Soulfly wasted no time in releasing an eponymous debut album that would go on to reach number 79 in the Billboard 200. They developed their metal sound to invite influences from traditional South American music. They released their second album “Primitive” on September 26th 2000, on the prestigious alternative music label, Roadrunner Records, which made it to number 32 in the Billboard 200 chart, and number 11 in the Independent Albums chart. The album featured appearances from Corey Taylor from Slipknot on the song “Jumpdafuckup” and Slayer front man, Tom Araya.
Next came the album “3” which was the third album by Soulfly released on June 25th 2002. It made it to number 46 on the Billboard 200 chart and was responsible for the singles “Downstroy” and “Seek ‘n’ Strike”. “Prophecy”, released on March 30th 2004, was the band’s fourth album. It has since sold 275,000 units. Cavalera invited some ‘world’ music influences, inviting Brazilian elements into the arrangement of the album. The album would reach 82 on the Billboard 200 but make it to 24 on the German Album Charts.
“Dark Ages” was the following instalment released on October 4th 2005. It featured the vocals from his son, Richie on “Staystrong”. The following album “Conquer” was a step in the right direction with the album charting not only at number 66 in the Billboard 200, but number 7 on the UK Rock Albums chart and then the top 40 of Germany, Austria, Australia, Finland and Netherlands. The sequential album “Omen” released on May 18th 2010, gave the band an anomalous number 1 in Greece.
Rising from the depths of probably the most instrumental bands in the development of thrash metal Sepultura, following his departure Max Cavalera formed Soulfly in 1997. Utilising the familiar sound he had helped create, Cavalera fed it into the band making use of traditional Brazilian tribal and world music while fusing it with death metal. His vision for Soulfly was to incorporate the idea of merging spirituality with sound. Their debut self-titled album was released the following year reaching number 79 in the Billboard charts. Subsequently they have gone on to release a further 8 studio albums and although the line-up since its inception has changed several times, Max Cavalera remains constant.
Summer festivals are one the best environments to see Soulfly live, they certainly don’t do things by halves. Before they even arrive an eruption of smoke fills the stage, accompanied by an operatic soundtrack as the crowd chant “Soulfly! Soulfly” to which the band run on stage. Kicking off the set with “Babylon” and then into “Prophecy” as Cavalera’s signature deep roar resonates through the air. From the offset the crowd waste no time in jumping up and down with their devils horns high in the air as the brutal drum beats raise the tempo to maximum. The intense breakdowns combined with the fierce strobe lights ignites organised chaos with various circle pits opening up in the crowd as they fling their bodies round and round before merging into mosh pits.
Soulfly have no qualms about owning the stage, the crowd is at their command. Cavalera is an excellent frontman as he enthuses the crowd with an unlimited supply of energy. If you’d forgotten where they were from, there are gentle reminders on stage right from the Brazilian flag hung from the drum riser, to the colours of their plectrums and even down to their customised guitars. Of course you can expect to hear some Sepultura classics like “Roots Bloody Roots”, “Refuse/Resist” and “Troops of Doom” thrown in the mix- it’d be rude of them not to! There are moments of pure brilliance when Marc Rizzo shreds the guitar like his life depended on it, simply mesmerising.
From start to finish the crowds are in motion as waves of bodies travel across the crowd. It’s not surprising, Soulfly have the innate ability to take over your body for the duration of their set and allowing you to let go of all inhibitions. Whatever musical projects Max Cavalera is involved with, you can expect pure magic.
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