Soulfly do have a substantial gathering of releases, the last album in 2012 from these mighty tribal groovers Enslaved featured a semi transformed line up with a new bass player and drummer. I really enjoyed the changes that accompanied this album when Soulfly created one of their best not to mention heaviest recordings yet. Soulfly are now unleashing their ninth album since debuting with Soulfly in 1998, 2013's release is titled Savages and there is another drummer this time front man Max Cavalera's son Zyon who put his hand up for the position, and Zyon impresses on songs like "K.C.S.". Quite a different role to that which he played on the Sepultura metal classic Chaos A.D. from 1993 as it's actually Zyon's heartbeat that can be heard at the introduction.
The core of Soulfly remains, that is guitarist/vocalist Max Cavalera and guitarist Marc Rizzo who have become one of the most imposing metal duos. Vocal guests on Savages include Igor Cavalera (Lody Kong) Max's other son on "Bloodshed", Neil Fallon (Clutch) on "Ayatollah Of Rock 'N' Rolla", Mitch Harris (Napalm Death) on "K.C.S", Jamie Hanks (I Declare War) on "Fallen" and Tony Campos returns with bass and backing vocals.
You clearly get the impression that with a title like Savages Soulfly's latest will be packing a good deal of hostile metal as it does. Savages is an intense mixture of gigantic riffs and that groove the band is known for, incorporating thrash and death metal and this is not an album packed with short songs or full of flat out speedsters. A titanic groover with a bombastic chorus "Bloodshed" is the addictive introduction to Savages, Soulfly are still one very heavy group pummelling the listener whether it's a frantic song like "Cannibal Holocaust" or the almighty metal groove of "K.C.S.". Soulfly retained that catchiness throughout the years without easing back on the heaviness if anything they just got more intense. Zyon gets busy on "Fallen" as groove meets death metal and with such a cool title "Ayatollah Of Rock 'N' Rolla" also wins in the music department as this song rocks hard."Master Of Savagery" hits without mercy the guitars just sound so massive on this track coupled with Max's intense growls. "El Comegente" a track about a real life serial killer who was also a cannibal takes an interesting and appealing musical turn, switching from that hardened metal to a lighter Zeppelin feel that doesn't sound at all out of place. Max's vocals are sounding as aggressive as ever on this album and the music just sounds so imposing the Soulfly of 2013 is still a metal colossus.
Savages is the continuation of an impressive string of recordings, when Max departed Sepultura it was not long before my interest in that band ceased but with Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy that great metal lives on.
Track Listing
1. Bloodshed
2. Cannibal Holocaust
3. Fallen
4. Ayatollah Of Rock 'N' Rolla
5. Master Of Savagery
6. Spiral
7. This Is Violence
8. K.C.S.
9. El Comegente
10. Soulfliktion
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