View source for Soulfly

{{Short description|Brazilian-American heavy metal band}}
{{hatnote group|
{{for-multi|the band's debut album|Soulfly (Soulfly album){{!}}''Soulfly'' (Soulfly album)}}
{{distinguish|SoulFly (Rod Wave album){{!}}''SoulFly'' (Rod Wave album)}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Soulfly
| image             = Soulfly Rockharz 2015 05 (cropped).jpg
| caption           = Soulfly performing at Rockharz Open Air in Germany, 2015
| landscape         = yes
| background        = group_or_band
| origin            = [[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Groove metal]]
* [[thrash metal]]
* {{nowrap|[[death metal]]}}
* {{nowrap|[[nu metal]]}} (early)
}}
| years_active      = 1997–present
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Nuclear Blast]]
* [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]]
}}
| spinoffs          = [[Cavalera Conspiracy]]
| associated_acts   = 
| website           = {{URL|soulfly.com}}
{{Infobox
| child=yes
| header          = Logo
| headerstyle     = background:#b0c4de
| data1 = [[File:Soulfly.svg|200px]]
}}
| spinoff_of        = [[Sepultura]]
| current_members   = * [[Max Cavalera]]
* [[Zyon Cavalera]]
* Mike DeLeon
| past_members      = <!--Do not change. Former members are to be listed in order of joining the band, and touring members are not to be included.-->
* [[Marc Rizzo]]
* [[Cello Dias|Marcelo "Cello" Dias]]
* [[Roy Mayorga]]
* Lúcio Maia
* [[Logan Mader]]
* [[Mikey Doling]]
* Joe Nunez
* Bobby Burns
* [[David Kinkade]]
* [[Tony Campos]]
* [[Mike Leon]]
}}

'''Soulfly''' is a Brazilian-American [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band formed in [[Phoenix, Arizona]] in 1997. Soulfly is led by former [[Sepultura]] frontman [[Max Cavalera]], who formed the band after he left the Brazilian group in 1996. To date the band has released thirteen [[studio album]]s, one tour [[Extended play|EP]], twenty-three [[Single (music)|single]]s, one [[video album]], and twelve [[music video]]s. Their debut album, ''[[Soulfly (Soulfly album)|Soulfly]]'', was released on April 21, 1998, while their most recent album, ''Chama'', was released in October 2025.

Soulfly incorporates many styles of metal with Brazilian tribal and [[world music]], much like Cavalera's previous band Sepultura. The original lyrical content revolved around [[spirituality]], political and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, slavery, hatred and anger. All of their first six studio albums debuted on the United States [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], with a peak position at number 32 for their second album, ''[[Primitive (Soulfly album)|Primitive]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title= Top Music Charts – Hot 100 – Billboard 200 – Music Genre Sales |publisher=Billboard Music Charts |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-10-14/billboard-200 |access-date=February 28, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> ''Soulfly'' has been certified [[RIAA certification|Gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold and Platinum |publisher=RIAA |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |access-date=February 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |archive-date=June 26, 2007 }}</ref>

==History==
===Formation, self-titled album, and ''Primitive'' (1997–2001)===
Soulfly was formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997.<ref name= allfly /> Max Cavalera was troubled during the recording of Soulfly's self-titled album, and on the band's website he said that he founded the band "with the idea of combined sounds and spiritual beliefs". As well as leaving [[Sepultura]], he had to deal with the death of his stepson and best friend Dana Wells. The [[Soulfly (Soulfly album)|self-titled debut album]] was released in April 1998,<ref name= allfly>{{cite web|url= {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p291451/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title= Soulfly > Biography |first= Greg |last=Prato |publisher=allmusic.com |access-date=February 28, 2009}}</ref> and reached number 79 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Music Charts – Hot 100 – Billboard 200 – Music Genre Sales |publisher=Billboard Music Charts |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/1998-05-09/billboard-200 |access-date=February 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904040232/http://www.billboard.com/charts/1998-05-09/billboard-200 |archive-date=September 4, 2014 }}</ref>

The name "Soulfly" came about during the recordings of "Headup" with [[Deftones]], which Cavalera said it invokes "a tribal belief."

