Dante XXI
After losing Max Cavalera to his own ambitions in Soulfly, Sepultura brought in Derrick Green, and then seemed to stumble a bit.  But that’s not the case here.Dante XXIis a powerful record, on that stands alongside of Sepultura classics likeBeneath The RemainsandChaos A.D..  Loosely based on Dante’s "The Divine Comedy" and clocking in at less than 40 minutes, this is hardcore thrash with a literary bent.  Using the classic Sepultura speed metal churn, "City of Dis" burns along with a strong vocal performance by Green.  But it isn’t a one-note piece of music either, as the band learned from their more experimental phase:  "Fighting On" digs in with a slower torch, while "Ostia" has a beautiful string instrument break.  Many people wrote the band off when Max left, but it would be a mistake to dismiss this album, as the band has once again found the same intensity they showed in their earlier years. --Robert Arambel