Artist: Soulfly
Label: Roadrunner
Release Date: 9/26/00
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Title: Primitive Artist: Soulfly Label: Roadrunner Release Date: 9/26/00 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
Soulfly's new album seems to pick up right where their debut left off, a gradual progression infusing a wider spectrum of the sounds that we've come to expect. Max & Co. continue their South American Nu-Metal style on a record that Roadrunner Records hopes will follow in the footsteps of million-selling Slipknot. And make no mistake, this album is Nu-Metal through and through, and the only reason it's given more respect in the underground, is because of Max Cavalera's pedigree.
Now many in the underground despise Nu-Metal, referring to it as if it were a parasite that will ruin metal. Supporters of the new sound think it is the future and that it makes other forms of metal seem antiquated. I, myself, am somewhere in the middle. I don't hate Nu-Metal, in fact, I really enjoy it when it's done right. I do, however, think that there are very few bands who do do a good job, and most of the stuff that's out there is crap.
"The rhythms are what really make this album, however, and they are really cool." Where Soulfly excels is in their willingness to share in a culture that we (especially us ignorant Americans) know very little about. The tribal theme, which basically started with Sepultura's Roots, continues unabated, and the band seems to center around South American rhythms even more than they did previously. And Max's cadence on his vocals seems to drift from merely rap-inspired metal, to metal inspired rap. The plus to this is that the catchier songs become even moreso, but the minus is that many of the songs begin to sound the same.
The rhythms are what really make this album, however, and they are really cool. A plethora of percussion is found in just about every song, I'd name the different instruments used, but I really have no idea of what they are. They are intriguing enough to keep me listening, even during the middle of the song segues that drift into percussion only. These types of changes usually have me pressing fast forward, but the diversity here tempers my annoyance.
Max has put together an album with enough guest appearances that it could almost be mistaken for Gene Simmons' solo album. Most notably is a pairing with Sean Lennon on the track, "Sun Song". I immediately smirked at the irony, given that many see Gloria Cavalera as the Yoko of Sepultura. The song itself is quite catchy, and if it were devoid of Max's harsh vocal style, it could be mistaken for Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins. The other most notable pairing would be Slayer's Tom Araya contributing to "Terrorist". The guitar riff could be right off of Korn's debut, but it's hard, and its heaviness is amplified by Tom and Max's aggressive vocals. Unfortunately, the lyrics on this track reflect the same theme that permeates throughout the album. The lyrics remain centered on spirituality, retribution, and remembrance, but they often seem like they're penned by a fourteen-year-old. There are only so many ways you can say that you're going to kick someone's ass, and it seems that every time they ran out of ideas for lyrics they throw a "muthafucker" in there. I have trouble relating to lyrics like, "Bring da pain to tha muthafuckin' pit". It's not like I'm opposed to foul language, but if you hear it every other word it begins to lose its punch.
"The lyrics remain centered on spirituality, retribution, and remembrance, but they often seem like they're penned by a fourteen-year-old." There are some shining moments on this disc, however, among them are "Pain," and "The Prophet," and anyone who enjoyed the first one will find this a more complete effort, but the truth of the matter is that I don't think it'll be making it into my CD player all that often.
Death's Review:
So who is this Max Cavalera?(a) the veteran thrasher and ex-Sepultura bandleader;
(b) a South American tribal icon and world music champion of metal;
(c) a modern day, Bob Marley-esque, third-world advocate and hero;
(d) a confused, bitter and angry man who dealt with turmoil and tragedy by breaking up one of the best metal acts of the last two decades; or
(e) a Nu-metal quasi-sellout who has locked into a way to stay musically relevant in the 21st Century?
The answer, of course, is not listed. It's choice (f), "all of the above." At least Max has been accused of fitting all of these categories at one time or another. And Primitive does nothing to clear up any of the mystery/intrigue. Instead, ammunition for each one of these arguments is plentiful throughout this new Soulfly record. Someday, I'd like to see an interview with Max where somebody asks him all of the tough questions about what he thinks of the modern true metal scene and how he thinks he relates. But that's an inquiry for another day. For now, strap on your listening perspective of choice from the above list and roll with it. Me, I'm too busy breaking shit to pieces and throwing it around the room while jamming Primitive to give it any more thought.
"These tracks are traditional Cavalera - awesome, but what you expect. Other places on Primitve, you get much more than what you thought Max was good for." But please indulge me in one more aside for the elders in the audience before we get to the music. Think back to albums like Beneath the Remains, Arise, and Chaos A.D. Did you ever expect that of all of the late-eighties thrash veterans that Max would be the one still doing stuff on the level of last summer's Ozzfest as we steamroll toward 2001? I have to admit, I didn't see it coming.
At least not until Roots. And there is the ex-Sepultura fan's litmus test: Did you like Roots? If you can dig that record, you'll like this one. Heck, Soulfly was good too, and probably closer in some ways to Primitive than Roots. But Roots sounded fresher than Soulfly, and this new record regains some of that fire, some of that spark. And the songwriting is just fantastic. Sure, the opener, "Back to the Primitive," is the ultimate room-trashing stomper, definitely more like "Roots Bloody Roots 2" in feel (not necessarily in sound) than anything else I've heard from Soulfly. And track two, "Pain," hits heavy (although the lyrics about bringin' da pain to the muthafukin' pit might be a bit much for you avowed Nu-metal haters out there -- titles like "Jumpdafuckup" don't really help either), climaxing with vocals so extreme at parts I'm not sure if they come from Max. Nevertheless, these tracks are traditional Cavalera - awesome, but what you expect. Other places on Primitve, you get much more than what you thought Max was good for, and, for me, this experimentation and stretching is more than a pleasant surprise: it rules.
"These songs are catchy and they make me want to bang my head. What else should I be asking for?" Take, for instance, "Sun Song." God help me, this is the most commercial song Max has ever done. And I love it. The clean, alternative vocals, mixed with the killer yet simple guitar riff and Max's chanting, driving heavy vocals make this one of the catchiest and infectious tunes I've heard in some time. The fact that it features Sean Lennon is basically irrelevant in my mind. I also way dig "Jumpdafuckup" and the rap-infested "Bring It," but remember, I liked Machine Head's The Burning Red too (I think I am one of about four true metalheads on the planet willing to make that statement!). These songs are catchy and they make me want to bang my head. What else should I be asking for?
Finally, I cannot end this without mentioning Tommy Araya from Slayer's appearance on one track. Purists may cringe at the sound of Tom steadily chanting "Night will come and I will follow, for my victims no tomorrow!" ("Criminally Insane," silly) in the middle of a Nu-metal album (followed-up by Max quoting from "Inner Self" -- the old-school lives!), but either you're down or you're not. I feel the overall vibe of this record, and I enjoy listening to it. In fact, I'll go so far as to say this is the best Nu-metal album of the year, and for that I'll give it up and bring da skulls to the mutherfukin'... oh god, I better go purge myself by listening to the new Nevermore, Hammerfall, and Eyehategod albums in rapid succession while promising never to wear baggy shorts again.
"Either you're down or you're not."
Rating Revised for Metal Judgment Anniversary
Hel's Review:
Here's the deal for those who don't already know. I was a huge Sepultura fan for quite some time, and since the split, I feel that both Soulfly and the current incarnation of Sepultura are shades of their former sepul-selves. So this will always color my reviews of these bands, and should be kept in mind when reading the following.
Primitive is, on the whole, too hip-hop / "nu" metal for my taste, and as I've said before, I don't much approve of the dubious crowd Max and Co. have been hanging with lately. The "Guest Stars" typify this, for the most part. And I think that overall, the rampant guest spots have diluted this record.
"Primitive is, on the whole, too hip-hop / "nu" metal for my taste, and as I've said before, I don't much approve of the dubious crowd Max and Co. have been hanging with lately." For example, "Sun Song" is not my favorite. You see, Sean Lennon just isn't metal, I don't care how talented he is. The upside of this song is the raw passion of Max's vocals in the chorus. The rest of the song is not interesting to me, with the exception of the cool sitar-ish, out of left field ending.
Best song, and the high point of the guest spots, is by far "Terrorist". One word: ARAYA. This one is worth the price of admission alone. It is old school thrashy, think Sepultura meets Slayer, and listening to it, I can't help but think - damn, I wish this was the wave of the future. Hopefully Slayer's newest will be so heavy. The rest of this album really is not.
Most Brasilian song: "Mulambo". I love this kind of shit, it is basically the direction Roots was headed in... Best mellow instrumental song: "Soulfly II". Despite the prior descriptor, this is kind of a rocking song anyway, and trippy too. The percussion is incredible, very cool if you can tolerate such things. Best gangsta rap song: "In memory of..." This is also quite good if you can stand such things, but there is no denying the hip-hop influence after hearing this.
"I hope his music comes full circle and comes back to end on the same note with which it began." There can be no questioning the anger and the passion portrayed through these songs. Max has been through a lot the last few years, and I can't help feeling, while listing to the raw emotion so obviously present, that this is all ultimately cathartic for him. In any event, I feel I need to give this record 4 skulls just because I can't let go when Max gives me kernels of hope for a metal future like those found on this album. I hope his music, like the beginning and ending measures of this disc, comes full circle and comes back to end on the same note with which it began.
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