On Saturday, November 7, Brazilian heavy metal pioneers Sepultura brought an end to their influential four-decade career with a grand farewell performance at the 9,000-capacity Suhai Music Hall in São Paulo. The event marked the culmination of a global retirement tour designed to celebrate the band’s lasting impact on international heavy music.
Originating from Belo Horizonte in 1984, Sepultura grew from a raw, underground death/thrash outfit into one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed heavy metal acts to emerge from the Global South. Over their forty-year history, the group fundamentally reshaped extreme music by integrating relentless thrash rhythms, hardcore punk intensity, and traditional indigenous Latin American percussion.
The final concert featured the band’s modern lineup—guitarist and long-time leader Andreas Kisser, bassist Paulo Jr., frontman Derrick Green, and newly appointed drum prodigy Greyson Nekrutman. Spanning 30 tracks, the exhaustive setlist offered a complete retrospective of the group’s discography. The evening was further highlighted by guest appearances from former band members and prominent figures within the South American metal scene.
Despite behind-the-scenes attempts to orchestrate a full original reunion, founding brothers Max and Iggor Cavalera declined invitations to participate, leaving the contemporary lineup and guest performers to deliver the final curtain call on their own terms.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| EVENT QUICK FACTS |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Date: Saturday, November 7 |
| Venue: Suhai Music Hall (São Paulo, Brazil) |
| Capacity: 9,000 (Sold Out) |
| Total Setlist: 30 Songs (including 2-song encore) |
| Key Guests: Jairo "Tormentor" Guedz, João Gordo & Ratos de Porão, |
| Moyses Kolesne, Amilcar Christofaro, Yohan Kisser |
| Notable Absence:Max Cavalera & Iggor Cavalera (Declined Invitation) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Detailed Chronology: Inside the Farewell Performance
The final show at Suhai Music Hall was structured as a thematic journey through Sepultura’s evolutionary phases, balancing iconic anthems with deep cuts that had not been performed live in decades.
[EARLY CLASSICS] [CROSS-GENRE EXPLORATION] [PUNK & THRASH COLLABS] [FINAL ENCORE]
Arise / Altered State Deep cuts: Itsári & Kaiowas Reza w/ João Gordo & Jairo Guedz Ratamahatta & Roots
+--------------------------+------------------------------+----------------------------------+-----------------------+
| High-octane opening set | Indigenous acoustic-driven | Brazilian punk covers & classic | Tribal-groove metal |
| focusing on 1989-1991 | percussion interludes with | early thrash metal guest spots | explosive finale |
| thrash metal landmarks. | Moyses Kolesne. | featuring founding members. | with all-star energy. |
+--------------------------+------------------------------+----------------------------------+-----------------------+
The Opening Thrash Barrage
The evening opened with high-octane material from the band’s commercial peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sepultura took the stage to the opening riff of "Arise" (the title track of their 1991 breakthrough album), immediately triggering massive mosh pits across the arena floor. This was followed by "Altered State" and "Desperate Cry," demonstrating the current lineup’s technical precision. Drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who joined the band to replace Eloy Casagrande for the final tour, locked in with founding bassist Paulo Jr. to recreate the band’s signature rhythm section.
Mid-Set Rarities and Family Collaborations
As the set progressed into the mid-1990s and 2000s material, the band introduced several rare tracks back into their performance rotation. A highlight of the night was the inclusion of "Itsári," an acoustic, tribal-percussion track originally recorded with the Xavante tribe for the 1996 album Roots. The song had not been played live by Sepultura since 1998. Joined by Moyses Kolesne, guitarist of Brazilian death metal band Krisiun, the group transitioned from "Itsári" directly into the instrumental classic "Kaiowas."
The band also brought out several guest musicians throughout the evening, reflecting different eras of their career and personal connections:
Ethan Kahn and Sean Sterling (Chained Saint) joined for a rendition of "Propaganda" (Chaos A.D.).
Allan Wallace (Eminence) lent his guitar work to "Dusted."
Yohan Kisser, son of guitarist Andreas Kisser, joined the band onstage for "Convicted in Life" (Dante XXI).
