Sepultura

After having released only one full-length album since 1996's acclaimed Roots album, many had come to question Sepultura's status as a leading heavy metal band. Surely, the departure of the band's leader, Max Cavalera, complicated matters with the group and diminished much of the its large fan base, but even the most loyal of fans were surprised by the band's inability to release new albums, with the exception of 1998's Against. Perhaps in a response to the continuing disinterest and impatience among the heavy metal community over Sepultura's lull, Roadrunner released the Tribus EP as an attempt to rekindle some sort of interest in the group. The EP's first song, "The Waste," features ex-Faith No More singer Mike Patton singing the chorus and stands as a wonderful song of percussive heavy metal. In addition to the tribal rhythms, the song also has some powerfully restrained guitar sounds that grind at a slow tempo only during the chorus, quite unlike the group's past style of trash metal. Patton steals the song with his signature chorus, eclipsing the band and making the song sound like a demonic version of Faith No More. This EP also features alternate versions of "Tribus," "Unconscious," "Common Bonds," and "F.O.E.," along with an unreleased song, "Prenuncio." ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide