For more than twenty years one of the most fanatical metal vocalists has been growling his way into heavy metal fans hearts all over the world. Max Cavalera rose to fame in the early eighties with one of my all-time favorite thrash/death metal bands Sepultura. Over the years Sepultura turned an army of loyal metal fans into the 'Sepultribe' which till this day is still as strong as ever. Sepultura's success has seen the guys going from the streets of Brazil to the stages of the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia on a number of occasions, always playing to sold-out crowds. During Max's last years as the voice of Sepultura he formed Nailbomb, a side project that delighted Max's many fans and showed another side to his musical ability. When he left Sepultura a little over ten years ago he showed no signs of slowing down. With metal and adrenaline running through his veins Max formed one of the greatest metal bands of the last decade SOULFLY! From day one Australian audiences have welcomed Soulfly with open arms and have returned to see Max and the boy's tour after tour always selling out and leaving the fans excited and ready for more. The wait is finally over and this week Max and the boys return to Australia as part of the Gigantour festival. A year on Soulfly are still on the road in support of their greatest album to date 'Dark Ages', at first it was unclear if Bobby Burns would be along for the Australian leg after recently suffering from a mild stroke but its now confirmed that Bobby is in Australia and playing stronger than ever. Recently I was given the opportunity to speak with Max in regards to the up and coming Australian shows. We also spoke about Bobby's recovery and the two legendary bass players that were filling in, a Sepultura reunion and much more. It's time to step out of the 'Dark Ages' and crank it up with the legendary Max Cavalera. Metal Fanatix: Hi Max, how's things mate? Max Cavalera: I'm good man, on tour right now; we started a few days ago. Metal Fanatix: First of all mate, I want to thank you for putting some time aside to speak with me today and also say it is a true honor to speak with you, I have been a massive fan of your work for many years now. Max let's start with news on Bobby Burns how is he doin'? Max Cavalera: Ah, he's getting better, it came on so sudden. It happened just before the tour started and we were all surprised by it, but he's doin' better and hopefully he will be alright soon. He is home recovering right now and we have Dave Ellefson doing the first part of the tour and then Danny Lilker joins us for the other half of the tour. Metal Fanatix: You have got two amazing bassists filling in for Bobby. Both Dave and Dan are great guys and fantastic at what they do, Dave has played with you in the past, tell me what's Dan's involvement with Soulfly? Max Cavalera: Well, I've known Danny for a long time, ya know since the early Sepultura days. He's toured in Brazil with Nuclear Assault and we've played together. Danny's also a very good friend of Gloria's, he met her a long time ago back in Phoenix and she arranged some Nuclear Assault shows and through the years we have kept a friendship. I love S.O.D., I love Nuclear Assault and Brutal Truth and I actually got to jam with Danny a couple of months ago in Serbia. We did a bunch of thrash/death metal songs in a festival in Serbia called the 'Access Festival', it was really fun. When the news of Bobby came we asked Danny if he could fill in some shows for the tour but because of his commitments with Brutal Truth he could only fill in for half of the tour. So it's very exciting because I am a big fan of both of these guys and the bands they have played in. I think it will be a nice treat for the crowds as well.
Max Cavalera: We don't know man, at the moment I couldn't say. All I can say is that we hope so, but if not either Danny or Dave will come with us. We're going to see how Bobby feels and how his recovery is over the next couple of weeks before we make any decisions. We are definitely coming to Australia, we won't be canceling. We are really looking forward to it. We have great fans there. Let's see what happens and who is going to come with us. Soulfly has very good spirits right now, we had a great show yesterday and it's been a great touring year for us and we are very happy to see out the year in Australia. Metal Fanatix: Max you guys have had a very busy year, I want to congratulate you on the success you have had with the latest Soulfly album 'Dark Ages', another fantastic job, you must be proud of this one. All this time on you guys are still out touring on the album and doing plenty of press! Max Cavalera: The album to me is very cool because it's different to me now from when we first made it. In fact it's growing on me, the songs we play live I love, I really like the album a lot and the songs are great to play live there is a lot of aggression, it's very energetic. We have heard from many fans all around the world that they really like the album. It's been amazing touring on this album, next year I will start on the next album which is very exciting. Metal Fanatix: While you guys are out on the road are you writing material for the next album? Max Cavalera: I always write some lyrics on the road whenever I get some ideas. I did write some up here at home, the last two weeks that I was home. I wrote some new riffs and new parts for songs but we are concentrating more on the tour right now.
