Morbid Visions / Bestial Devastation

Although it's tempting to succumb to retroactive reevaluation, most critics agree that Sepultura's earliest efforts consisted of rather undercooked, unspectacular black metal, hardly foreshadowing their world-conquering output in the death metal field, just a few years ahead. Both 1985's Bestial Devastation EP and the band's first LP, 1986's Morbid Visions, were recorded with minimal time or money, and revealed a band of teenagers more preoccupied with shocking their parents than creating great music, and clearly still learning their craft. In fact, original lead guitarist Jairo T. was the only semi-decent musician of the bunch, but vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera, drummer Igor Cavalera, and bassist Paulo Jr. nevertheless contributed a mighty spirited racket on blackened thrashers like "Antichrist" and "Warriors of Death." Venom would have been proud. And yet Sepultura still showed early flashes of death metal inspiration on "Crucifixion" and "Show Me the Wrath," even though "Troops of Doom" (later re-recorded) is the only obvious standout on hand. Thankfully, Roadrunner has conveniently reissued Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation on one CD, lowering the price of admission for uncertain metalheads wishing to hear what all the fuss was about.