PRIMITIVE FUTURE: METAL, TIME AND NEOLIBERALISM IN SEPULTURA'S MUSICAL PRODUCTION (1989)

Abstract

“Primitive Future”, the last track on the album Beneath the Remains (Roadrunner Records, 1989) by the Brazilian band, Sepultura, marked the consolidation of the group's global circulation and the beginning of its commercial success. However, it also raises questions about the historical-temporal perceptions of the period. Musically, the song is focused on the pulse and horizontal motifs (riffs) that are developed in fast tempo. In addition, it does not have a defined tonal center, thus creating a tense atmosphere through minor second and augmented fourth intervals. The same happens with the lyric that describes a post-apocalyptic future. Therefore, the question here is what historical conditions allowed the production and global circulation of a pessimistic song in relation to the future. In particular, both the rise of neoliberalism and presentism are examined, consequently, the constitution of capitalist realism and its performance as a social imperative in a globalized context are also analysed.