Soulfly | Chama | Nuclear Blast Records

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Format: CD/LP/Digital

Genre: Groove Metal

Country: Brazil, United States

Soulfly has been part of metal history for decades, growing out of Brazil with a mix of tribal intensity and street born aggression. Max Cavalera built the band around the fire of his early years, carrying a lifetime of touring, collaboration and family driven creativity. “Chama” arrives as the thirteenth Soulfly release, shaped by Max’s long journey from Belo Horizonte to Arizona and strengthened by the next generation of Cavaleras who now push the band forward. It comes from a place that mixes personal roots with imagery drawn from indigenous cultures and urban struggle, bringing together themes that have followed Max since the start of his career.

“Chama” moves with the ferocity that longtime listeners expect from Soulfly. The riffs strike hard, the energy snaps from track to track, and the voice behind the microphone still roars with that raw Brazilian fire. Portuguese lines return as a natural extension of the album’s story, tracing the path of a boy from the favelas who seeks a deeper spiritual force and wanders into tribal worlds far away from the chaos of the city. Soulfly channels those ideas with a dirty, street soaked attitude, mixing anger, ritual elements and the rough edges that have always defined the band’s sound.

The lineup around Max adds a lot of spark. Zyon Cavalera drives the songs with relentless stamina, pushing the pace without overcrowding anything. Guests like Dino Cazares, Mike DeLeon and Michael Amott throw their own energy into the storm, each one giving the album another push forward. Their appearances do not distract from the core identity of Soulfly, they simply thicken the attack and give certain moments extra bite. It is the kind of cooperation that feels natural for a band known for keeping friendships close and sound raw.

The production keeps things heavy and aggressive, giving space for the riffs to crush and the vocals to roar. The studio team understands Soulfly’s roughness and lets it breathe through the mix without softening the edges. “Chama” comes across as a charged experience that marches through jungle fire, street warfare and spiritual unrest without losing its drive. It has the dirt of the favela and the smoke of the ritual fire in the same breath, staying true to the path Soulfly has walked for decades.

Soulfly delivers an album that stands firmly in its own world, fueled by heritage, family, rebellion and that timeless Cavalera spark. It hits hard, burns hot and keeps its identity sharp from start to finish. Anyone following the band through the years will recognize this flame instantly, and newcomers will understand quickly why Soulfly still matters.

Score: 7.5