Soulfly with Max Cavalera at Stary Klasztor: death, thrash, nu metal and hardcore

On 30 July, Max Cavalera’s Soulfly will play the Gothic Hall at Wrocław’s Stary Klasztor! For more than 20 years, Soulfly have followed their own path, skilfully setting trends and uniting fans of death metal, thrash, nu-metal and hardcore. The project is closest to the roots of Cavalera, one of metal history’s most important figures, combining heavy sounds with music from South America. This lethal mixture of styles and temperament translates into powerful, exuberant concerts, as Polish fans have experienced many times. Alongside familiar numbers, the concert will feature material from “Ritual”, released last year. This is true tribal thrash metal: thrash metal combined with the music of Amazonian tribes.

Soulfly was formed in Phoenix in 1997 by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera. The band have 11 studio albums to their name. Beginning with their self-titled 1998 debut, which sold 500,000 copies and went Gold, they experimented with different metal genres, combining heavy music with Brazilian tribal rhythms and Middle Eastern music. Their lyrics match this musical diversity. Cavalera frequently addresses social and political issues, singing about war, aggression and slavery and exploring spiritual themes.

Initially, the group played nu-metal, but as personnel changed, with Max Cavalera the only original member, Soulfly’s music evolved too. They moved away from nu-metal, and 2005’s “Dark Ages” already clearly showed a shift towards more brutal, death-metal-inspired sounds between groove and thrash metal. Their latest album, “Ritual”, released in October 2018, is an acclaimed collection of energetic, remarkably rhythmic tracks pushing death metal into new territory.

Max’s son Zyon Cavalera dazzles on drums, his power and artistry recalling a young Dave Lombardo. Called a musical visionary and spiritual leader of Soulfly’s fan tribe, Cavalera believes working with producer Josh Wilbur restored the group’s early energy on this album. Critics and, above all, audiences agree, voting with their feet and filling concert halls. Wrocław will be no different!

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