If judged solely by the quantity of albums he has launched all through his profession and his seemingly endless touring schedule, Max Cavalera needs to be one of many hardest working gents in all of steel. And this has been the case for many years, as evidenced by his work with numerous bands: Sepultura, Nailbomb, Soulfly, Killer Be Killed, Cavalera Conspiracy, and so on. Max additionally created a Soulfly bio for Various Nation the place he discusses burying an album with Deftones’ Chino Moreno.
And on October 24, 2025, Soulfly (for which Cavalera has been the singer/guitarist for since 1997) will subject their thirteenth studio effort total, Chama, by way of Nuclear Blast Information. And shortly earlier than the album dropped, Cavalera chatted with Various Nation concerning the LP, in addition to just a few essential happenings that occurred not too long ago inside the steel world, as effectively.
Various Nation: Let’s talk about the brand new Soulfly album, Chama. What makes it completely different from earlier Soulfly albums?
Max Cavalera: Each report is completely different. There’s some that, for some cause, they’ve one thing in it that’s arduous to elucidate what it’s, however it makes them stand out. And also you form of know which are going to face out and it’s going to be a special form of report straight away. It’s bizarre how that works. I felt it on [1998’s] Soulfly I, [2000’s] Primitive, a little bit bit later, [2005’s] Darkish Ages. And now, Chama has the identical form of factor. It’s virtually like a rebirth, reinvention of itself. However I feel it’s a mix of all of that.
After which, after all, the best way the report was produced, having Zyon [Cavalera, Max’s son] producing the report and Arthur [Rizk] combine it. These two collectively are two evil scientists. It was unimaginable. It was actually cool to see them collaborate on the report collectively. Simply feels very completely different. It feels new. It feels contemporary. Feels uncooked. I really feel very impressed proper now for this report. It’s a very cool report in my profession.
Various Nation: Your son, Zyon, produced the album. How was it working with him in a manufacturing capability and what does he deliver out within the music?
Max Cavalera: The best factor about having him as a producer is that he he’s not a producer. And that, to me, makes it thrilling. As a result of it’s virtually such as you throw the rule e book away, and also you simply do the whole lot form of by feeling.
And I keep in mind telling him, ‘Produce this factor, however don’t be a ‘sure man.’ Like, if I present you a riff, don’t really feel like it’s a must to inform me that you just prefer it if you happen to don’t prefer it. I form of need you to problem me. Don’t go loopy both. If it’s a superb riff, we’re going to vote, and settle for that may be a good riff.’ However I feel that difficult factor was cool as a result of it actually pushed me to attempt to do higher, attempt to make higher sonic selections. Higher songwriting typically.
And I feel the truth that he was so impressed and excited to supply the report, that was actually wonderful. I’ve labored with many producers earlier than, and typically, a few of them don’t…not that they don’t care, however it’s virtually prefer it’s irrelevant for them what occurs to the report. And for Zyon, it was the full reverse – he cares very a lot about what occurs to the report.
We actually tried to present this report a therapy that was completely different from the whole lot else that I’ve accomplished, too. So we report all of the riffs, after which we did like a bunch of noise pedals, and we choose these quick elements of these battles, guitar noises to place all through the entire report. So I feel you’ve gotten a report that has a whole lot of tribal groove parts, but additionally has trendy digital noises on prime of it that makes it related, makes it now, makes it trendy. And that makes it distinctive. I feel that that provides the report a particular taste.
Various Nation: What are your ideas regarding the way forward for steel?
Max Cavalera: It’s key to attempt to provide you with completely different stuff. A superb instance that to me I feel can be Sanguisugabogg. They’d a single that sounded form of like 9 Inch Nails, Nailbomb, Godflesh. That’s cool. I like that. I used to be like, ‘Dude, that is fascinating. That is cool.’ Like, they’re making an attempt one thing new, one thing completely different, in that realm of heavy music, within the dying steel world. I like that. I like individuals who problem themselves, individuals pushing themselves. I feel extra bands are going to try this, and the extra individuals try this, the higher it’s for steel typically.
The opposite factor that’s actually cool, and I spotted additionally on the Sanguisugabogg report [Hideous Aftermath] is a whole lot of friends. And that’s one thing that Soulfly at all times had from the start. The primary report was filled with friends, Primitive was jam-packed full of individuals, a whole lot of mates and musicians that I like. And Chama is identical – we bought a very cool bunch of those who participated on this report to make it particular.
Various Nation: Let’s talk about just a few present occurrences in steel as of late: what’s your tackle Megadeth’s latest retirement announcement?
Max Cavalera: I personally, I don’t perceive retirement. As a result of to me, retirement is the dying of function. It’s like, you bought no extra function. What are you going to do? To me, it’d be a horrible concept to retire, as a result of I’ll simply get in hassle. So I can’t retire, myself. It’s not an choice. I don’t have that choice in my desk, thank God.
But when different individuals wish to do it, extra energy to them. This life will not be for everyone, for certain. It’s a tough street. Lots of people have a tough time coping with the whole lot that comes with this way of life. I’m not certainly one of them. I like all of it. I like the drama, even. I like the chaos. I’m on board for the entire thing, man.
That’s why for me, there’s no such factor as retirement. I’m going house for 2 weeks, I get bored. I’m like, ‘I must get out of right here, man. I must get again on the street.’ I spent most of my time on the street, anyway. So yeah, I really feel comfy on tour more often than not. I like it like that.
Various Nation: What had been your ideas on the Again to the Starting present with Ozzy and Black Sabbath?
Max Cavalera: We had been on tour, truly. We had been in Europe. I feel we had been in Germany or France. So I didn’t actually get to see something. I noticed fairly lots of people speaking about it, after all – concerning the present and simply feedback and stuff. However I personally didn’t get to see it. After which, after all, a pair weeks later, I came upon about Ozzy’s passing. It’s very unhappy.
Black Sabbath is a big band that we owe rather a lot to it. All of us heavy steel musicians owe one thing to Black Sabbath. They taught us, they wrote the Bible of Metallic, proper? Like, the riffs and the subjects, it’s a groundbreaking band that’s going to be missed. Ozzy is without doubt one of the best vocalists of all-time.
I had an opportunity to tour with him a bunch and hang around with him a bunch of occasions, so I’m going to at all times carry these moments in my coronary heart endlessly. These are nice moments that I bought to share with him. Additionally, it makes you notice your personal mortality – your personal life. Everyone’s time goes to return sooner or later. So, that’s why so long as I’m right here, I wish to do one of the best to maintain creating, inspiring individuals – hopefully for future generations to return.
