Sepultura – The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart (2013)
Sepultura’s The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart (2013) is one of the band’s heaviest and most aggressive modern-era releases. Issued through Nuclear Blast, the album draws inspiration from the 1927 silent film Metropolis and delivers a crushing blend of thrash, groove, and death metal influences.
Often shortened by fans to simply “The Mediator”, this record marked a darker and more extreme direction compared to 2011’s Kairos.
Album Overview
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Artist: Sepultura
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Album Title: The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart
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Release Date: October 25, 2013
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Label: Nuclear Blast
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Producer: Ross Robinson
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Genre: Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Death-Influenced Metal
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Length: 47:30
The album title references a central message from Metropolis:
“The mediator between head and hands must be the heart.”
Concept and Themes
Inspired by Fritz Lang’s classic film Metropolis, the album explores:
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Class struggle
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Industrial oppression
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Emotional disconnection
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Human vs. machine dynamics
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The need for empathy in leadership
Unlike A-Lex, this is not a strict narrative concept album. Instead, it uses the film’s philosophy as thematic fuel for raw and emotionally charged songs.
Producer Ross Robinson (known for his work with Korn, Slipknot, and Soulfly) pushed the band toward a more organic, visceral sound focused on emotional intensity rather than polished perfection.
Tracklist
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Trauma of War
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The Vatican
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Impending Doom
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Manipulation of Tragedy
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Tsunami
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The Bliss of Ignorants
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Grief
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The Age of the Atheist
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Obsessed
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Da Lama ao Caos (Chico Science & Nação Zumbi cover)
The closing track, “Da Lama ao Caos,” is a tribute to Brazilian music pioneers Chico Science & Nação Zumbi, reconnecting Sepultura with their Brazilian cultural roots.
Album Credits
Band Line-Up
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Derrick Green – Lead Vocals
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Andreas Kisser – Guitars
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Paulo Jr. – Bass
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Eloy Casagrande – Drums
Eloy Casagrande’s drumming on this album is particularly intense, showcasing blast beats and technical flourishes that push the band into heavier territory.
Production Team
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Producer: Ross Robinson
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Engineering: Steve Evetts
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Mixing: Steve Evetts
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Mastering: Alan Douches
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Artwork & Design: Alexandre Wagner
Ross Robinson’s involvement marked a significant shift in sound, bringing raw emotion and a live-session energy to the recordings.
Album Cover & Booklet Design
The artwork reflects industrial dystopia and emotional conflict, aligning with Metropolis themes.
Design Highlights:
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Dark industrial imagery
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Mechanical textures symbolizing machinery and labor
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Stark contrasts between light and shadow
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Visual emphasis on humanity versus system
The booklet features gritty visual aesthetics and lyrics presented in bold formatting, reinforcing the album’s confrontational tone.
Critical Reception & Ratings
The album received generally positive reviews, especially for its heaviness and emotional intensity.
Notable Ratings:
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AllMusic: 3.5/5
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Blabbermouth.net: 8/10
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Metal Hammer: Favorable reviews
Critics praised:
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The raw production approach
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Derrick Green’s vocal performance
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Eloy Casagrande’s explosive drumming
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The album’s aggressive, no-frills songwriting
Some reviewers noted the stripped-down production was a bold move compared to the cleaner sound of Kairos.
Commercial Performance & Charts
The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart achieved solid results in key metal markets:
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Charted in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France
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Strong performance in Brazil
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Extensive European and Latin American touring
While not a mainstream chart-topper, it reinforced Sepultura’s consistent international presence.
Awards and Recognition
Although it did not receive major mainstream awards, the album:
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Appeared on several 2013 metal year-end lists
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Strengthened Sepultura’s modern-era credibility
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Expanded their fanbase among younger extreme metal listeners
Fun Facts & Trivia
🔥 Did You Know?
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The album title is one of the longest in heavy metal history.
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Ross Robinson encouraged emotional vulnerability during recording sessions.
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The band recorded much of the album live in the studio to capture raw energy.
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“Trauma of War” was inspired by a real-life account from a soldier suffering PTSD.
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The closing Brazilian cover song connects back to Sepultura’s cultural heritage.
Why This Album Matters
This 2013 release represents:
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A darker and heavier modern Sepultura
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A return to raw production aesthetics
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Emotional intensity over technical polish
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Strong social and philosophical themes
For fans of aggressive Sepultura eras like Arise or the intensity of Chaos A.D., this album delivers uncompromising heaviness with mature thematic depth.
Final Thoughts
The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart stands as one of Sepultura’s most emotionally charged records of the 2010s. With Ross Robinson’s raw production, crushing riffs, and philosophical undertones inspired by Metropolis, the album proves the band’s continued relevance in modern heavy metal.
For listeners exploring Sepultura’s later discography, this release is essential — heavy, thoughtful, and unapologetically intense.
Download Sepultura Albums from Amazon
More Albums:
Sepultura - Machine Messiah (2017)
