Review SOULFLY “Chama”

Max Cavalera is on fire, and the world will hear it. “Chama” is the latest release from the Brazilian metal veteran, recorded with his band Soulfly for their 13th studio album. In this case, the number isn’t an omen of bad luck. Rather, it is a return to his musical and tribal roots.

“Chama”, which translates as “flame”, is an album that roughly tells the story of a boy who finds a fire that embodies the vitality of human life while discovering his true self in the tribal surroundings of the Amazonian jungle. This theme runs throughout the album, although it isn’t strictly a concept album.

Musically, “Chama” is a raging Soulfly album with a vigorous punch. Thrash metal and tribal rhythms are the main characteristics of this album, starting with the intro-like “Indigenous Inquisition” Rhythm-driven and equipped with a hypnotic tribal vibe, the first track sets the tone before the typical Soulfly riffing introduces “Storm the Gates” Accompanied by a strong groove, the song exudes pure energy and reflects the album’s rebellious spirit.

“Nihilist” was released as a single and continues this massive riff storm. Spiced up with some hardcore elements, “Nihilist” showcases the thrash metal roots, and Todd Jones of Nails lends his voice to the song. By the way, the title has a deeper meaning as the song is dedicated to L.G. Petrov.

“No Pain = No Power” is reminiscent of the debut album, which included a song called “No Hope = No Fear”. “No Pain = No Power” is a wild blend of different influences. The song is defined by tribal elements and alternative sounds, while thrash metal takes a back seat. Since we mentioned Todd Jones’s guest appearance already, there are a few more on “Chama”. For example, Dino Cazares plays guitar on ‘No Pain = No Power’, giving the song a special feel.

Next up is “Ghenna”, a riff monolith and a raging piece of metal featuring Michael Amott on lead guitar. The combination of his filigree guitar playing and the massive wall of sound is great, and we move on to “Black Hole Scum”. After all the twists and turns brought by the guest appearances, the Soulfly tribe delivers a typical metal blast with “Black Hole Scum” before “Favela – Dystopia” reveals its furious and raging heart.

The Soulfly saga then continues with ‘Soulfly XIII’ before the title track brings this album to a close. “Chama” is the roaring finale of an album that embodies the essence of Soulfly. With its 33-minute running time, “Chama” is a sonic punch in the face that shows less is sometimes more. There are no gimmicks nor frills, just pure energy — that’s what we expect from Soulfly, and that’s what this album delivers.