Amilcar Christofaro (drummer of Torture Squad) stepped up to the kit to perform the title track of 1989’s "Beneath the Remains."
Punk Hardcore Crossovers and Historical Re-Emergence
The concert’s final third focused on Sepultura’s roots in the Brazilian underground punk and thrash movements. João Gordo, the vocalist of legendary Brazilian punk band Ratos de Porão, took the stage to perform "Reza," a track from Sepultura’s 1998 album Against on which he originally featured.
The rest of Ratos de Porão then joined Sepultura for a brief set of hardcore covers, performing "Crucificados pelo sistema" and "Beber até morrer."
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| GUEST APPEARANCE HIGHLIGHTS |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------+------------------------+
| Guest Musician(s) | Associated Band | Track(s) Performed |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------+------------------------+
| Ethan Kahn & Sean Sterling| Chained Saint | "Propaganda" |
| Allan Wallace | Eminence | "Dusted" |
| Yohan Kisser | Independent / Guest | "Convicted in Life" |
| Moyses Kolesne | Krisiun | "Itsári", "Kaiowas" |
| Amilcar Christofaro | Torture Squad | "Beneath the Remains" |
| João Gordo & Band | Ratos de Porão | "Reza", Covers |
| Jairo 'Tormentor' Guedz | Ex-Sepultura / The Troops | "Biotech Is Godzilla", |
| | of Doom | "Slave New World", |
| | | "Troops of Doom" |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------+------------------------+
One of the night’s most significant historical moments occurred when Jairo "Tormentor" Guedz stepped onto the stage. Guedz, who served as Sepultura’s original lead guitarist between 1985 and 1987 before being succeeded by Andreas Kisser, performed three songs with the band: "Biotech Is Godzilla,""Slave New World," and early death-thrash milestone "Troops of Doom."
The Climax and Encore
The main set concluded with a sequence of heavy metal anthems: "Beyond the Dream,""Territory," and the anti-establishment classic "Refuse/Resist."
Returning for an encore, the band delivered a final two-song sequence from their multi-platinum album Roots: "Ratamahatta" and "Roots Bloody Roots." Surrounded by guest performers, crew members, and family, Sepultura played their final notes, ending a 40-year live touring legacy.
Supporting Context & Metrics: A Four-Decade Evolution
Discography Overview
Sepultura’s evolution across fifteen studio albums reflects significant shifts in line-up and genre style over forty years:
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| SEPULTURA DISCOGRAPHY TIMELINE |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ERA 1: THE CAVALERA / GUEDZ ERA (Death/Thrash Beginnings) |
| • Morbid Visions (1986) |
| |
| ERA 2: THE CAVALERA / KISSER CLASSIC ERA (International Breakthrough) |
| • Schizophrenia (1987) |
| • Beneath the Remains (1989) |
| • Arise (1991) |
| • Chaos A.D. (1993) |
| • Roots (1996) |
| |
| ERA 3: THE DERRICK GREEN ERA (Groove, Experimental & Progressive Metal) |
| • Against (1998) • Kairos (2011) |
| • Nation (2001) • The Mediator Between Head... (2013) |
| • Roorback (2003) • Machine Messiah (2017) |
| • Dante XXI (2006) • Quadra (2020) |
| • A-Lex (2009) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Complete Farewell Setlist
The full 30-song setlist played at Suhai Music Hall spanned every major era of the band’s career:
"Arise"
"Altered State"
"Desperate Cry"
"All Souls Rising"
"Kairos"
"Means to an End"
"Propaganda" (feat. Ethan Kahn & Sean Sterling)
"Dusted" (feat. Allan Wallace)
"Convicted in Life" (feat. Yohan Kisser)
"Attitude"
"We’ve Lost You"
"Against"
"The Place"
"Itsári" (feat. Moyses Kolesne)
"Kaiowas" (feat. Moyses Kolesne)
"Dead Embryonic Cells"
"Beneath the Remains" (feat. Amilcar Christofaro)
"Breed Apart"
"Sepulnation"
"Reza" (feat. João Gordo)
"Crucificados pelo sistema" (Ratos de Porão cover, feat. Ratos de Porão)
"Beber até morrer" (Ratos de Porão cover, feat. Ratos de Porão)
"Biotech Is Godzilla" (feat. Jairo Guedz)
"Slave New World" (feat. Jairo Guedz)
"Troops of Doom" (feat. Jairo Guedz)
"Beyond the Dream"
"Territory"
"Refuse/Resist"
Encore:
"Ratamahatta"
"Roots Bloody Roots"
Official Statements: The Cavalera Invitation
While the farewell tour was designed as a celebration of Sepultura’s entire history, fan speculation focused heavily on whether original frontman/guitarist Max Cavalera and his brother, founding drummer Iggor Cavalera, would participate in the final performance.