{{quotation|"Many tribes — I did this research — in South America and Africa and even North America, believe when they make music, they are evoking the spirits of their ancestors through the music and their souls are flying around them when they are playing their instruments. A lot of them even believe — this is where it gets really crazy — the animal sacrificed to make skins for the drums, even the spirits of the animals get out through the drumming. It's really deep. It's a cool name; it's a positive name. I wanted to do something different. Like I said, I tried for a year to find a name and I had all these names that sounded like SEPULTURA, but it would just be a copy. I just went the other way. SOULFLY is as different of a name as it can get from SEPULTURA. I've tried to do things in a little bit of a different way and that's how it turned out."|Max Cavalera (2019)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blabbermouth |title=MAX CAVALERA Says SOULFLY's Original Record Label 'Didn't Like' Band's Name |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/max-cavalera-says-soulflys-original-record-label-didnt-like-bands-name#:~:text=Remembering%20the%20made%2Dup%20word,live%20French%20television%20in%201997. |website=Blabbermouth |date=February 25, 2019 |access-date=20 March 2023}}</ref>}}

In addition to the core band, which at the time consisted of [[Roy Mayorga]] on drums and percussion, [[Cello Dias]] on bass and Lúcio "Jackson Bandeira" Maia on lead guitar, ''Soulfly'' featured [[Burton C. Bell]], [[Dino Cazares]] and [[Christian Olde Wolbers]] from [[Fear Factory]], [[Fred Durst]] and [[DJ Lethal]] from [[Limp Bizkit]], [[Chino Moreno]] from [[Deftones]], [[Benji Webbe]] formerly of Welsh band [[Dub War]] and now a member of [[Skindred]], [[Eric "Bobo" Correa|Eric Bobo]] from [[Cypress Hill]], Jorge do Peixe and Gilmar Bola Oito from [[Chico Science & Nação Zumbi]], and [[Mario C.]] The album was recorded at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, California, and was overseen by producer [[Ross Robinson]].

In addition to fronting Soulfly, Cavalera also branched out into other areas not usually associated with heavy metal musicians. He became a speaker at music conventions, appearing at [[CMJ]]'s New Music Marathon in New York and Holland's Crossing Border Festival, both in late 1997, and sang a TV commercial for [[Sprite (soft drink)|Sprite]] in Brazil. After recording the first album, Jackson Bandeira returned to Brazil with [[Nação Zumbi]] and was replaced by [[Logan Mader]] of [[Machine Head (band)|Machine Head]] for the live tour that followed. Soulfly played on the 1998 [[Ozzfest]] mainstage alongside [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[Megadeth]], and [[Tool (band)|Tool]], and played small club tours around the world with bands such as [[System of a Down (band)|System of a Down]] and [[Cold (band)|Cold]]. After the world tour in support of ''Soulfly'', Logan Mader was replaced by [[Mikey Doling]] who had just been displaced by the breakup of [[Snot (band)|Snot]].

A variety of influences, including [[nu metal]], appeared on 2000s ''[[Primitive (Soulfly album)|Primitive]]'', and it was the most successful album by the band in the U.S., reaching number 32 on the Billboard 200 and number 11 on the independent charts. [[Joe Nuñez]], from Chicago, replaced [[Roy Mayorga]] on drums for ''Primitive''. The album featured a number of guest appearances as well, including [[Corey Taylor]] of [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] and [[Stone Sour]], [[Sean Lennon]], [[Chino Moreno]] of [[Deftones]], [[Tom Araya]] of [[Slayer]], Grady Avenell of [[Will Haven]], Cutthroat Logic, Babatunde and Asha Rabouin and was produced by [[Toby Wright (record producer)|Toby Wright]]. In addition, artwork was created by longtime [[Bob Marley]] artist [[Neville Garrick]]. The release of the album was followed by world tours with the likes of [[Pantera]], [[Morbid Angel]] and [[Ozzfest]].

=== ''3'', new line-up and ''Prophecy'' (2002–2004)<span id="3 and Prophecy (2002–2004)"></span> ===
In late 2001, Joe Nunez left Soulfly to join Stripping the Pistol, saying that it was "time for [him] to move on". Roy Mayorga departed from his band [[Medication (band)|Medication]] to rejoin Soulfly for the recording of their third album, ''[[3 (Soulfly album)|3]].''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Soulflyweb.com/msc.html |title=Soulfly Official Website|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106013150/http://www.Soulflyweb.com/msc.html|archive-date=6 January 2010 |postscript=. Determines the album title as '3'.}}</ref><!-- Please don't move the article or change the title of the album to something else than "3". Such actions as an interpretation of the album cover are original research. The official title is "3", not "om" or "ॐ" or anything else. --> ''3'' was the first Soulfly album which was produced by Max Cavalera. Other musicians performing on ''3'' included [[Cristian Machado]] of [[Ill Niño]], and guitarist Wiley Arnet and drummer Greg Hall of [[Sacred Reich]], and Max's stepson [[Incite (band)|Richie Cavalera]]. The album reached number 46 on the Billboard 200 in that year. After the release of ''3'' on June 25, 2002, Soulfly toured throughout Europe and North America with bands such as Slayer, [[In Flames]], [[God Forbid]], and [[Will Haven]].

