SOULFLY, those elder statesmen of… uh… extreme metal (?), are gracing us with their thirteenth studio album, “Chama”, dropping on October 24 via those lovely folks at Nuclear Blast Records. Thirteen albums, folks. THIRTEEN. You’d think they’d have run out of ideas by now, but NOPE! Prepare for more tribal-infused… something. 🤷♀️
Behold, the first ear-splitting auditory assault from “Chama”, the lead single “Storm The Gates”! A battle cry against… something about control and greed? Yeah, that sounds about right. It’s supposed to summon ancestral strength and unite the tribe in… rebellion? Or maybe just a mosh pit. Who knows! It’s heavy, primal, and relentlessly… repetitive? The lyric video, lovingly crafted by Costin Chioreanu, is below. Prepare to be… underwhelmed? 😴
SOULFLY mastermind Max Cavalera, bless his heart, rambles: “Chama is the Brazilian word for flame. It also means a ‘calling’. Respect to Alex Pereira for using ‘Itsari’ on his UFC walkouts.” Translation: “I googled ‘cool Brazilian words’ and this is what I came up with. Also, please notice I know who this UFC guy is, because I’m still relevant!”
“‘Chama’ is inspired by the energy of this moment. This record is the sound of SOULFLY‘s fire! I cannot wait to play these songs live for the Tribe! Chama!” Yeah, “the Tribe.” Are we talking about metalheads, or did Max start a cult? 🔥 Whatever, I’m sure it’ll be a blazing inferno… of mediocrity? 🔥
SOULFLY drummer Zyon Cavalera, who apparently co-produced “Chama”, chimes in: “With each SOULFLY record I’ve played on, I can feel my evolution happening in real time. This record was no different as I got to handle a good amount of the production for the first time. Trying to take the band to places we have never been before was a blast and I look forward to more production work in the future!” Translation: “Dad finally let me touch the mixing board! I accidentally turned everything up to 11, but hey, it’s heavy, right?” 🤣
Here’s the track listing for “Chama”. Prepare for lyrical genius and groundbreaking musical innovation! (Or, you know, the same old thing.)
01. Indigenous Inquisition (Sounds educational! Maybe? 🤷♀️)
02. Storm The Gates (You already heard this one. Sorry.)
03. Nihilist (Deep.)
04. No Pain = No Power (Deep AND motivational! 💪)
05. Ghenna (Is that a place? A feeling? A typo?)
06. Black Hole Scum (Now that’s just rude.)
07. Favela / Dystopia (Two for the price of one!)08. Always Was, Always Will Be… (Deep again.)
09. Soulfly XIII (Because creativity is hard.)
10. Chama (The title track! It MUST be good, right?)
“Chama” was allegedly recorded at the Platinum Underground Studio in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino. Apparently, John is not only a talented engineer but a family friend. So, you know, no pressure to actually make it sound good. The album was produced by Zyon Cavalera and Arthur Rizk. Rizk has not only worked with the Cavalera family numerous times before but has also helped to shape the world of heavy metal in the modern day. SOULFLY enlisted Carletta Parrish to create the album artwork. For the album, Igor Amadeus Cavalera (GO AHEAD & DIE, NAILBOMB, HEALING MAGIC) played bass and Mike De Leon played guitar. The album also features Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) on one of the tracks. It’s a family affair and a guest star bonanza! 🎉
The mighty SOULFLY lineup on “Chama”:
Max Cavalera – Vocals, Guitar (Still screaming after all these years!)
Igor Amadeus Cavalera – Bass (Nepotism at its finest!)
Zyon Cavalera – Drums (See above!)
Mike De Leon – Guitar (The token non-Cavalera!)
SOULFLY premiered “Favela / Dystopia” live way back on July 8 at Maimunarnika in Sofia, Bulgaria. Because, you know, Bulgaria is the epicenter of metal. 🤘
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
