28,2014.
  51. ^"Australiancharts.com – Sepultura – Chaos A.D.".Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  52. ^"Austriancharts.at – Sepultura – Chaos A.D."(in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  53. ^"Dutchcharts.nl – Sepultura – Chaos A.D."(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  54. ^Pennanen, Timo (2006).Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972(in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 166.ISBN978-951-1-21053-5.
  55. ^"Offiziellecharts.de – Sepultura – Chaos A.D."(in German).GfK Entertainment Charts.Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  56. ^"Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1993. 44. hét"(in Hungarian).MAHASZ.Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  57. ^"Charts.nz – Sepultura – Chaos A.D.".Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  58. ^"Norwegiancharts.com – Sepultura – Chaos A.D.".Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  59. ^"Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  60. ^"Swedishcharts.com – Sepultura – Chaos A.D.".Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  61. ^"Swisscharts.com – Sepultura – Chaos A.D.".Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  62. ^"Official Albums Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  63. ^"Sepultura Chart History (Billboard200) ".Billboard.Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  64. ^"Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40".Official Charts Company.Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  65. ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.
  66. ^ab"Sepultura" Chaos A.D. "Indonesia Gold sales award".Facebook.June 20, 2024.
  67. ^"Dutch album certifications – Sepultura – Chaos A.D."(in Dutch).Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.EnterChaos A.D.in the "Artiest of titel" box.Select1998in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  68. ^"British album certifications – Sepultura – Chaos A.D."British Phonographic Industry.
  69. ^"American album certifications – Sepultura – Chaos A.D."Recording Industry Association of America.

Works cited

  • Barcinski, André & Gomes, Silvio (1999).Sepultura: Toda a História.São Paulo: Ed. 34.ISBN85-7326-156-0
  • Korolenko, Jason (2014),Relentless: Thirty Years of Sepultura.Rocket 88.ISBN978-1-906615-92-5
  • Lemos, Anamaria (1993). Caos Desencanado.Bizz, 98,40–45.
  • McIver, Joel (2008).The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.Jawbone Press.ISBN1906002207
  • Monteiro, Antônio Carlos (1998). Angra: De Volta às Raízes.Rock Brigade, 17(145): 12-15.
  • Mudrian, Albert (2004).Choosing Death: the Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore.Los Angeles, CA: Feral House.
  • Oliveira, Daniel (1994). Overdose: America, Here We Go!Rock Brigade, 13(98): 62-63.
  • Sepultura (1993).Chaos A.D.[CD]. New York, NY: Roadrunner Records.
  • Sepultura Chaos A.D.(1994). Port Chester, NY: Cherry Lane Music.