Zisis Petkanas from the Greek webzine Rock Overdose, talked with Max Calavera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, ex-SEPULTURA, ex-NAILBOMB), about the new Soulfly album Savages, the band’s future plans, his feelings about Sepultura and many more things.

An excerpt from the chat below:

RockOverdose.gr: So we have an upcoming Soulfly album, called Savages, to be released in October. What should the fans expect from this release and how it is different than the previous one?

Max: “It’s a little bit different. Savages is a combination. Half is a continuation of Enslaved with extreme metal, some if it even death metal and the other half is more traditional, more old Soulfly, more groove, like the first album, like Eye For An Eye, Tribe, No Hope = No Fear kind of stuff. The first single is ‘Bloodshed’. My son Igor sings on it with me… I think it’s a killer song, killer groove and very heave and intense, very catchy, I’m really happy with this song. The album is full of good surprises… very good collaborations with CLUTCH, NAPALM DEATH, I DECLARE WAR. There’s a song in Portuguese and Spanish, it’s called ‘El Comegente’, with me and Tony (Campos) singing. Overall is a very strong record, songs are long, 5-6 minutes, full of guitar solos, everything heavy metal is about, a classic metal record. I am very happy I made this kind of record. I wanted to make a record like this for a long time and I was able to do it. Terry did a great job producing the album, he is a master in producing and it was good recording with him and I’m very pleased with the album. I think the fans will really love Savages. It’s an album for a Soulfly fan I think.”

RockOverdose.gr: So it’s a combination of old Soulfly stuff and new elements.

Max: “Lots of new elements and there is also the same good Soulfly stuff on it and some stuff a little bit like Enslaved, like death metal… a good combination.”

RockOverdose.gr: Why did you call the album Savages? Is it somehow connected with the current instability worldwide?

Max: “Yeah it’s a about the world itself, about the humans, about the human condition. How we are sold in technology, internet, media and in the same time, killing people, monstrosities. I think in the end of the day, we are savages and that’s why it’s called Savages. On the other flip of the coin, I think Savages is also beautiful. It’s a primitive state of man and savage can be very beautiful. So we get both sides, the ugly side and the beautiful side of being a savage. I kind of let the fans decide which side they want it to be. I’m very happy with the album cover, it’s a very strong skull with some tattoo marks and it’s very in your face old school looking. Very metal, like an 80’s album cover, like IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH. I think it’s a very heavy metal cover and I love it.”

To read or listen to the rest of the interview visit this location.

Soulfly will release Savages on October 4th via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The group have released three trailers for Savages; all episodes are streaming below:

The Savages artwork was created by renowned artist Paul Stottler, who is best known for SCARED REICH’s legendary Surf Nicaragua cover.

Max Cavalera commented on the album: “Recording Savages was an amazing experience for me. I was so excited to work with Terry Date, whom I consider to be one of the best producers of all time. He has done some great records and we have been in contact for awhile since he mixed three Soulfly albums in the past. He came to see Soulfly whenever we played in Seattle, and we finally made it work that he would be the producer for Savages. My teammates were awesome. Marc did some crazy guitar noises and we did a 'Mars Part Two' at the end of 'El Comegente' - it's very LED ZEPPELIN influenced and Marc kicked some ass on it. I wrote 'El Comegente' with Tony Campos. It's in Portuguese and Spanish and it's about Vargas - a Venezuelan cannibal from the 80's. He is the Hannibal Lecter of the Andes. Crazy shit! I worked for the first time on a full album with my son, Zyon. Before recording the album I first worked closely at home with him in pre-production, and it was great to spend weeks on the songs with Zyon, shaping the sound of the record. Zyon did a great job and he hits really hard just like his uncle Iggor - it was amazing recording with my son. A whole record! A dream come true for a father whose life is dedicated to metal. Savages is a celebration of all that.”

Produced, engineered and mixed by renowned sound guru Terry Date (PANTERA, DEFTONES, WHITE ZOMBIE), Savages will be released as a limited edition digpack CD, 2LP vinyl and digital download. Guest vocal appearances on Savages include bass player Tony Campos, Max Cavalera's son Igor Cavalera (LODY KONG), CLUTCH's Neil Fallon, NAPALM DEATH's Mitch Harris and Jamie Hanks of I DECLARE WAR fame.

Read, what all guest vocalists share:

"I was super pumped when I got the call to add vocals to 'Bloodshed'. It's badass that Nuclear Blast chose it as the first single.“ Igor Cavalera

"It was pretty incredible working with heavy metal legends like Max and all of SOULFLY." Jamie Hanks (I Declare War)

“I am stoked to have been asked by Max to participate on the 'Ayatollah Of Rock 'N' Rolla' track! Max brought Clutch out on some of our earliest and most formative tours and this brought back some very fond memories of singing with Max all those years ago.“ - Neil Fallon (Clutch)

"It was an honor for me to finally collaborate on a song with Max and co. It's something we've been talking about for the last 9 years. I've always felt like part of the Cavalera extended family, and for me it was a truly uplifting, comforting and memorable experience after say 26 years or so. We ran through all the takes together, trying to capture the carnal energy, the push and pull between force and action. Friction, charisma, and something true directing the sole intent of the message, that was my general angle on it. Art and expression are about capturing the moment, the essence of a connection between like-minded souls, expanding on concise ideas that start small and end up big.“ - Mitch Harris (Napalm Death)

“Getting to share vocals with Max on 'El Comegente' was great. The song was coming along so quick, I pretty much wrote lyrics for that on the spot. I showed Max a couple of different things and used the stuff he thought was cool and made him laugh.“ Tony Campos (Soulfly)

Savages tracklisting:

'Bloodshed' (featuring Igor Cavalera)

'Cannibal Holocaust'

'Fallen'(feat. Jamie Hanks)

'Ayatollah Of Rock ‘N’ Rolla' (featuring Neil Fallon)

'Master Of Savagery'

'Spiral'

'This Is Violence'

'K.C.S.' (feat. Mitch Harris)

'El Comegente' (featuring Tony Campos)

'Soulfliktion'

Limited Edition CD and 2LP vinyl bonus tracks:

'Fuck Reality'

'Soulfly IX'

Pre-order Savages here. For more on Soulfly visit Facebook.