For over the past twenty five years, Brazilian native Max Cavalera has been one of the most important figures in heavy metal music. Formed in 1984, Max’s first band, Sepultura (Portuguese for ‘grave’) proved to be one of the most original and ground breaking heavier bands of the early nineties. Mixing traditional heavy music with really striking elements of world music, this truly was metal, but not was we had known it.

The band broke through to a strong following across the world with classic albums like Chaos A.D. and Roots. Apart from an incredible sound and the truly astounding drumming of Max’s brother Igor was how pertinent the band were on a lyrical level and a live front.

After leaving Sepultura in 1996 and being replaced by Derrick Green, Max Cavalera formed Soulfly. While continuing and broadening the sound he had created with Sepultura. More percussive and aggressive on a sonic front than Sepultura, Soulfly tends to concentrate more on the negative aspects of human existence lyrically, dealing with such issues as war, hated, and aggression, while looking at matters spiritual and religious.

Apart from his brilliant rhythm guitar abilities, Max’s utterly guttural and crushing vocal style are once again to the fore. Sounding like he’s been eating sandpaper and gargling lava, Cavalera has one of the most distinctive vocal styles and abilities in modern metal music. Since 1997, the band has released seven albums, the most recent of which was 2010’s Omen.

Now reunited with his brother Igor after a long period of estrangement, he divides his time between The Cavalera Conspiracy, where he is once again making music with Igor, and Soulfly, whose eighth album, Enslaved, is set for release later in March. Featuring visceral, bone crunching tracks like “World Scum” and “Treachery”, this new album sees the band in fine form.

“Soulfly was a chance to make a new beginning,” begins Cavalera. “I really tried to take advantage of this and thought of Soulfly as a new way of making music. The idea of having different members constantly coming in and out of the lineup is something I like. It keeps the music fresh and exiting. I created Soulfly fifteen years ago. The popularity of Soulfly has really increased over the past few years. I really want to make the band as big as possible.”

“The new record is based on slavery. It is a topic that is heavy and aggressive. There are explicit examples of slavery throughout history, such as Africans being taken to countries in slave ships, such as America and Brazil. Also, you have your hidden form of slavery in the modern world, such as child labour in third world countries like Thailand and China making products for Western consumers.”

“The issue of slavery is somewhat political and I don’t see many other bands talking about it in music. I thought it would be a good and original topic for the record. I feel very good about making it and think it fits in well with previous Soulfly material. There are many moods and strands that weave their way throughout the Soulfly sound and ethos. Enslaved adds another strand to it,” says Cavalera.

“The love that Igor and I feel for heavy music started with Queen. We saw them perform at a big stadium in Sao Paulo. Our cousin took us to the concert. Up until then, I had wanted to play football as a career. It was a revelation to see them live. That’s when Igor and I decided we wanted to play and write music. It was something really powerful that lead me to discover heavier music like Kiss and Led Zeppelin, and later discovering Venom, Celtic Frost and Slayer,” continues Cavalera, when asked about the point where he realised he wanted to dedicate his life to music.

“My Brazilian heritage is important to me. I play guitars with the Brazilian flag on them. Sepultura were the first metal band to truly break through from the western world. That we are in the same class in regards to Bob Marley, who was also a third world artist who broke through to the world in a big way, means a great deal to me. It definitely infuses my image and my outlook towards life.”

When asked what he thinks about Sepultura in its current form, featuring no original members, Cavalera is succinct and very to the point. “Nothing. I don’t think about it. I think what they do is a joke, and they are continuing to denigrate the name of something I created a long time ago. I wish they would stop, as what they do has no relevance whatsoever in what they do and in relation to what I intended when I formed Sepultura. I don’t see the point of their existence under that name.”

How does religion and faith influence the music of Soulfly? “These are very important in having a bearing over the music we make,” says Cavalera. “I dedicate all of the Soulfly albums to God – that’s always been my thing. We are not an overly religious band ourselves. Our music is for everyone, irrespective of personal belief or non-belief. I believe He has been there for me during some of the darker chapters of my life, and that’s why I’m not dead and have something to be thankful for. I don’t like to preach and people should be free to discover things for themselves.”

“I’ve always had a love for world music,” replies Cavalera enthusiastically when asked about the more exotic musical elements of Soulfly. “I have recorded local music that has been incorporated into what Soulfly do in countries like Turkey, Egypt, Russia and Serbia. I still search for musical inspiration and ideas when I travel. This is what led to using the didgeridoo on the outro of the Cavalera Conspiracy track “Blood Bath”. I love Aboriginal music since I heard the soundtrack for the Philip Noyce film Rabbit Proof Fence. I like to get to know more about musical sounds around the world.”

All of Cavalera’s musical endeavours have had a strong following in Australia. “It still blows my mind to know that we have fans across the globe. I have very positive memories of when we first toured Australia in the early nineties, for the Arise album by Sepultura. My memories of 1996 are quite hazy, as I was drinking vodka quite heavily at the time. 1999, but touring with Soulfly as part of the Big Day Out was a fantastic experience. It was heartening to see fans embrace the new band. We were playing with Korn and Marilyn Manson on the tour. It was a really great time.”

In all of his musical projects, Cavalera voice has always been very strong and distinctive. “In the early days of Sepultura, our original singer was ripping us off and was subsequently fired. We needed a singer. Igor suggested that I should sing. I tried it in the studio, singing in a death metal style, and it really brought something different and unique to the music. I want my voice to be like a trademark.”

“When you hear people like Lemmy from Motorhead, Joey Ramone from The Ramones and Tom Araya from Slayer, you immediately know who you are listening to. They sound unique to anyone else out there. I’ve never had formal training or singing lessons and I’m not interested in doing any of that. I’m more concerned with my vocal abilities sounding real and genuine.”

“We plan to tour Enslaved once the album has been released,” concludes Cavalera. “We’ll be doing quite an extensive world tour, followed by an American support slot for Five Finger Death Punch, and then an Asian tour. Hopefully, Soulfly will be back in Australia late 2012 or early 2013.”

Enslaved is out through Roadrunner Records on March 12. 

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