INTERVIEW WITH MAX CAVALERA
«I do feel like Metal is very spiritual, in this new album I have read and watched documentaries about the Old Testament that inspired me but other than that, nothing to do with religion,my message is that I am proud to play Metal»
Last 20th of August, SOULFY released their tenth album. It is a brand new chapter for the band, his frontman Max Cavalera has been really inspired from Biblical themes and other personal experience. It is the most extreme records ever made by the band, heavily influenced by Death Metal and Grindcore. From Metalcry we have been extremely pleased to have a chat with the man himself Max Cavalera to tell us a bit more about this just released album called Archangel
A few days ago was your new record Archangel released, what can you tell us about it?
In the music side is more extreme, there some influence of Death Metal and Grindcore and lyrically is there all the stuff I like. I am into History, there is loads of Old Testament stories, and some other stuff like we sold our selves to Metal which talks about my passion for Metal.
How was the vibe in the studio?
Recording it was great, We had our producer Matt Hyde was fantastic, the perfect guy for this album, he loved the idea of making a biblical kind of record, and he work very close to other musicians specially my son Zyon the drums came really good. I worked very hard with Matt on the vocals, we spend a lot of time, all in all I think he was the producer and the vibe in the studio was excellent.
In your new album there some featuring songs like Sodomites and Live life hard with people like Matt Young or Todd Jones , How this idea came up?
Every record that I do have guest on it, is more fun. I have worked with many people like Tom Maraya, Corey Taylor, Chino Moreno . This time I wanted to work with younger people, NAILS is one of the favourite bands now, there so brutal, so killer and I also like KING PARROT they are very crazy, I thought it will be good to put someone from Australia in the album. For me is new blood, I think the bands are the future of Metal to be part of the new scene that is coming up.
Archangel is the shortest album to date from SOULFLY. Any reason for it?
No, I just didn´t want to bullshit anybody and make songs longer just for the sake of being long. We kept everything very sharp in this record. I wasn´t really counting the time when I was making the record. I think, nowadays people don´t seem to have ninety minutes to listen to a record, the shorter the better for them to hear. Archangel is short and powerful, that is the main thing.
How different is Savages from Archangel?
They are very different; in Savages we had Terry Date and I can say the sound was better than in our latest record. But Archangel has better material, is more creative, we were very inspired. I think overall Archangel is a better record.
Soulfly are known to play spiritual music and somehow connected to religion, Have you ever felt that you a message to deliver t to the rest of the world through music?
I have never felt like that because I think is wrong to be preaching. Religion or spirituality is something people should find on their own. I do feel like Metal is very spiritual, in this new album I have read and watched documentaries about the Old Testament that inspired me to write songs like Sodomites but other than that, nothing to do with religion my message is that I am proud to play Metal.
One of the most remarkable songs of the record is We sold our souls to metal, a total statement about who you feel about this music genre, what inspired you to pick up a guitar and star playing metal?
For me it was the death of my father, when he died we were very young, we became very poor and rebellious, I saw in Metal some liberation, it is a lifestyle, I love being a Metalhead.
From the past years, we have noticed that loads of bands are doing re-united tours, album anniversary tours, is it something that has crossed your mind?
I don´t care much for it. My career is very long, I could have done stuff but I prefer to keep going. Is better not to look back too much, future is better. Sometimes the magic is gone and you can´t put things the way they were before.
You are involved in many different music projects apart from SOULFLY such as CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, NAILBOMB and KILLER BE KILLED. Is it easy to keep up with all this bands?
I just go from one to the other, it´s fun for me! I think I have become a better musician thanks to the projects I have been involved. KILLER BE KILLED made a better guitarist, I was in charge of all the guitars and I think the album came out really good. I try to do the best I can in all my projects, I work very hard.
We recently heard that KILLER BE KILLED will be releasing a new record next year. What can you tell us about it? A possible tour too?
My future plans is to tour with SOULFLY this year, whenever I am not touring and I have some time off, I will be working on KILLER BE KILLED. I don´t know when we will be starting to record it, maybe at the end of this year. I think this new album will be different because we know each other better.
When you started writing music, there was no internet or social networks. In which ways has internet revolutionised your band and music?
Internet has given me good and bad times, is good for discovering new music but the down side of it is that everyone get this music for free and that really hurt all the artists including myself. People don´t understand that when they download something they are hurting the artists. We can´t fight technology, I just go with it.
Some people considered you as one of the top icons in Metal. How does it make you feel? Do you see yourself as a role model?
I get very happy when I hear that, I have put my whole life and heart into this music. I hope my music will inspired others to start a band and play metal.
Any kind words to your fans and METALCRY readers?
I want to thank all of them for their support. I can´t wait to see you all in the new tour!
