- Release date:
- July 29, 2008
- Artist/Band name:
- Soulfly
- Record label:
- Roadrunner
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.soulflyweb.com/
Backstory: Max Cavalera made a name for himself in the metal community (and outside of it) with his work in forward-thinking thrash masters Sepultura. With Soulfly, the Brazilian guitarist/singer continues to work new influences (from Middle Eastern to dub) into his heavy metal assault.
Why you should care: Six albums in, and Soulfly has locked into a groove that recalls the best elements of Cavalera’s old band with some interesting new touches—not every band could twist a speed-metal anthem like “Doom” into a mellow, reggae-tinged affair by song’s end. Although the war imagery on “Conquer” gets a little old and monosyllabic, the simplistic lyrics actually make the songs more memorable; hey, it’s hard to forget a chorus like “Blood! Fire! War! Hate!” And nice twist on “Paranoia,” which flips the scream-sing dynamic that’s all too pervasive in today’s hard rock—here, it’s the chorus that’s growled out in indecipherable blasts.
Verdict: Solid old-school metal with enough twists and turns to keep the “I’d rather listen to old Sepultura” hordes at bay, but probably not enough to pull in a casual metal fan.
X-Factor: If you like Cavalera’s work old and new, this is your year! A few months back, Max reunited with his brother and ex-bandmate Igor to record the Cavalera Conspiracy’s debut record. And Max’s old band, Sepultura, is hard at work on a new album, reportedly a concept record inspired by “A Clockwork Orange.” No Cavaleras will be present for that recording, however.
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