Cavalera Brothers Return to “Chaos A.D.”
The thrumming of a heartbeat announces the return of the Cavalera brothers to their most volatile recording, the carnage-driven, adrenaline-fueled onslaught that is only known as “Chaos A.D.” Just over thirty years ago Max and Iggor Cavalera took the world by storm when they released their fifth studio album upon the masses, a record that has stood the test of time through the decades. Though the years have passed, “Chaos A.D.” is as timeless and relevant as the day it was released. While wars are waged around the globe, violence is witnessed in the streets, hate and disparity are rampant in our everyday lives, albums like “Chaos A.D.” are what bind us together, being a prospect of light in an otherwise bleak and corrupt world.
Released October 19, 1993, “Chaos A.D.” effectively announced to the world that metal could fuse with and absorb native musical elements from anywhere. The album marked a pivotal moment for Sepultura, as they transcended their previous thrash metal style and began incorporating elements of hardcore punk, industrial music, and traditional Brazilian percussion. This groundbreaking approach helped develop the groove metal style and would become one of the founding pillars of the subgenre, influencing countless bands throughout the 1990s and beyond.
The album peaked at number 32 on the Billboard 200 and achieved both silver and gold certifications. What makes “Chaos A.D.” particularly unique is its fearless experimentation with different musical elements while maintaining the brutal intensity that Sepultura was known for. Its boundary-pushing approach laid the groundwork for subsequent subgenres like nu-metal and groove metal, inspiring bands like Korn, Slipknot, and Machine Head.
This fall, Cavalera will be embarking on a U.S. tour celebrating the album, kicking off with an appearance at Louder Than Life on September 18th in Louisville, Kentucky, followed by a major gig supporting Slayer on September 20th in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The celebration wraps up at the Ferris Wheelers venue in Dallas, Texas, on October 18th. All dates will be opened by Fear Factory unless otherwise noted, or it’s a festival date.
With the obvious success of their recent re-recordings, it is guaranteed that the Cavalera duo will be bringing their top-notch energy and proficiency to reviving “Chaos A.D.” on stage. Songs like “Refuse/Resist,” “Territory,” “Slave New World” and “Propaganda” have been heralded as anthems for the underdogs, and to witness these tracks brought back to life is nothing short of a blessing. Interestingly, the introduction to “Refuse/Resist” features an in-utero recording of Zyon Cavalera’s heartbeat, adding a deeply personal touch to the album’s opening assault.
“Chaos A.D.” is still regarded as one of the most influential recordings of the nineties, garnering them gold record status and a benchmark in the halls of heavy metal history. Max Cavalera himself has described the album as “a defining moment in metal,” and its impact on the genre is undeniable. In 1993, Sepultura were ready, willing and certainly able to leap from cult status to being major players on the metal scene.
The album’s social consciousness also set it apart from many of its contemporaries. Unlike previous records that dealt with bleak, post-apocalyptic worlds, “Chaos A.D.” marked a transition toward more politically aware themes. This shift toward addressing real-world issues while maintaining crushing heaviness made the album resonate with fans on multiple levels.
Max shouts out a rallying cry, ‘Tanks on the streets, confronting police, bleeding the plebs!’ And Iggor thunders through the drum intro to “Territory” like an Apache Helicopter. Silence means death! Stand on your feet! Cavalera will be bombarding the states, decimating every stage they encounter as if they were a warzone. For those who lived through the original “Chaos A.D.” era and newcomers alike, this tour promises to be a devastating reminder of why this album remains a cornerstone of extreme metal three decades later.
US Tour:
09/18/2025 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
09/20/2025 – Hershey, PA @ Hershey Park Stadium
09/21/2025 – Liverpool, NY @ Sharkey’s Event Center
09/23/2025 – Norwalk, CT @ District Music Hall
09/25/2025 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’s Entertainment Center
09/26/2025 – Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
09/27/2025 @ Hammond, IN @ Horseshoe
09/28/2025 – St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag
10/01/2025 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
10/02/2025 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
10/05/2025 – Sacramento, CA @ House of Blues
10/07/2025 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
10/10/2025 – Las Vegas, NH @ House of Blues
10/11/2025 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
10/12/2025 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
10/16/2025 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
10/17/2025 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
10/18/2025 – Dallas, TX @ Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ
