Schizophrenia (Sepultura album)

Schizophrenia
The artwork (possibly done with airbrush) gives a view through a recently broken window (pieces are still midair) of a man with long stringy hair in a straightjacket. His mouth is open as if shouting and he is wearing some sort of metal headband. Behind him there is a horizon in the red crepuscular phase and in the sky above, as if formed from the clouds, there is an image of the top half of a grey face with red eyes that have vertical slit pupils whose gaze is focused on the man. The band name "Sepultura" is written in red-outline font in the upper right hand corner and the album name "Schizophrenia" is written in uppercase in a filled-in red wavy partially-double-image font in the lower left.
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 30, 1987
RecordedAugust 1987
StudioJ. G. Estudio (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
Genre
Length37:49
LabelCogumelo (Brazil)
Roadrunner Records (International)
Producer
  • Sepultura
  • Tarso Senra
Sepultura chronology
Morbid Visions
(1986)
Schizophrenia
(1987)
Beneath the Remains
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Schizophrenia is the second studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released on October 30, 1987 by Cogumelo Records. It is the first album for the band with Andreas Kisser. The album's sound leans more towards the death/thrash metal genre than the previous album Morbid Visions, which is stylistically closer to black metal.[2][1] All songs were recorded during August 1987. The reissue of 1990 has a bonus track "Troops of Doom" which was recorded during August 26–27, 1990.

In America the band sent radio playlists at the time when they were struggling to book gigs because club owners were afraid to book them due to their style.[3] Roadrunner Records signed them and released Schizophrenia internationally before seeing the band perform in person.[4][5]

The album was re-recorded by Cavalera, featuring original Sepultura members Max and Igor Cavalera, for release on 21 June 2024.[6]

Musical style

Kisser states that, when he joined Sepultura in '87, he

...brought in some new influences - traditional heavy metal and a more melodic style. It was an immediate meeting of minds. We understood where each other was coming from musically and we knew we could find a way to put all our influences together and make the music work.[7]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Max Cavalera and Andreas Kisser; all music is composed by Sepultura, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Intro"0:31
2."From the Past Comes the Storms"4:55
3."To the Wall" (lyrics by Vladimir Korg)5:36
4."Escape to the Void"4:38
5."Inquisition Symphony" (instrumental)7:13
6."Screams Behind the Shadows"4:48
7."Septic Schizo"4:31
8."The Abyss" (instrumental)1:01
9."R.I.P. (Rest in Pain)"4:36
Total length:37:49
1990 reissue
No.TitleLength
10."Troops of Doom" (re-recorded in 1990, music and lyrics by Igor Cavalera, Jairo Guedz, Max Cavalera and Paulo Jr.)3:17
1997 remaster
No.TitleLength
11."The Past Reborns the Storms (demo version)"5:08
12."Septic Schizo (rough mix)"4:34
13."To the Wall (rough mix)"5:31

Personnel

Sepultura

Additional personnel

  • Henrique Portugal – synthesizers
  • Paulo Gordo – violins

Technical personnel

  • Tarso Senra – engineer
  • Gauguim – engineer on track 10
  • Scott Burns – mixing on track 10
  • Fabiana – photography
  • Jeff Daniels – producer (reissue)
  • George Marino – remastering (reissue)
  • Don Kaye – liner notes (reissue)

Cover art

The album cover by Ibsen Otoni was inspired by the Scorpions's 1982 album Blackout and by Anthrax's 1985 album Spreading the Disease.[8]

Charts

Chart performance for Schizophrenia
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[9] 34

References

  1. ^ a b c d Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Schizophrenia - Sepultura". AllMusic. Retrieved 2005-05-11.
  2. ^ Avelar, Idelber (2011). "Otherwise National: Locality and Power in the Art of Sepultura". In Wallach, Jeremy; Berger, Harris M.; Greene, Paul D. (eds.). Metal Rules the Globe: Heavy Metal Music Around the World. Duke University Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-8223-4733-0.
  3. ^ Baird, Robert (1993-05-12). "The Boys from Brazil Transplanted to Phoenix, Sepultura Strives for Death Metal with a Conscience". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  4. ^ "Sepultura". MTV. Archived from the original on November 28, 2005. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  5. ^ Colon, Suzan (1991-08-01). "Name That Tomb". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  6. ^ Max and Iggor Cavalera re-record Sepultura's Schizophrenia album Blabbermouth.net. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  7. ^ Shapiro, 1993, page 14.
  8. ^ "Storyteller - Sepultura album covers (Bestial Devastation, Morbid Visions & Schizophrenia)". Sepultura. July 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Sepultura – Schizophrenia". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2022.

Further reading

  • Shapiro, Marc (1993). Andreas Kisser Plays it Weird. Guitar presents Speed Demons of Metal, 12–14, 27.