Though metalheads love to elevate their favourite musicians to ‘divine’ status, few figures are quite as revered as Max Cavalera: the man has founded more influential and celebrated groups than you can shake a stick at, with everything from the legendary thrash riffs of Sepultura to the one-and-done magic of Nailbomb becoming etched into the annals of metal history. Perhaps the Cavalera-backed group with the most consistent release schedule, Soulfly are solid proof that booming guitars really are the ticket to any riff-lover’s heart. New record ‘Chama’ is simply another feather in the band’s cap.

You can really feel Cavalera’s fingerprints all over this record— the riffs are at the forefront here, and we’re not complaining. ‘Chama’ sounds positively monstrous, allowing itself a gargantuan low end that growls and grumbles across its ten tracks. With every vocal take smothered under layers of delay and the guitars being pushed to their breaking point, it would be easy to dismiss this sound design as something crude or brutish: in practicality though, Soulfly demonstrate just enough restraint to keep their newest album in check. The wandering clean guitars and far-off percussion of ‘Soulfly XIII’ make for a wonderful moment of meditation, finding the perfect spot in the tracklist after the roaring heft of ‘Always Was, Always Will Be…’  ‘Chama’ even manages to end on one of its more thoughtful passages, slowly fading out on a soundscape full of muted drumming and hollow, haunting timbres— though the record could hardly be described as overly versatile, Soulfly have managed to cram in a solid range of textures.

Why even waste time discussing those brief moments of calm when the album’s artwork is so explosive though— this is a Max Cavalera project, and he’s not showing his age. ‘Chama’ is the sonic equivalent of a ceremonial beating, where every guitar chug and cutting vocal chant feels even more brutal and booming than the last. Lead single ‘Storm the Gates’ may be the most exciting release from Soulfly in years, allowing its tribal drumming and wild performances off the chain completely— the song’s politically charged lyrics feel perfectly supported by a song that is simply overflowing this rage. This is a brief album, clocking in at only 32 minutes, and does feel a little cut short: when the material in offer is this in-your-face though, would you really want the band to extend things out? Whenever the volume is high and the aggression is turned all the way up to eleven, ‘Chama’ is working its magic: ‘Black Hole Scum’ is a particular highlight in this regard, with its groovy riffs and impactful stop-start rhythms scratching some kind of primal itch.

Indeed, Soulfly live and die by the sheer power of their musical chaos: the meat of the record is extremely one-note, but my goodness is it a good note to ride out. The rampant pitch-shifting of ‘Ghenna,’ ringing out over relentless thrash metal riffs, is guaranteed to put you in a frenzy: so too are the ugly, bashing riffs of ‘No Pain = No Power,’ which are so thunderous that the band saw the need to give us something of a breather by the cut’s end. The entire group are sounding excellent in 2025, with Cavalera’s seething screams blending into the sea of brutish playing on offer here. Even if the band could’ve dialled things back a little further in some instances, such as during the somewhat drawn-out outro of ‘Always Was, Always Will Be…,’ there’s no mistaking the sheer aggression and energy Soulfly bring to the table— a song like ‘Nihilist’ simply demands attention.

The flames on the cover of ‘Chama’ are a fitting choice: this is not necessarily the heaviest album on 2025, but it may just be the most overpowering. Soulfly have been working together for more than 25 years at this point, but their youthful spirit remains fully intact— if anything, Cavalera and company sound more vibrant and p*ssed off now than they have for quite a while. Though it’s not a particularly versatile or expansive offering, ‘Chama’ will put you in an out-and-out frenzy: it’s certainly enough to put a smile on our faces.