In September 2003, after the world tour for ''3'', Dias was fired from the band, and Mayorga and Doling both left the band in protest, leaving Cavalera as the sole remaining member for three weeks.

Cavalera recruited a new lineup in October 2003 for the recording of Soulfly's ''[[Prophecy (Soulfly album)|Prophecy]]'' album. Joe Nunez returned on drums with Kentucky native Bobby Burns, formerly of [[Primer 55]], on bass and New Jersey native [[Marc Rizzo]], formerly of [[Ill Niño]], on lead guitar. [[David Ellefson]], formerly of [[Megadeth]] at the time, also played bass on several of the album's songs.

[[Max Cavalera]] explained on the band's website that he wanted to use different musicians as part of the group for each album. "This is an approach that I've wanted to do for a while. I never wanted Soulfly to be a band like [[Metallica]], with the same four guys. On every Soulfly album, we've changed the line up and it will probably continue that way. In order to do that, I had to start from the inside out and bring in people who caught my attention, that I had never played with before, and create this." While a member of [[Sepultura]], Cavalera had shown an interest in [[world music]] as shown in ''[[Roots (Sepultura album)|Roots]]'', featuring elements of the music of Brazil's indigenous peoples. This approach continued on the ''Prophecy'' album, with Cavalera traveling to Serbia to record with traditional musicians. On the song "Moses", he worked with Serbian band [[Eyesburn]], which also features reggae influences from one of his heroes, [[Bob Marley]]. Other tracks on the album feature instruments from the Middle Ages, sheepskin bagpipes, and Serbian Gypsies. Danny Marianino and Asha Rabouin returned as guest vocalists on ''Prophecy'', as well, and Max Cavalera produced the album. ''Prophecy'' was released on March 30, 2004, and in April of that year had reached a peak of number 82 on the Billboard 200, although it has reached the top 50 of the Australian album charts. Soulfly followed the album release with tours supporting [[Black Sabbath]] and [[Morbid Angel]].

In February 2005, Soulfly released their first DVD, entitled ''The Song Remains Insane''. This was a biography of the band, containing live footage from all over the globe, interviews, and all of the band's music videos. In August 2005, [[Roadrunner Records]] reissued their self-titled first album as part of the label's 25th anniversary celebration.

=== ''Dark Ages'' (2005–2007) ===
In December 2004, as recording was beginning for Soulfly's fifth studio album, the band was rocked by several tragedies that affected the outcome of the album. On December 8, Cavalera's friend [[Dimebag Darrell|"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott]] was shot and killed while playing in Ohio, and on December 10, Cavalera's eight-month-old grandson Moses unexpectedly died due to health complications. The following fall, on October 4, 2005, ''[[Dark Ages (album)|Dark Ages]]'' was released. Many critics have described ''Dark Ages'' as a return to Cavalera's [[thrash metal]] roots of the early [[Sepultura]] days; however, the [[world music]] influence found on the first four Soulfly albums is still present. In fact, this time, Cavalera traveled to five different countries &mdash; Serbia, Turkey, Russia, France, and the United States &mdash; in order to record all the sounds that he desired to have on the new album.

The core band on ''Dark Ages'' still consisted of Cavalera, Joe Nunez, Bobby Burns and Marc Rizzo, and on this album, [[Dave Ellefson]] came back to lend his talents to a couple of tracks, [[Eyesburn]] vocalist [[Hornsman Coyote|Coyote]] sang on "[[Innerspirit]]", [[Stormtroopers of Death]] vocalist [[Billy Milano]] and Russian singer Paul Fillipenko  of FAQ screamed on the [[Hardcore punk|hardcore]] influenced "Molotov", and Max's stepson, Ritchie Cavalera from Phoenix-based band Incite, sang on "Staystrong". Soulfly supported ''Dark Ages'' on a world tour with various bands such as [[Deftones]], [[Korn]], [[Throwdown (band)|Throwdown]], and [[Skindred]] that has stretched through North America, South America, Europe, Russia, and Australia.

On August 17, 2006, Soulfly played the 10th Annual D-Low Memorial show with several guest artists including [[Dave Ellefson]] and [[Roy Mayorga]], the latter of whom who currently plays with [[Stone Sour]]. Most notably, Max was reunited onstage for the first time in 10 years with his brother [[Igor Cavalera]]. Max and Igor formed [[Sepultura]] together in the early 1980s, but had not played together since Max's departure in 1997. Igor joined the band midway through the set for a jam on the drums and stayed onstage to play the Sepultura classics "[[Roots Bloody Roots]]" and "[[Attitude (Sepultura song)|Attitude]]" on Joe Nunez's drum kit.

