Named after the Brazilian word for flame, the 13th release from Soulfly certainly brings plenty of fire, and it is clear that even now, this is something that still burns deep within Max Cavalera and co on this release.
Soulfly – Chama
Release Date: 24 October 2025
Words: Paul Hutchings
Opener Storm the Gates is described as a battle cry against control and greed, a topic that many bands are using in their songwriting. Few do the raging anger as well as Max and Soulfly, and with their deep drawings on ancestral influences and rituals, the opening single is as powerful as anything they have ever written.
The combination of influences has always been a part of the Soulfly catalogue, combining Thrash, Groove and even Death Metal with the tribal beats that form part of their heritage.
Powerful, raw and savagely delivered, the collision of brutal riffs with that spiritual upbringing explodes on Nihilist, their tribute to LG Petrov, featuring Todd Jones from Nailbomb, a cacophony of extremes, with the drumming of Zyon Cavalera is obscenely good.
Zyon has also co-produced the album, along with Arthur Rizk, who also mixed and mastered, as well as adding some lead work on the guitars.
“With each Soulfly record I’ve played on, I can feel my evolution happening in real time,” says Zyon. “This record was no different, as I got to handle a good amount of the production for the first time. Trying to take the band to places we have never been before was a blast, and I look forward to more production work in the future.”
Throw in a host of guest appearances, and you have a classic melting pot of chaos and influences that at times echo the debut Soulfly album in 1998.
But this is no remake. The music is vibrant, punishingly heavy and angry and echoes the vibe of those early releases. No Pain = No Power and Ghenna are both brutally aggressive, whilst the brooding darkness of Black Hole Scum is as intense as anything they have ever written.
It is not all heavy, with ample spiritual segments that one would expect in a release that spans continents. Deep jungle patterns are as important as the reality of the streets, and the spirit of Soulfly is evident throughout.
Chama is a real tour de force, a blistering reminder that when it comes to that filthy Groove Metal sound, few can compete.
The final word to Max. “This record is the sound of Soulfly’s fire! I cannot wait to play these songs live for the Tribe! Chama!”
Soulfly release Chama on 24 October 2025 via Nuclear Blast. Pre-orders are available from soulfly.bfan.link/chama.
