In a new interview with Germany’s Moshpit Passion, Max Cavalera shared insights about the possible musical direction of Soulfly‘s upcoming album, which will be a follow-up to 2022’s “Totem.”
Reflecting on the band’s evolution, Cavalera noted (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), “I really liked the early Soulfly stuff because it was more tribal and more groove. And now because I have the Cavalera and Go Ahead And Die projects, I can be as heavy as I want with Cavalera it leaves me Soulfly to be something quite different. I can mold Soulfly a bit different now where Soulfly is really kind of more of a groove-oriented tribal band.”
Cavalera emphasized that this new direction is not an attempt to follow trends, saying, “It’s not that I’m jumping on the bandwagon of nu metal; it’s not really that. It’s just that I think that the early Soulfly had some kind of magic that, through the years we kind of lost that magic. And I think we’re trying to bring it back with this new record that is gonna come out next year.”
It seems the forthcoming thirteenth album is set to blend heavy breakdown grooves with tribal drums, drawing inspiration from the bands Max is listening to: “I think it’s gonna be cool because it’s also influenced by other stuff I’m listening to at the moment, like Kublai Khan and Jesus Piece and Knocked Loose, Judiciary. So there are really heavy breakdown grooves together with tribal drums. It’s gonna be cool, man. It’s gonna be a real cool album that I am very excited to create.”
This album also holds personal significance for Cavalera, who shared: “And, of course, also the fact that my mother passed away last year, I’m gonna make this album for her. It’s a homage to her. So it’s gonna be also a spiritual record for me because of that. So it’s gonna be a special record, for sure. It’s been two years since “Totem”. “Totem” was our last record. I think we are inspired to create something special next year.”