In the time between legs of Soulfly's world tour for ''Dark Ages'' and afterwards, members of Soulfly stayed extremely busy by focusing on  projects and activities outside of the band. Cavalera guested on the [[Apocalyptica]] single "[[Repressed]]" with [[Bullet For My Valentine]] vocalist [[Matt Tuck]] during a visit to Germany, went to Russia in January 2007 to guest on the album ''Circus Dogs'' by Russian hardcore band FAQ and played on Saint-Petersbourg with Radiohead album sound producer Nike "Naik" Groshin, played a surprise jam session in Serbia with [[Dan Lilker]] of [[Brutal Truth]] and [[Stormtroopers of Death|S.O.D.]], and spent time in [[Arizona]] writing for future releases. Marc Rizzo spent the year on the road throughout [[North America]] playing his solo flamenco-meets-shred metal, gaining him further recognition as one of the world's premier metal guitarists. Earlier in 2005, Rizzo had released his debut solo album, ''Colossal Myopia'', through [[Shrapnel Records]], and in 2007 he prepared his follow-up, ''The Ultimate Devotion'', which has now been released. Burns purchased a studio in [[Orlando, Florida]] with his partner Tim Lau, revived his former band Primer 55, and worked on new releases for his Love Said No and King Street projects. In September 2006, Burns suffered a mild stroke, was forced to sit out of Soulfly's North American tour, and his spot in the band was briefly filled by [[Dave Ellefson]] and [[Danny Lilker]]. Nunez worked on the development of several drum accessories with Slug Drums, and taught drum lessons and worked construction in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]]. Soulfly ventured to Undercity Recording Studios in March 2007 to record a cover of the [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]] single "[[The Beautiful People (song)|The Beautiful People]]" with Logan Mader producing. The song was later released in June 2007 by ''[[Kerrang!]]'' magazine in issue 1164 as part of their ''Higher Voltage'' compilation. During time in the studio, Max Cavalera also recorded vocals for the song "War Is My Destiny" with [[Ill Bill]] and [[Immortal Technique]] for Ill Bill's second studio album, ''[[The Hour of Reprisal]]'', which released on September 16, 2008.

=== ''Conquer'' and ''Omen'' (2008–2010) ===

In August 2007, Soulfly did a tour that consisted of a mixture of festival and club shows through Europe before playing the 11th Annual D-Low Memorial Show in [[Tempe, Arizona]] on August 31, 2007. [[Cavalera Conspiracy]] also made their debut live performance at the show by opening for Soulfly. One week after performing the show, Soulfly went to Bobby Burns and Tim Lau's newly renovated Porch Studio in [[Orlando, Florida]] to begin work on their sixth studio album, which Cavalera had begun writing during the summer. After working halfway through recording until September 29, Cavalera halted the session to travel throughout Egypt to record more sounds to integrate into the new songs. In November 2007, Cavalera returned to Orlando to complete tracking and the album was mixed by [[Andy Sneap]] in early 2008. The album featured collaborations [[Dave Peters]] from [[Throwdown (band)|Throwdown]] and [[David Vincent (musician)|David Vincent]] from [[Morbid Angel]].

Soulfly released their sixth album entitled ''[[Conquer (Soulfly album)|Conquer]]'' on July 29, 2008. Following the release of the album, the band toured the United States with Devastation and [[Bleed the Sky (band)|Bleed the Sky]] in the fall,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=39448#|title= Soulfly Announces Support For U.S. Tour|publisher= Metal Underground]|access-date= October 4, 2008}}</ref>  toured Europe in winter of 2009 with Incite,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=109654#|title= Soulfly: European Tour Dates Announced|author= Borivoj Krgin|publisher= Blabbermouth.net|access-date= November 26, 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  played a small UK and European festivals during the spring and summer of 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sonicdice.com/2009/05/20/Soulfly-set-to-play-short-uk-tour-in-june/#|title= Soulfly: Set To Play Short UK Tour In June|publisher=Sonic Dice|access-date= August 17, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090525044501/http://www.sonicdice.com/2009/05/20/Soulfly-set-to-play-short-uk-tour-in-june/|archive-date= May 25, 2009}}</ref>  and went on a fall 2009 U.S. headlining tour with [[Cattle Decapitation]], [[Prong (band)|Prong]], and Mutiny Within.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.apeshit.org/news/Soulfly-announce-tour-with-prong-cattle-decapitation-mutiny-within/#|title= Soulfly Announce Tour with Prong, Cattle Decapitation, Mutiny Within|publisher= www.apeshit.org |access-date= August 17, 2008}}</ref>

