Underground icon, extreme metal trailblazer, third world warrior, and leader of a diverse and dedicated tribe, Max Cavalera not only survives but thrives, blasting out riff after killer riff. The same voice, body, and spirit which launched Soulfly in 1997 summons impossibly heavy noise to this day, throwing down ten slabs of monstrous music on Soulfly’s twelfth album, 2022’s Totem.
We talk to Max about the latest Soulfly record as well as the upcoming tour to Australia as part of the Good Things Festival.
On the idea behind the new album “Totem”:
Max: Totem is a celebration of the spiritual nature. It was a 2-year journey writing with Zyon. This album is about all the joy, the fun, and the anger in Metal. I wanted to make a record connected to spirit animals, forests, environmental stuff. I’ve always been fascinated by nature. Traveling so much, I’ve gotten to see some amazing places.
On the track Scouring The Vile and having Obituary’s John Tardy as guest:
Max: ‘Scouring the Vile’ is Soulfly’s personal fuck you letter to cancer! The lyrics are angered by the loss of loved ones. It was amazing to share the vocals with an old veteran, John Tardy of Obituary.”
Max: On Soulfly finally returning to Australia for Good Things Festival:
I of course came back to Australia with my brother and with Killer Be Killed but not with Soulfly and not with a new record so we are very excited and everybody is really pumped up. We are still working with Dino Cazares (Fear Factory) on the live guitars which is great, Dino is a great guy.
Check out the full interview
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MJdzocalD4s
Listen to Podcast version on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KiSax1
Get Totem here: https://bfan.link/soulfly-totem
Get tickets here: https://www.goodthingsfestival.com.au
