Musica Diablo is akin to Sepultura’s Against and Cavalera Conspiracy’s debut album. There’s not much else to be said. It’s punky, thrashy metal. This time, it’s being peddled by Derrick Green, Max Cavalera’s replacement in Sepultura. The influences of Musica Diablo are undeniable.

What’s most appealing to me is the near-identical quality the solos and vocals are to Sepultura’s Nation, one of my favorite records to come from the post-Max era. In that, the album is successful. It demonstrates a larger vocal scope for Green and allows him to get rangier. At times, he even breaks out a low, throaty growl that’ll send shivers down your spine.

That’s not to say this is the best of the genre. Indeed, it’s so derivative of the genre the man Green replaced helped create, I can’t seem to find much to say about Musica Diablo that hasn’t been said about every album from every band to ever touch the Brazilian thrash genre. I hear Sepultura. I hear Soulfly. I hear Cavalera Conspiracy. I even hear a tiny bit of Ill Nino. Mostly though, I hear Slayer. This is an album that has little to no identity on its own.

A lack of originality is the greatest detriment to this album, but so is its thin, tinny mix. Green stands out the most and overpowers the music (even the guitars) to the point where it muddies up what the rest of the band is doing. The solos take the rest of the priority when Derrick breaks from his normal shtick. The drumming is either blast beats or a simple punk riff. The guitars are essentially the same few powerchords over and over. The most redeeming aspect of the music behind Green is the soloing, which is talented but still manages to be rather forgettable.

This album sounds like the live recording of a Slayer cover band that somehow wound up being tossed into Brazil and forced to belt out Sepultura B-sides. I know it’s harsh, but it’s what I hear and I have to be honest. Only the most diehard of Derrick Green fans need apply.

2.0/5