Soulfly entered the Edge of the Earth Studios in Los Angeles, California, on November 6, 2009, to begin recording their seventh album with Max Cavalera and Logan Mader both producing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noisecreep.com/2009/10/21/Soulfly-to-return-to-studio-in-november/|title= Soulfly Returning to Studio in November|author= Jon Wiederhorn|publisher=  Noisecreep|access-date= October 22, 2009}}</ref>  Through a series of streaming web video updates, frontman Max Cavalera revealed on November 13, 2009, that the album would be called ''[[Omen (Soulfly album)|Omen]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/av/exclusive-Soulfly-instudio-update-including-tentative-album-title|title= Exclusive Soulfly In-Studio Update (including tentative album title)|author= Robert Pasabini|date= November 13, 2009|publisher= MetalInjection.net|access-date= November 14, 2009}}</ref> and would feature guest appearances by [[Tommy Victor]] of [[Prong (band)|Prong]] and [[Greg Puciato]] of [[The Dillinger Escape Plan]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.Soulflyweb.com/forum_v2/viewtopic.php?p=69427#|title= 7th album in 2009???|author= Bobby Burns|publisher=Soulflyweb.com|access-date= February 27, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Additionally, the album features performances on drums from Max's sons: Zyon Cavalera on a b-side cover of [[Sepultura]]'s "Refuse-Resist" and Igor Cavalera (not to be confused with his brother of the same name) on a cover of [[Excel (band)|Excel]]'s "Your Life, My Life". ''Omen'' has been released worldwide on May 25, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=133229|title= Soulfly to release Omen in May|author= Borivoj Krgin|publisher= www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net |access-date= January 12, 2010|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100114145524/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=133229|archive-date= January 14, 2010}}</ref>

From May 13 – December 16, 2010, Soulfly conducted a world tour in support of their new album ''Omen''.

On July 18, 2010, bassist Bobby Burns posted following message on his [[Twitter]] profile: "To all the fans... Soulfly and I have decided to part ways. Stay tuned for my next projects already in the works. Thanks 4 ur support!!!"

=== Line up change, ''Enslaved'' and ''Savages'' (2011–2013) ===
On July 1, 2011, Soulfly announced that the group had recruited former [[Static-X]] and current [[Asesino]], and then [[Prong (band)|Prong]], and [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] bassist [[Tony Campos]] into the band, replacing Bobby Burns.<ref name="metalunderground.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=69616 |title=Soulfly Reveals New Bass Player Tony Campos |publisher=Metalunderground.com |access-date=October 22, 2011}}</ref>

In August 2011, Joe Nunez was replaced by [[Borknagar]] drummer [[David Kinkade]]. In September 2011, the band announced they entered the recording studio to make their next album due for an early 2012 release. In late October it was revealed that recording had finished, and Kinkade claimed that the new album is like "''[[Arise (Sepultura album)|Arise]]'' on crack". Confirmed guests on the album were Adam Warren of [[Oceano (band)|Oceano]] and [[Dez Fafara]] of [[Coal Chamber]] and [[DevilDriver]],<ref>{{cite web|title=New Soulfly Drummer Talks About Band's Next Album in Video Interview|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=165967|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912065711/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=165967|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2012|publisher=www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/|date=November 11, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2011}}</ref> although Warren pulled out of recording and was replaced by [[Cattle Decapitation]] frontman Travis Ryan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cattle Decapitation Frontman Comments on Soulfly Collaboration|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166247|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201171339/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166247|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013|publisher=www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/|date=November 17, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2011}}</ref> In the December 2011 issue of [[Metal Hammer]], Cavalera stated that the main theme of the album would be slavery, with song titles "Slave", "Chains", "Legions" (a song about the [[Roman Empire]]), "Gladiator", "Redemption of Man by God" (featuring Dez Fafara), and "Revengeance" (with Max's 3 sons featuring: Zyon on drums, Richie on vocals and Igor writing half the guitar riffs). The album was produced by [[Zeuss]] with artwork from Marcelo Vasco, who has designed album artwork for bands such as Borknagar, [[Obituary (band)|Obituary]], and [[Dimmu Borgir]]. On December 6, the album title was announced to be ''[[Enslaved (Soulfly album)|Enslaved]]'' and has a release date of March 13, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Soulfly: New Album Title, Release Date Revealed|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166912|publisher=www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/ |date=December 6, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108000426/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166912|archive-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> Soulfly performed at the 13th annual Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave-in-Rock, IL August 2012. Throughout 2012, Soulfly have headlined the "Maximum Cavalera Tour", supported by Incite (fronted by Richie Cavalera) and Lody Kong (featuring Igor Cavalera Jr. and Zyon Cavalera). In October 2012 Kinkade announced his retirement from drumming, leaving Soulfly after their show in Bangkok.<ref>[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=180958 Soulfly Drummer David Kinkade To Play His Final Show In Bangkok] Blabbermouth.net. October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-10.</ref> Max's son Zyon, who performed during the South America tour earlier in the year, will take over drums for the upcoming US tour and for the foreseeable future.

