SEPULTURA are done. The Brazilian metal institution played its final concert on Saturday, November 7, at Suhai Music Hall in São Paulo, closing a farewell run that began with the band's announcement in late 2023 and wrapping up four decades that started in Belo Horizonte in 1984.
The show was planned less as a goodbye than as a celebration of everyone who passed through SEPULTURA's story, and the guest list reflected that. Jairo Guedz, the guitarist who held the spot before Andreas Kisser and played on Bestial Devastation and Morbid Visions, came out for a run of early material: "Biotech Is Godzilla", "Slave New World" and "Troops Of Doom". João Gordo and RATOS DE PORÃO took over for "Reza" and two RATOS DE PORÃO covers, "Crucificados Pelo Sistema" and "Beber Até Morrer". KRISIUN guitarist Moyses Kolesne joined for "Itsári", played live for the first time since 1998, and "Kaiowas", with fans invited onto the stage. TORTURE SQUAD drummer Amilcar Christófaro sat in on "Beneath The Remains", and Kisser's son Yohan joined for "Convicted In Life".
The 32-song set, as logged on Setlist.fm, opened with "Arise" and also dug out "Altered State" (first time since 2013) and "We've Lost You" (first since 2015). Kisser's guitar solo came with a live painting, and the night ended the only way it could: a drum solo, a shortened "Ratamahatta" and "Roots Bloody Roots".
The concert was originally booked for the Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu stadium, which holds about 26,000, before it was moved in September to the 9,000-capacity Suhai Music Hall. KRISIUN, SACRED REICH and METAL ALLEGIANCE opened.
Kisser has refused to call the end permanent. Asked recently on Metal On Tap whether he'd rule out a reunion, he said he doesn't rule anything out, but that the point is to stop now and take time to look in a different direction. "SEPULTURA is not gonna die," he added, comparing the band's legacy to MOTÖRHEAD, which lives on even without touring.
From Beneath The Remains and Arise to Chaos A.D. and Roots, SEPULTURA put Brazilian heavy music on the world map and played every major festival on the way. Saturday night was a fitting place to stop.