Dante XXI

Dante XXI is the tenth studio album by Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura, released in 2006 through SPV Records.

It is a concept album based on the three sections of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory), and Paradiso (paradise). The album has five tracks based on Inferno (with just the band), five tracks based on Purgatorio (featuring the band with guests and other instruments), and the final track based on Paradiso (an instrumental).

The majority of critics have said that this is the best Sepultura album featuring Derrick Green on vocals. Sales of the album are disappointing, though not unexpected, since all Sepultura’s albums since Against have gradually had decreasing sales, only selling 2,300 copies its first week of release in the US.

This is also the last album to feature Igor Cavalera on drums; causing distress amongst fans who see Igor as one of the best metal drummers in the world.

After much positive feedback in South American markets, mostly Brazil, Dante XXI has sold 120,000+ copies worldwide as of January 2, 2008 and went Gold in Brazil and Cyprus (their first music industry certification outside of Brazil since Roots).