In April 2013 Max announced Soulfly's intention to record more material after their tour, with producer [[Terry Date]],<ref>[http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2013/03/Soulfly_2013_dillinger_mastodon.php Soulfly's Max Cavalera Discusses Extreme Groove (and His New Supergroup, Featuring Members of Mars Volta, Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon)] Phoenix New Times</ref> and confirmed on May 3 that Zyon would perform drums on the album. In July Max announced that the album would be called ''[[Savages (Soulfly album)|Savages]]''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfSa4t8PTmU Interview mit Soufly] Metal4 Magazine</ref> The band released the album on September 30 in the UK, October 1 in the US, and October 4 in Europe. ''Savages'' features a number of guest vocalists including Igor Cavalera Jr. of [[Lody Kong]], Jamie Hanks of [[I Declare War (band)|I Declare War]], [[Neil Fallon]] of [[Clutch (band)|Clutch]], and [[Mitch Harris]] of [[Napalm Death]].<ref>[http://www.metalinsider.net/releases/new-Soulfly-album-to-feature-members-of-clutch-and-napalm-death New Soulfly Album to Feature Members of Clutch and Napalm Death] Metal Insider July 24, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.</ref>

=== ''Archangel'' and ''Ritual'' (2014–2019) ===
[[File:Soulfly @ 70000 tons of metal 2015 14.jpg|thumb|Soulfly at [[70000 Tons of Metal]] 2015. {{nowrap|L–R}}: [[Tony Campos]], [[Max Cavalera]], [[Marc Rizzo]]]]
On December 6, 2014, Max Cavalera said through an interview that he started writing for the tenth Soulfly record.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4YtoHrZm6Q Max Cavalera – Interview 6th December 2014]. YouTube.</ref> Cavalera and his gang entered the studio on January 3, 2015. On May 1, bassist Tony Campos announced via his Facebook page that he was leaving Soulfly to join [[Fear Factory]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Childers|first1=Chad|title=Soulfly Bassist Tony Campos Exits Band, Takes Bassist Spot in Fear Factory|url=http://loudwire.com/Soulfly-tony-campos-exits-band-joins-fear-factory/|website=[[Loudwire]]|publisher=[[Townsquare Media]]|access-date=May 4, 2015|date=May 3, 2015}}</ref> ''[[Archangel (Soulfly album)|Archangel]]'', produced by [[Matt Hyde]], was released on August 14, 2015, through [[Nuclear Blast]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/Soulflys-new-album-to-be-released-in-august |title=Soulfly's New Album To Be Released In August |publisher=Blabbermouth |date=February 28, 2015 |access-date=May 29, 2015}}</ref> They embarked on the "We Sold Our Souls To Metal" tour on September 30, 2015, to promote the album. The tour was accompanied by the bands [[Soilwork]], [[Decapitated (band)|Decapitated]] and [[Shattered Sun]]. The tour lasted for a 27 show trek ending in Albuquerque, NM on October 30. They played at The Rockbar Theater in San Jose, CA on December 12, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Lorrainejarrard |url=http://concerttournewshub.com/Rock-Music/Soulfly-Concert-Tour-Schedule.php |title=Soulfly 2015 We Sold Our Souls To Metal Tour Schedule With Decapitated, Soilwork & Shattered Sun |work=ConcertTourNewsHub Schedule, Tickets & Artist Info |publisher=Concert Tour News Hub |date=May 9, 2015 |access-date=May 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/Soulfly-archangel-release-date-revealed-tour-with-soilwork-decapitated-announced/ |title=Soulfly: 'Archangel' Release Date Revealed; Tour With Soilwork, Decapitated Announced |publisher=Blabbermouth |date=May 4, 2015 |access-date=May 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=113311 |title=Soulfly Announces North American Tour Dates With Soilwork |publisher=Metal Underground |date=May 8, 2015 |access-date=May 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Soulfly.com/ |title=Soulfly|publisher=Soulfly.com | access-date=May 10, 2015}}</ref>

