SEPULTURA's ANDREAS KISSER: Under 'A Fascist Government Or A Dictatorship, The First One To Suffer Are Arts: Movie Theaters, Music, Paintings, Poems, Newspapers'

In a new interview with The Adventures Of Pipeman, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser spoke about how authoritarian governments have learned that controlling art is a shortcut to controlling perception. Addressing the fact that authoritarians have always tried to control the creative community and ruthlessly stamp out art contrary to their ideology, Kisser said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "That's why they are scared of art and culture. On a fascist government or a dictatorship, the first one to suffer are arts — movie theaters, music, paintings, poems, newspaper text and books and so on. They are the first. Why do they burn books? Because they change people… Because arts, it touches you in a very unique way. That's a self-knowledge process, to watch a painting or to paint yourself or listen to music and whatever, whatever art form, it helps you to self-knowledge and for evolution, self-evolution. And that's why people are scared. Because they want us stupid so they can control [us]. Divide and conquer."

Elsewhere in the chat, Kisser talked about his belief that the heavy metal is culturally inclusive, with a rich and varied audience — including many women and older adults — that embraces an array or religions, sexual orientations and political leanings.

"It's a great family. The heavy metal community is a beautiful family," he said. "Very inclusive. No bullshit, no cancelations. [When JUDAS PRIEST singer] Rob Halford came [out publicly] about being homosexual, you didn't see any cancelation. Everybody really embraced [him]… [There are a lot of] women [in the scene], a lot of women bands. We have a black singer, Derrick Green. So many elements that heavy metal, it's built on it. That's why it's the most popular style in the world. SEPULTURA visited more than 80 countries in 42 years of a story, of a career. It's amazing, how music opened the doors, regardless of politics, dictatorship or religion. It's amazing. Very powerful."

Back in July 2020, at the height of the global coronavirus pandemic, Kisser spoke to a Polish fan about how the then-political situation could be used as a source of musical and lyrical inspiration. He said during Nuclear Blast's "Comic-Con@Home" event on Twitch: "The whole world, pretty much, is going through this right-wing type of point of view, whatever you wanna call that, for our society and politics and stuff. In Poland, they are going through the same kind of situation — I guess in the [United] States and here in Brazil as well. It's really a very sad situation, because it seems that we are going backwards.

"There were a lot of gains historically in human rights and the battle against racism and the women movement and feminism and all that, so it's really insane that we are going through this again, and more insane that there's a lot of people who still believe and really support that type of point of view or type of ideology," he continued. But music's here and metal saves. [Laughs] We have tons of stuff to talk about, and it really inspired us. You see around the '80s, when Ronald Reagan was the president of the United States and also very right wing, conservative and stuff, and all the battle and the war against drugs, which was a complete failure and a complete stupidity. But you see thrash metal and punk music, it really grew up a lot during those days. You see DEAD KENNEDYS and even METALLICA, you had the political themes that really inspired the musicians and they made great albums, which inspired me to be a musician and be in a band. So I think we have to take advantage of situations like that and be a little more positive and not really go down."

In a March 2022 interview with The Aquarian Weekly, Kisser blasted Brazil's then-leader Jair Bolsonaro as "the worst president ever. I dare say our president was worse than [U.S. president Donald] Trump was [during his first term]. The politicians have no respect for anyone other than their small group… Bolsonaro talks with stupidity about things from the past we thought we were finished with. There is no respect for the different races, the homosexuals, and the environment. Agriculture is one of the most important [parts] of our economy and the [variety] of toxic chemicals used is insane. Many of these chemicals have been banned in other countries, but not here. It's sad that we continue to step backward because of the political climate."

SEPULTURA's final show will take place on November 7, 2026 at the Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu in São Paulo, Brazil. Also appearing on the bill will be METAL ALLEGIANCE, featuring some of the most respected musicians in the global metal scene, including Mike Portnoy of DREAM THEATER, Alex Skolnick and Chuck Billy of TESTAMENT, Phil Demmel, formerly of MACHINE HEAD, Troy Sanders of MASTODON, and bassist/founder Mark Menghi. The lineup will also feature confirmed appearances by KRISIUN, one of the world's most respected death metal bands, and American thrash metal band SACRED REICH. Former members and musicians connected to SEPULTURA's history over the decades are also expected to join the celebration, including Jean Dolabella and Jairo Guedz, the latter of whom preceded Kisser in the band's lineup.

SEPULTURA recently released a new EP, "The Cloud Of Unknowing", via Nuclear Blast Records.

SEPULTURA kicked off its farewell tour on March 1, 2024 at Arena Hall in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The sold-out show marked the band's debut performance with drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who previously played with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES.

SEPULTURA announced previous drummer Eloy Casagrande's departure on February 27, 2024, explaining in a statement that he was leaving to join "another project", with Eloy later confirming that he was the new drummer of SLIPKNOT.

The news of Eloy's exit from SEPULTURA came just two months after the band announced it would celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024 by embarking on a "farewell tour" which would cover the entire globe.

In SEPULTURA's statement, the remaining bandmembers expressed their shock over Casagrande's departure, saying they were "taken by surprise" that their now-former drummer would "abandon everything related to SEPULTURA" less than a month prior to the start of the tour.

SEPULTURA is putting together a live album commemorating its last run of shows. The band is recording 40 songs in 40 different cities for what SEPULTURA said will be a "massive compilation of our best, most energetic moments on stage."

Photo courtesy of Nuclear Blast