SOULFLY – CHAMA: The Flame That Never Dies

Review By Glen Parkes

There are few names in metal that carry the kind of raw, spiritual power that Max Cavalera’s does. From his early days igniting Sepultura’s furious rise, through the primal chaos of Nailbomb and the global awakening that was Soulfly’s debut, Cavalera has never lost his fire. Now, with CHAMA — Soulfly’s thirteenth studio album, out October 24th via Nuclear Blast — that flame burns brighter, hotter, and more vital than ever. Translating to “flame” or “calling” in Portuguese, Chama is both a summoning and a celebration: a sonic ritual of ancestral strength and rebellion, fusing tribal rhythm, groove-laden ferocity, and the unbreakable spirit of family that has always defined Soulfly.

The album opens with the haunting “Indigenous Inquisition”, a lament and a war cry rolled into one. Max’s guttural chants and roaring guitars bleed into pounding tribal drums — a thunderous call to arms that honours the fallen tribes of the Americas. It’s an unsettling yet beautiful reminder of the album’s heart: a spiritual uprising for the forgotten and the oppressed. Then comes “Storm the Gates”, the record’s blistering first single and an instant Soulfly classic. It’s pure chaos — a wall of riffs, thunderous percussion, and that unmistakable Cavalera snarl, railing against corruption and control. You can feel the ancestral power Max speaks of, the sense that these songs aren’t just written — they’re channelled.

Max’s son and long-time drummer, Zyon Cavalera, takes a bold step forward here, not only behind the kit but also as co-producer. His evolution is audible — the drumming is tighter and more dynamic yet primal enough to make the ground shake. He drives songs like “No Pain = No Power” and “Black Hole Scum” with relentless aggression, giving each track an undercurrent of danger and energy that’s intoxicating. His own words ring true — he’s taken the band to new places, and it shows.

The production team of Zyon and Arthur Rizk (known for his work with Power Trip and Cavalera Conspiracy) gives CHAMA its edge. There’s a purity to the mix — heavy, warm, and vibrant, yet unpolished enough to feel human. Rizk’s signature clarity allows the guitars of Mike De Leon (Flesh Hoarder, Phil Anselmo & The Illegals) and guest appearances from legends like Dino Cazares (Fear Factory) and Michael Amott (Arch Enemy) to shine through without overpowering the groove that Soulfly is built upon. “Ghenna”, featuring Amott, is a feral masterpiece — melodic yet suffocatingly heavy, while “No Pain = No Power” with Cazares is a machine-gun assault of precision riffing and sheer brutality.

But CHAMA isn’t just about the heaviness — it’s about heart. Tracks like “Favela – Dystopia” and “Always Was, Always Will Be” tie back to Max’s Brazilian roots, both musically and spiritually. The former bristles with street-born tension, a nod to the harsh reality of Brazil’s favelas, while the latter is a rallying cry of heritage and defiance. This connection to his origins feels deeper than ever before, not just in lyrics but in tone, texture, and rhythm. You can almost hear the jungle drums, the street chants, and the voices of ancestors echoing through the distortion.

Igor Amadeus Cavalera’s presence on bass ties it all together — another generation of the Cavalera bloodline adding their voice to the tribe. The family theme runs deep, not as a gimmick but as a living, breathing force. Soulfly has always been a family band in spirit, but CHAMA makes that literal — a generational passing of the torch that feels both sacred and unbreakable.

The concept that runs beneath CHAMA — the boy from the favelas who finds his spirit among the tribes of the Amazon — serves as a loose narrative but also as a metaphor for Soulfly itself. This is music that transcends genre, that finds unity in chaos, fire in decay, and life in destruction. It’s metal as ritual, art as invocation.

By the time the title track “Chama” closes the record, it’s clear that Max has done it again. This isn’t a man chasing nostalgia or recycling past glories. It’s a warrior still leading the charge, still unafraid to burn, still connecting the old world to the new. The sound of fire — primal, untamed, eternal — courses through every riff, every scream, every beat.

Three decades into their journey, Soulfly sound more alive than ever. CHAMA isn’t just an album — it’s a statement of identity, a declaration of purpose, and a reaffirmation that no matter how the world changes, Max Cavalera’s flame will never die.