In 2017, they toured North America with [[Cannabis Corpse]], [[Harm's Way (band)|Harm's Way]], Noisem and [[Lody Kong]]. In this tour, they played the [[Nailbomb]] album ''[[Point Blank (Nailbomb album)|Point Blank]]'' in full, bringing Igor Jr. into the band as co-lead vocalist and keyboardist/sampler for the tour. After releasing his latest album with [[Cavalera Conspiracy]], Max revealed his plans to finish writing and recording the next Soulfly album in early 2018, while also declaring his intentions to bring back some of the tribal elements from the band's early days to commemorate 20 years since Soulfly's [[Soulfly (Soulfly album)|self-titled debut album]]. A live album of their performance at 1998 [[Dynamo Open Air]], entitled simply ''Live at Dynamo Open Air 1998'', was released on June 22, 2018.<ref>[http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/03/12/live-album-from-1998-dynamo-open-air-announced-featuring-pantera-and-Soulfly/ Live Album from 1998 Dynamo Open Air Announced, Featuring Pantera and Soulfly] Metalsucks]</ref>

Soulfly released their eleventh studio album, ''[[Ritual (Soulfly album)|Ritual]]'', on October 19, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/Soulfly-to-release-ritual-album-in-the-fall-listen-to-new-song-the-summoning/|title=Soulfly To Release 'Ritual' Album In The Fall; Listen To New Song 'The Summoning'|date=July 7, 2018|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=August 3, 2018}}</ref>

===Departure of Marc Rizzo and ''Totem'' (2020–2023)===
{{main|Totem (Soulfly album) }}
In a June 2020 interview on [[Kazakhstan]]'s "Armatura" podcast, Cavalera confirmed that he had been "writing some riffs" for the twelfth Soulfly album. He said, "I'm very inspired right now for riffs and music. I listen to a lot of heavy stuff. So I've been composing new Soulfly music, hopefully for next year. So I think next year we'll have a new Soulfly record."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/max-cavalera-is-writing-music-for-next-Soulfly-album-im-still-musically-hungry/|title=Max Calvera Is Writing Music For Next Soulfly Album: 'I'm Still Musically Hungry'|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=June 19, 2020|date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> In a May 2021 interview with Finland's Kaaos TV, Cavalera further reiterated the album's progress and confirmed that it would likely not be released before 2022: "We're just working on it. We're still just developing it. It's in the early stages of being recorded. We recorded some, and we have to record a little bit more. But we're just really taking our time."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/new-Soulfly-album-probably-wont-be-released-before-2022/|title=New Soulfly Album 'Probably' Won't Be Released Before 2022|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=May 2, 2021|date=May 2, 2021}}</ref> During the 2022 tour, Cavalera announced the new album would come out around the month of July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd5oAMRImHU&t=1532s|title = Soulfly Live Concert &#124; WOW Hall &#124; Eugene, OR &#124; 2/16/22|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref>

In August 2021, it was announced lead guitarist [[Marc Rizzo]] had left the band,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/08/07/guitairst-marc-rizzo-officially-out-of-Soulfly/|title=Guitairst Marc Rizzo Officially Out of Soulfly|publisher=[[MetalSucks]]|access-date=August 7, 2021|date=August 7, 2021}}</ref> and that his replacement on the 2021 North American tour would be [[Dino Cazares]] of [[Fear Factory]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/fear-factorys-dino-cazares-to-play-guitar-for-Soulfly-on-u-s-tour/|title=Fear Factory's Dino Cazares To Play Guitar For Soulfly On U.S. Tour|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=August 7, 2021|date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> On May 5, 2022, the band released the single "Superstition" and announced that the new album's title would be ''[[Totem (Soulfly album)|Totem]]'', which was released on August 5.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/soulfly-announces-new-album-totem-releases-superstition-single|title=SOULFLY Announces New Album 'Totem', Releases 'Superstition' Single|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|date=May 5, 2022}}</ref>

On January 5, 2023, the band announced Mike DeLeon of [[Phil Anselmo|Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals]] as the band's new touring guitarist. It was later revealed that other guitarists were also planned to cover many of the tour dates for 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/soulfly-recruits-philip-h-anselmo-the-illegals-guitarist-mike-deleon|title=SOULFLY Recruits PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS Guitarist MIKE DELEON|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=January 5, 2023|date=January 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://metalinjection.net/news/nevermind-soulfly-doesnt-have-a-new-guitarist | title=Nevermind, SOULFLY Doesn't Have a New Guitarist | date=January 9, 2023 }}</ref>