Max Cavalera: I think this is going to perfect timing. It's been a while since we were there. It was a couple of years ago now, we played with Hatebreed. Australia has been amazing territory for me right from the beginning. From the Sepultura days, for us Soulfly actually started at the Big Day Out festival. We have gold albums in Australia. We have a great fan base there and the band is better than ever. We're playing longer so Australian fans can expect a really cool kick ass Soulfly show. It will be a lot better than last time. Metal Fanatix: You have toured Australia a few times now, the first time I seen you live was back in 1994 on the Chaos AD tour, a tour I still hold up as one of the greatest I have ever witnessed. What fond memories do you have from the last Australian tour? Max Cavalera: Like I said I have very fond memories from the Sepultura days but to be honest with ya I have more memories with Soulfly, especially because all the times we have been to Australia it has been very special, with the amounts of people that came to the headline shows with Hatebreed and the Big Day Out festivals. Everywhere we went was pretty much sold out and the fans were insane. I have a huge admiration for the Australian fans! They carry a very special place in my heart. I'm very excited to be coming back, especially with this album and this band. I think we are more prepared then ever and I look forward to playing with Megadeth. We are huge Megadeth fans and it's going to be a great show. Metal Fanatix: Well that's right, the line up is amazing! Soulfly, Arch Enemy, Caliban and Megadeth. How have the fans been reacting to the shows over there so far? Max Cavalera: Oh very good. Over here it's very different. We have my son Ritchie playing in his band called 'Incite', they're opening the show. We also have 'Wicked Wisdom' which has Will Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith and of course 'Full Blown Chaos' it's a really good package, they are all really great guys, everybody is very cool. We're really enjoying the tour! When we go to Australia it changes like you said Arch Enemy, Megadeth it's gonna be great I'm very excited.
Max Cavalera: Not really, I scream a little bit before the shows, as I walk to the stage. I make sure the chords are ready for an hour and a half of growling [laughs] I don't really prepare. In fact I don't even go to the dressing room. I like to go straight from the bar to the stage without going into the dressing room. Metal Fanatix: You have been singing this brand of metal for years now, is it still as challenging today as it was fifteen, twenty years ago? Max Cavalera: Oh yeah, pretty much. The challenge is always there, because you're always pushing yourself. It makes it interesting to recreate your boundaries and crossing over and showing the fans new things all the time without forgetting your roots. I am always pushing, with every album and every tour I am pushing myself that much harder. I try to give something to the fans, something new. This kind of music has a very honest fan base; they don't buy your albums this year and then don't care about you next year. I am very proud of Soulfly. We have come a long way to become one of the forges of metal today so I'm very proud of that. Metal Fanatix: I guess you're really lucky in that sense, many people try all their life to make it in the industry and you have been able to achieve that kind of success with Sepultura, Nailbomb and of course with Soulfly! Max Cavalera: Yeah I'm very proud of it and I acknowledge it's not just me. I didn't do it all by myself. I have great people that I work with, great people that have devoted their lives to my music. Gloria my wife and manager, has been with me through the hard times and all the good times. When you look back on it, It seems like it just happened overnight but it was a lot of hard work. Both bands came from out of nowhere and it took ten years to really get the name out there. Soulfly was a struggle because I had to convince fans that the band were as powerful and as good as Sepultura. It's been a good struggle and I'm very proud of the fact that I didn't give up and the fans didn't give up on me! Metal Fanatix: You were recently joined onstage with your brother Igor, tell us about that? Max Cavalera: That was very cool; it was a very emotional night. It was the tenth anniversary of Dana's memorial show and spirits were very high that day. The whole evening was magical from the beginning to end. Even the way the whole thing was set up, we charged just $1.00 for the tickets. It was great, it added to the atmosphere of not playing a business style show it's a real show, it's a real memorial show. It shows that no one was there to make money, it was all for the music, for Dana. On top of that my brother called me and apologized. He came down to Phoenix and I saw him for the first time in ten years and jammed with him for the first time in ten years. You can imagine how great that was for us and for all the fans. Metal Fanatix: I wish I could have seen that mate, can we expect to see Igor doing full shows with Soulfly in the future or both of you returning to Sepultura?
Metal Fanatix: That sounds quiet promising Max! Tell us your thoughts on Igor's decision to leave Sepultura, I mean everyone thought and or hoped that you would one day return to the band for a reunion tour and now Igor has gone too? Max Cavalera: Oh I don't know! I don't really have an opinion on what he chooses to do. I stay out of it because I wasn't even there. I don't know how the camp was when I wasn't around, I know how it was when I was there but for the last ten years I haven't been anywhere near them. I can't really comment. Metal Fanatix: When the time comes to work out the set list, do you find it hard to choose the right songs? There will always be fans who want to hear the old stuff and the occasional obscure song and of course you have to play some new tracks. Do you find it hard to make a set that is for fans of all eras? Max Cavalera: I try to make a good set list with old songs, new songs and jams. I try to change them everyday. I always try to keep the show new and exciting. Metal Fanatix: Max I want to thank you again for your time today, it's been a true pleasure to speak with you, and I look forward to seeing you live again in Oct. Do you have any last words for our readers? Max Cavalera: Get ready for 'Dark Ages' coming to Australia. I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait to be in Australia again, it's been a long time. Thank you to all the fans and we'll see you all soon. To keep up with all the latest news & much more on Max & Soulfly check out the following websites: http://www.soulflyweb.com/ - Official Soulfly website http://www.myspace.com/soulfly - Soulfly on Myspace http://insideout666.mysite.freeserve.com - Inside Out 666 © Cameron Edney October, November 2006 Not to be re-printed in any form without written permission. |
