What makes Choke by Sepultura notable?

Upon its release, 'Choke' received attention for its bold blend of genres, contributing to the rise of nu metal in the late 90s. The album's aggressive sound and thematic depth also resonated within the metal community, influencing countless bands that followed and solidifying Sepultura's position as pioneers in alternative metal. By 1999, Sepultura was transitioning into a new phase following the departure of frontman Max Cavalera in 1996. 'Choke' marked a significant point in their evolution as they began to explore different sounds while maintaining their heavy roots, coming off the heels of the critically acclaimed 'Roots' and representing a shift towards more experimental compositions.

How many songs are on Choke?

Choke has 3 tracks, running approximately 8 minutes.

Choke

Sepultura · 1999

8 min · 3 tracks · death metal

A raw and aggressive fusion of thrash and groove metal that confronts themes of despair and existential struggle.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Choke — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its relentless energy and poignant lyrics about suffocation and existential angst, illustrating the band’s ability to fuse heavy instrumentals with deeply emotional themes.
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Gene Machine / Don’t Bother Me — This track showcases a dynamic shift between intense grooves and melodic elements, reflecting the band's innovative approach to songwriting during this transitional period.
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Against (demo) — As an early version of a later album track, this demo offers insight into Sepultura's creative process and highlights their willingness to experiment with themes of rebellion and defiance.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

45 /100

Lowland

Higher than 5% of albums we've rated

The single showcases a blend of aggressive styles but lacks strong cohesion across its brief runtime.

What we noticed

The second track, 'Gene Machine / Don’t Bother Me', shifts to a slower groove, emphasizing rhythmic complexity and layered instrumentation.
The demo track 'Against' presents a rawer sound with less production polish, highlighting the band's early style while contrasting with the more refined tracks.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Marked a significant point in Sepultura's evolution post-Max Cavalera, gaining attention for its sound.
Themes: modern societal critique· post-Max evolution
Career context: By 1999, Sepultura was transitioning into a new phase following the departure of frontman Max Cavalera in 1996. 'Choke' marked a significant point in their evolution as they began to explore different sounds while maintaining their heavy roots, coming off the heels of the critically acclaimed 'Roots' and representing a shift towards more experimental compositions.
Stylistic neighbors: Soulfly· Pantera· Machine Head