From out of the bedpan and into the purifying fire

(Review: Magnus Jørgensen)

It's impossible to describe the final Sepultura show in Denmark without some context: 15 minutes before the Brazilian legends take the stage, a band called "Bring Me The Horizon" finished their concert at Copenhell's main stage. I use the words 'band' and 'concert' with reservations, because calling it a band is being generous, and calling those emo boys' calculated, AI-graphics infected shitshow a concert is like calling rape a sexual encounter.

I need to vent, to rage, to scream. My six travelling companions have all joined me for this – we hope – defiant stand against all that is wrong with the world in general and metal in 2026 in particular. This has to rock. No, this has to KILL.

And lo and behold, founders Paolo Jr. and Andreas Kisser, alongside Derrick Green and new drummer Jason Nekrutman ("Newrecruitman", heh), kick off with "Inner Self" from their, in my opinion, finest record, "Beneath the Remains" ('89) , and we all scramble closer to the stage.

Sepultura are on fire. They come across as a band that has something to prove. I don't care about the nu-metal mire they got into in the latter half of the 90's; tonight, they are the champions of all that is good and true. The stage is showered in red and green lights, taking full advantage of playing after sunset. Derrick Green's huge frame owns the stage, Kisser and Paolo's strings scream with wrath, and Nekrutman thunders with immense energy and outrageous skill. What a band, what a sound!

"All Souls Rising" from their new EP, "The Cloud of Unknowing", slides seamlessly into the set. "Let's fight this fight!" Green bellows, and I haven't been this ready to fight since my last Manowar show. The staccato riffing and primal roars of the brilliant hard-hitter "Kairos" are razor-sharp, and while I'm not a fan of the "Roots" record, playing "Attitude" at this point is like waving a red flag in front of a wounded bull.

The crowd fucking erupts.

Another new song, "The Place", features devastating bass lines, venom-spitting vocals and a lightning-speed third part. It's a nice surprise, and covered in sweat, beer, and excitement as I am, it's also a moment for me to catch my breath before they launch into goddamn "Escape to the Void" from "Schizophrenia" ('87). On the album, the song is hamstrung by the awful sound and less than stellar musicianship. Here, it sounds like a thrash masterpiece.

Thank you, Sepultura. For 40 years of service to metal and for saving my and many others' night.

Now, the first half of the show was great, but from here on out it's all drum thumps, fist pumps and goosebumps. Todd La Torre and Casey Grillo (Queensrÿche) and Tony Palermo ("Papa Roach", bleh) join the band for the percussion-piece "Kaiowas", and the pummeling of the war drums is so loud, intense, and appealing to our primal urges that the four or five minutes pass by in a heartbeat.

At this point I could swear that I'm starting to grow hairs on my chest. Surprisingly, they play a third song off the new EP, the ballad "Beyond the Dream". It's a short, simple piece featuring a great solo by Kisser, and I had forgotten just how strong Greene's rusty-yet-resonant baritone is.

And then, the climax, the venting of all the pent-up frustration, all the seething hatred, all the righteous vindictiveness that is the result of witnessing not only an entire genre of music, but an entire fucking culture, being anally abused at the main stage of a festival that was supposed to celebrate it.

"R E – F U S E !!

R E – S I S T !!"

Thousands of voices scream in what takes on new meaning as a roar back against the crimes that have occured tonight. "Arise", "Ratamahatta" and "Roots Bloody Roots" follow in a triumphant finale.

As my friends and I go for a seven-man embrace, I see many other groups of people hugging, and they all have that look in their eyes: We will not yield. We're tired and our throats are hoarse, but we end the evening filled with the magic of metal.

Thank you, Sepultura. For 40 years of service to metal and for saving my and many others' night.

Rating: 5.5 out of 6

Genre: Thrash metal
Venue: Copenhell, Hades Stage
Date: Thu., June 25th, 2026

Thanks for reading.
If you liked this review, you can support a metal brother by buying me a coffee.

Setlist:

1. Inner Self
2. All Souls Rising
3. Kairos
4. Attitude
5. The Place
6. Escape to the Void
7. Kaiowas
8. Beyond the Dream
9. Refuse/Resist
10. Arise
11. Ratamahatta
12. Roots Bloody Roots