Quadra (album)
Quadra is the fifteenth studio album by Brazilian metal band Sepultura, released on February 7, 2020. It is a concept album based on numerology, the number four and its significance as depicted on Quadrivium. The band went to Sweden to work with producer Jens Bogren for the recording of "Quadra". The album is the band's most successful record since 1998's "Against", charting in 17 countries and entering the top 20 in seven countries (eight, considering the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart). It is also their most successful album in Germany and Switzerland to date, exceeding the  chart positions of "Roots" (1996), with positions number five and number 13, respectively. Concept. Guitarist Andreas Kisser explained that the concept of the album is based on Quadrivium, which are the four subjects, or arts (namely arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy), taught after teaching the trivium. The word is Latin, meaning four ways. Based on this, the band divided the 12-track album into four sections of three songs each. The first being thrash metal songs, based on the classic Sepultura sound. The second section is inspired by the groove-percussion oriented sound the band explored in "Roots". The third  part has more progressive songs inspired by the track "Iceberg Dances" from "Machine Messiah", but is not all instrumental tracks. Side four features slow-paced and melodic tracks, similar to the song "Machine Messiah". Quadra is also the Portuguese term for sports court. Kisser stated that "everyone grows up in a different Quadra, shaped by rules and definitions. We are all determined by these concepts, our relationships, our careers. Our whole lives." When Derrick Green was asked during an interview with "BraveWords", "Which Sepultura album are you most proud of?", he replied, "Definitely "Quadra". It's the latest album, and  we really worked so hard on it. We have so many different elements from the past that have helped us get to here – where we are at right now. So, without a doubt in my mind, this is the strongest album that we've done together. And I'm extremely proud of it." Reception. "Quadra" received positive reviews. Thom Jurek of AllMusic wrote in a review: ""Quadra" is Sepultura's first album to actually stand on equal qualitative footing with their classic trilogy. It offers a series of tough, meaty, adventurous songs, that abundantly indulge raw power and emotion. Bogren 's production and Sepultura's execution are in perfect balance. Further, Green delivers a career-defining performance here. It is the first Sepultura album in decades to measure favorably alongside the band's classic output". Blabbermouth's Dom Lawson wrote that "Quadra" "plainly and loudly showcases the sound of a band at the height of their powers, both in terms of creativity and musicianship" and calls the album "one of their finest records yet". Metalriot.com chose "Quadra" as their number one album of 2020. Morgan Y. Evans wrote that the album ,"...is nothing short of a monument to a lifetime  in metal, the determined triumph of a legacy name never saying die and following their trusted vision over popular opinion. "Quadra" works on every level. In a year filled with so much death even the band's name vibrates on some heavy karmic level, but "Isolation" especially resonates deeply in a time of so much social upheaval for justice reform." The website Collector's Room included "Quadra" on the top 50 Brazilian metal albums of all time. "Metal Hammer" named it as the 30th best metal album of 2020. At the 2020 Metal Storm Awards, the album won a Metal  Storm Award for Best Thrash Metal Album.