Everything ends, even legends. From poverty to putting their continent on the metal map, Sepultura have forged a story and a legacy which only an elite few in music could compare to. Through triumph, trials and tragedy, the band formed in Belo Horizonte over four decades ago have always worked extremely hard and pushed a message that stands against injustices past and present. This year, Sepultura says goodbye to the stage, but before they go, there's one last statement for them to make. The band are bowing out with four more songs, their first studio recordings with drummer Greyson Nekrutman, which combine to make up this EP, "The Cloud Of Unknowing." So, how does their last hurrah sound?

As one might expect, these four songs are something of a "best of" Sepultura, channeling the sounds, atmospheres and risks of the band since vocalist Derrick Green joined twenty nine years ago. The ferocious side of this era is felt immediately with "All Souls Rising," a rallying cry inspired by the Haitian slave revolt which translates to the current world under the thumb of dictators, criminals and tech moguls. In particular, it's quite reminiscent of the "Dante XXI" album, recalling "Dark Wood Of Error" and the solo section of "Convicted In Life" especially. It packs a hell of a lot into the song in only three minutes and there's a case for it being the best song on offer, or even the best they've released for a while.

Things then take a massive left turn and we have what I believe to be the first Sepultura power ballad. Don't panic, they haven't turned into Whitesnake or REO Speedwagon, but Green's clean vocals are used throughout "Beyond The Dream," complimented perfectly by Andreas Kisser's guitar work, which give the song something of a Mediterranean feel. Think walking through a coastal town in Greece or Spain in the evening, not elated, but content, and you'll have an idea of the song. Derrick Green has always had a soulful sound to his clean singing and you can really hear that side of him here. It's a memorable song that shows that even at the end, Sepultura are still willing to take risks, though one could argue it's a little basic by their high artistic standards.

From the mellow to mayhem, "Sacred Books" is the shortest song on the EP, but once again the band packs a hell of a lot into it. There's something a sludgy sound to this one, especially compared to Venezuela's Cultura Tres, who of course now count Sepultura bassist Paolo Xisto Jr. as a member. Soon enough though, the track catches the listener off guard with a piano passage, before becoming like a runaway train hurtling to its doom. In contrast to the previous song, there is an argument that it's too busy, perhaps even scruffy, but on the other hand, it's not unlike the group's earliest days, causing chaos through music.

Ultimately "The Cloud Of Unknowing" concludes with, "The Place." This song was chosen as the record's lead single and frankly, that was a bit of a strange choice. While it is varied, capturing the feeling of being trapped in a world of chaos while also showcasing melody and an underlying sense of dread in other places, it's not the most interesting song on the EP. It's not bad by any means, but it does seem a little disjointed and one might have expected more of an impact from what is, at least by appearance, the last Sepultura song.

So there you have it, the final four new songs from Sepultura. While I would love to say they went out with their strongest work in years, what we have is more of a reflective offering, which still offers excitement and sails into new waters. Whatever the future holds, be it a permanent rest, the odd live show, or God forbid, a battle over the rights to the name as we've seen from so many other beloved metal bands, Sepultura have called time on their own terms. They have, to use the name of their upcoming tour, celebrated life through death. Unapologetic and still exploring artistic endeavours to the very end, Sepultura will be sorely missed.