Brazilian thrash metal legends SEPULTURA debuted the new track "The Place" live on March 20 at Metro City in Perth, Australia, marking the first performance of what will be one of the final songs the band ever releases. The performance kicked off the Australian leg of their farewell tour, bringing 40 years of SEPULTURA history closer to its definitive conclusion.
"The Place" is one of four tracks from "The Cloud Of Unknowing," the band's absolutely final release, due April 24 via Nuclear Blast. The EP also includes "All Souls Rising," "Beyond the Dream," and "Sacred Books." Vocalist Derrick Green has revealed that "The Place" "deals with immigrants who have come to a place seeking refuge," adding thematic weight to what is already an emotionally charged release.
The studio recordings feature drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who has been behind the kit for the band's farewell cycle. While the lineup has evolved dramatically since Max Cavalera's departure in 1996 and Igor Cavalera's in 2006, the remaining members have carried the SEPULTURA name with conviction through numerous albums and world tours.
The significance of this EP cannot be overstated. This is not a hiatus or a "we'll see" — SEPULTURA have been explicit that this is the end. Four decades of Brazilian metal fury, from the raw thrash of "Beneath the Remains" and "Arise" through the tribal experimentation of "Roots" and beyond, culminate in these final recordings.
For fans attending the Australian dates, the live premiere of "The Place" adds an extra layer of emotional resonance to what are already bittersweet performances. Every remaining show is one step closer to the final curtain for one of South America's most important metal exports.