SEPULTURA Guitarist: 'I Don't Want To Try And Live In The Past'

Kelley Simms of HailsAndHorns.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist Andreas Kisser of Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

HailsAndHorns.com: What were you trying to achieve on "Kairos"? What kind of sound were you going for?

Andreas: Every time SEPULTURA goes into the studio, we try to get the live sound that we have on the stage and try to reproduce that in the studio. When you're in the studio there's lots of tricks; different amps, things you want to try and create stuff. We decided not to do that just bring the stuff we use on stage. The instruments we use, no more no less, and work with that. In the end, we mixed a little overdub in a live situation; we tried to keep it live as possible. Having Roy Z work with us in the studio he's a producer with excellent know-how inside a studio. And he's a very active musician. He's not a frustrated musician like most producers are. Roy has the best of both worlds; with his know how in the studio, his experience and sensibility performing on stage. We're very happy with the results.

HailsAndHorns.com: "Kairos" seems to have that classic thrash sound and the pace is so menacing. Were you going for a certain sound or feel, or did the songs just come naturally?

Andreas: Both. We had it in our mind to do something like that; to really get a balance. We celebrated 25 years of SEPULTURA last year. Naturally, we have a balance of our whole career, about everything that happened. You remember how you used to do things. With vinyl, you have a realization of time. That's why the classic stuff like [METALLICA's] "Master Of Puppets" or [SLAYER's] "Reign In Blood" are still good. We wanted to go back and immerse ourselves with that. Stay in the vinyl state of mind, the things we used to do. That naturally brings the kind of environment and feeling we had. Just jam, that kind of feeling. We're not trying to reproduce or copy our old ways that would be very stupid. "Kairos" is the musical expression of that feeling. The lyrics talk about the fans, our relationship with managers, record labels, our families, everybody. It's a very personal album and I think it's believable for the fans, because they are a part of that, more than anybody else.

HailsAndHorns.com: There were kind of some harsh words or miscommunication a few months back between the band and Max [Cavalera, former SEPULTURA guitarist/vocalist] about a reunion. Of course, a lot of people would like to see you reunited with the Cavalera brothers. But, do you think this is a possibility some time in the near future? Is everything still good between you guys, or is there no communication at all?

Andreas: The whole reunion thing for us to bring the past back is impossible; it would be ridiculous. I don't know what people expect from that. Most of the people who want a SEPULTURA reunion have never seen SEPULTURA before. They (Max and Igor) were an important part of the band, they started all this stuff, but they chose to leave and it is what it is. I don't see any possibility of that happening. We talk to each other finally got in touch. At least we have a channel of communication that is very healthy and positive. But that doesn't mean we're going to work together, it has nothing to do with that. I respect every type of feelings and it's really hard to define exactly what a SEPULTURA fan is. I don't want to try and live in the past. I don't want to be trapped there. Some people are still there. I don't want to see our band in a nostalgic way. We have an incredible story, but here we are. And that's the most important thing; here we are now.

Read the entire interview from HailsAndHorns.com.

Photo credit: Alex Solca