Celebrating Life Through Death with Sepultura at London Music Hall

It's Saturday night, and I'm in the pit at the London Music Hall. In a few short minutes, this crowd is going to go from zero to a Brazilian.

Sepultura stood on the stage in London, Ontario, for the last time when they stopped at the London Music Hall on Saturday, May 2, playing to a packed crowd. After 41 years, a very public and acrimonious split with the brothers who formed the band, 15 studio albums, and 20 million albums sold, Andreas Kisser has decided to make this two-year-long tour his last under the Sepultura moniker.

Unfortunately, I missed Biohazard as an opener. What I do know is that people wouldn’t stop talking about their set. That's not unusual. Biohazard is known for a great live presence and fantastic energy. Based on how they interact with fans during and after their sets, it's easy to understand why they are such a crowd favorite.

Exodus was next to take the stage. The Bay Area thrash pioneers have been touring on their new album, Goliath, which was released in March of this year. Goliath brings former frontman Rob Dukes back into the fold following the departure of Steve "Zetro" Souza. Exodus puts on a great stage show. Watching the dual lead guitars between Holt and Lee Altus is always a blast, and Dukes brings a certain menace in voice and presence that gives the band a heavier, grittier sound. The band put on a great set. Unfortunately, having seen Exodus previously on a full-sized stadium stage, it was almost uncomfortable watching them play on the front portion of the London Music Hall stage. Exodus put up screens on either side of the drum riser to hide the Sepultura background. Unfortunately, it made the portion of the stage they were using feel very shallow and crowded.

Sepultura started with "Beneath the Remains," the title track from their third studio album. The band is going out on top. They are sounding as strong as I've ever heard them. Their current drummer, Grayson Nekrutman, at 23, is one of the more impressive drummers I've seen over the last few years. Nekrutman was drumming for the crossover band Suicidal Tendencies prior to his stint with Sepultura. I don't know what his plans are for a gig after Sepultura concludes, but I'd count on seeing a long and successful career for that guy. Check him out online, particularly the opening he plays for the Sepultura song "Ratamahatta." Andreas Kisser was in great form and, like Exodus's Gary Holt, has a stage presence and musical skill that not only shapes the sound of his band but earns a reputation exceeding that of individual projects. The 19-song set was nearly two hours and showed why Sepultura has had such relevance even after major lineup changes and musical evolutions.

Sepultura started out as death-thrash, but over their first four albums, they went on to contribute to a new sound in groove and nu metal. The magic of the band was their fusion of Brazilian percussion and instruments with uncompromisingly heavy and brutal metal. The native rhythms and Latin musical influences give the music a chaotic but celebratory feel that makes their concerts special. In addition to their significant musical contributions, Sepultura will also leave a legacy of social commentary discussing political oppression, wealth stratification, police brutality, and anti-colonial sentiment. In a world of increasing social and political unrest, it's nice to see socially aware and well-informed musicians doing what music does best—upsetting the social apple cart and being the voice for the youth and the disaffected. Sepultura's influence and contributions to heavy music will resonate long after the band is gone.

Sepultura's final scheduled show of the "Celebrating Life Through Death" tour is slated for August 9, 2026.

Sepultura

SCORE ★★★★★ 5.0 / 5

Exodus