Max Cavalera departed the band under contentious circumstances in late 1996 following management disputes during the Roots tour cycle. Iggor Cavalera remained in the group for another decade before leaving in 2006. The brothers later reunited in projects such as Cavalera Conspiracy and toured extensively playing early Sepultura albums under their own banner.
+----------------------------------------------+
| INVITATION & OUTREACH |
| Andreas Kisser contacts Iggor Cavalera; |
| Management teams open formal dialog. |
+----------------------+-----------------------+
|
v
+----------------------------------------------+
| RESPONSE RECEIVED |
| Cavalera brothers evaluate participation |
| in the final São Paulo farewell show. |
+----------------------+-----------------------+
|
v
+----------------------------------------------+
| FINAL DECISION |
| Max and Iggor decline the offer. |
| Sepultura proceeds with guest lineup. |
+----------------------------------------------+
Prior to the concert, guitarist Andreas Kisser clarified the band’s official outreach efforts in an interview with Metal Hammer, confirming that formal invitations had been extended to both brothers:
"We did invite the Cavalera brothers. I spoke to Iggor personally on a phone call a few months ago and we started some communication. Even our managers went to talk to their management and stuff. But, they don’t want to be a part of it, and that’s OK. It’s a choice."
— Andreas Kisser, lead guitarist of Sepultura
The Cavalera brothers ultimately opted to continue their own independent tour schedules rather than join their former bandmates on stage in São Paulo. Nevertheless, Kisser and the band maintained a respectful stance, ensuring that the contributions of the early era were recognized through the inclusion of early compositions and the guest appearance of Jairo Guedz.
Future Outlook: Legacy and Life After Sepultura
The Band Members’ Next Steps
With Sepultura officially retired from touring and studio releases, its current members are moving on to new creative endeavors:
Andreas Kisser: Expected to focus on production work, guest collaborations, and his solo acoustic projects. He remains an active advocate for music education and mental health initiatives in Brazil.
Derrick Green: Having fronted Sepultura for 26 years—longer than original vocalist Max Cavalera—Green plans to pursue television hosting, voice acting, and creative arts projects outside of heavy metal.
Paulo Jr.: As the sole remaining member who played on every Sepultura release, Paulo Jr. enters retirement from full-time touring, though he has hinted at staying involved in local Brazilian music initiatives.
Greyson Nekrutman: The 22-year-old drumming prodigy, whose profile rose sharply following his work with Suicidal Tendencies and Sepultura, remains one of the most sought-after session and touring drummers in modern rock and fusion.
Impact on Global Metal
Sepultura’s retirement marks the end of a primary bridge between Latin American music and global heavy metal. By proving that a band from South America could achieve international success while retaining their cultural identity, Sepultura paved the way for generations of international artists from non-English-speaking regions.
Their legacy rests on several key contributions:
Genre Blending: Pioneering the incorporation of tribal percussion and indigenous themes into extreme metal, directly inspiring the groove metal and nu-metal movements of the late 1990s.
Global Representation: Breaking down geographic barriers in an industry historically dominated by American and European acts.
Resilience: Navigating major lineup changes over forty years while continuing to release chart-topping, critically respected music like 2020’s Quadra.
While the band has officially retired from the stage, Sepultura’s catalog remains a cornerstone of heavy music history.
