Slave New World

Sepultura's song 'Slave New World' is a powerful anthem that delves into themes of oppression, control, and the fight for freedom. The lyrics are a call to arms against the forces that seek to dominate and suppress individual thought and freedom. The opening lines, 'Face the enemy / Stare inside you,' suggest an introspective battle, urging listeners to confront their inner fears and the external forces that manipulate their thoughts. This duality of internal and external struggle is a recurring theme throughout the song.

The song critiques societal structures that impose censorship and prejudice, as highlighted in the lines, 'You censor what we breathe / Pre-judice with no belief.' These lyrics point to the pervasive control exerted by those in power, who stifle dissent and propagate senseless violence. The question, 'Who is it that keeps us down?' challenges listeners to identify and resist these oppressive forces. The song's aggressive tone and relentless energy mirror the urgency and intensity of this struggle.

In the chorus, 'Once all free tribes / Chained down led lives / Blood boils inside me / We're not slaves, we're free,' Sepultura evokes a sense of lost freedom and the burning desire to reclaim it. The imagery of 'free tribes' now 'chained down' serves as a powerful metaphor for the loss of autonomy and the dehumanizing effects of oppression. The declaration, 'We're not slaves, we're free,' is a defiant assertion of self-liberation and resistance. The repetition of 'Destroy, destroy 'em all' reinforces the call to dismantle the systems of control and reclaim personal and collective freedom.