Embracing Your Roots With MAX CAVALERA From SOULFLY

Soulfly have long been a force unto themselves, spearheading the
movement of groove metal over twelve previous albums, integrating
tribal elements into metal with a passion and genuineness that is
as undeniable as it is brutal.
Proudly wearing his Brazilian heritage as a badge of honour,
frontman Max Cavalera has overseen Soulfly since its inception,
consistently raising the sonic bar with every new body of work.
This trend looks set to continue with the impending release of
Chama on October 24.
The album is already being touted by those who have heard it as a
return to the roots of Soulfly; a return to the gritty rawness that
accentuated their early albums such as 1998's self-titled effort as
well as Primitive, 3 and Prophecy. Capturing the essence of tribal
lore in every breath of music, Soulfly are at their best when
singing about their core ideologies, with Cavalera leading the
charge with honest, meaningful appraisals of lost lives, land, and
heritage.
Max himself has already said, "I'm excited to present it to
long-time Soulfly fans, it's a revival of our original sound", a
statement which may seem casual enough but is also one which has
sent scores of fans around the world in musical raptures of
anticipation.
HEAVY recently caught up with Max to go into greater detail. We
start by asking if, after 13 albums with Soulfly and countless more
with other projects, he still gets the same feeling of anticipation
that accompanies an album release.
"Oh yeah," he replied instantly. "No matter how many albums you
make, it's always the same; there's nervousness and anxiety. I
probably have a bunch of ulcers from making records, but it's a
cool excitement. It's fun. You're proud of the thing, you want to
hear what people think of it because that's what fuels it.
Everything that we do is for the fans to enjoy what we do, you
know. But I think right now, Soulfly is being more inspired than
ever before. I think this is a really good moment in Soulfly; a
really inspirational moment to make a record like Chama. And the
record is full of very strong songs and full of tribal grooves,
kind of back to the tribal beginnings of Soulfly with a lot of real
cool noise stuff in it, which makes it more modern. I've been
joking that this album feels like tribal technology. You have the
tribal beats, but with technology on top of it. If you love
Soulfly, this album is definitely for you. This is an album made
for Soulfly fans. If you don't like Soulfly, don't even waste your
time."
In the full interview, Max further shared his excitement and
anxiety about Chama, emphasizing its strong songs and a return to
tribal influences, blending traditional beats with modern
technology. He noted that the album is tailored for dedicated fans,
with themes reflecting Brazilian culture, including songs in
Portuguese and narratives inspired by personal and historical
experiences. Notable tracks like Always Was Always Will Be and
Indigenous Inquisition were highlighted for their experimental
sounds and thought-provoking content, addressing issues such as the
genocide of indigenous tribes.
Max also discussed the collaborative nature of the album's
creation, involving his son Zyon as a producer, which brought a
fresh perspective to the music. He expressed pride in the familial
contributions to the project and the emotional challenges of
writing authentically. The conversation included details about the
upcoming Australian tour featuring Soulfly, NailBomb, and Snot,
with Max expressing enthusiasm for the setlist and the opportunity
to connect with fans. Overall, the album represents a significant
moment for Max and Soulfly, capturing the essence of their musical
journey while looking forward to future endeavours.


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