===''Chama'' (2024–present)===
In a January 2024 interview on the "Nu Pod With Joshua Toomey and Ro Kohli" podcast, Cavalera confirmed that he would be "working on new Soulfly this year, writing and hopefully recording" the band's next album for a 2025 release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/41486/max-cavalera-to-work-on-new-soulfy-album-this-year/|title=Max Cavalera to work on new Soulfly album this year|website=lambgoat.com|date=January 26, 2024|access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2024/01/27/max-cavalera-is-writing-a-new-soulfly-album/|title=Max Cavalera is Writing a New Soulfly Album|website=metalsucks.net|date=January 27, 2024|access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=52666|title=Soulfly - Begin Writing Next Album|website=[[Metal Storm (webzine)|metalstorm.net]]|date=January 28, 2024|access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>

On August 29, 2025, Soulfly released "Storm the Gates" as the first single for their then-upcoming thirteenth studio album ''Chama'', released on October 24.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/soulfly-announces-new-album-chama-shares-storm-the-gates-single|title=SOULFLY Announces New Album 'Chama', Shares 'Storm The Gates' Single|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=August 29, 2025|access-date=August 29, 2025}}</ref>

==Musical style==
Soulfly have been described as [[nu metal]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/brazil/minas+gerais/belo+horizonte/Soulfly |title=Artists :: Soulfly |publisher=MusicMight |access-date=March 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191422/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/brazil/minas+gerais/belo+horizonte/Soulfly |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web|last=Heaney |first=Gregory |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1791748 |title=Omen – Soulfly |publisher=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref><ref name="blogcritics.org">{{cite web |url=http://blogcritics.org/music/article/review-Soulfly-the-dark-ages/ |title=Review – Soulfly – The Dark Ages  |publisher=Blogcritics.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027075427/http://blogcritics.org/music/article/review-Soulfly-the-dark-ages/ |archive-date=October 27, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="apochs.net"/> [[thrash metal]],<ref name="allmusic.com"/><ref name="heavymetal.about.com">{{cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/gr/Soulflyconquer.htm |title=Soulfly – Conquer Review |work=About.com Entertainment |publisher=[[About.com]]|access-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref> [[groove metal]],<ref name="apochs.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.apochs.net/CDs/Soulfly-Omen.html |title=Apoch's – Soulfly: Omen CD Review |publisher=Apochs.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904052133/http://www.apochs.net/CDs/Soulfly-Omen.html |archive-date=September 4, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Soulfly">{{cite web |url=http://www.noisecreep.com/2009/09/08/new-releases-infected-mushroom-ensiferum-3-inches-of-blood-t/|title=New Releases: Infected Mushroom, Ensiferum, 3 Inches of Blood, Threat Signal, Chevelle|last=Turull|first=Alisha|publisher=[[Noisecreep]]}}</ref> [[death metal]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=SOULFLY |url=https://shop.revolvermag.com/collections/soulfly-vinyl-records |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Revolver Magazine |language=en}}</ref> and [[alternative metal]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dead-new-world-mw0002051629 | title=Ill Niño - Dead New World Album Reviews, Songs & More &#124; AllMusic | website=[[AllMusic]] }}</ref> Soulfly originally played nu metal but moved away from the genre after the early 2000s.<ref name=allmusic.com /> Soulfly often incorporate elements of [[world music]] such as [[Indigenous music|tribal music]] and [[Middle Eastern music]] into their music.<ref name=blogcritics.org /><ref name=heavymetal.about.com />

==Band members==
{{main|List of Soulfly members}}
<gallery widths="180" heights="180">
File:Soulfly-1 (53078131979).jpg|Max Cavalera
File:Soulfly-83 (53078319890).jpg|Zyon Cavalera
File:Soulfly-27 (53078340110).jpg|Mike DeLeon
</gallery>

;Current members
* [[Max Cavalera]] – lead vocals, rhythm guitar <small>(1997–present)</small>, bass guitar <small>(2025–present)</small>
* [[Zyon Cavalera]] – drums, percussion <small>(2012–present)</small>
* Mike DeLeon – lead guitar <small>(2023–present)</small>, backing vocals <small>(2025–present)</small>

;Current touring members
* Chase Bryant – bass <small>(2025–present)</small>

== Discography ==
{{main|Soulfly discography}}

* ''[[Soulfly (Soulfly album)|Soulfly]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Primitive (Soulfly album)|Primitive]]'' (2000)
* ''[[3 (Soulfly album)|3]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Prophecy (Soulfly album)|Prophecy]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Dark Ages (album)|Dark Ages]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Conquer (Soulfly album)|Conquer]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Omen (Soulfly album)|Omen]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Enslaved (Soulfly album)|Enslaved]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Savages (Soulfly album)|Savages]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Archangel (Soulfly album)|Archangel]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Ritual (Soulfly album)|Ritual]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Totem (Soulfly album)|Totem]]'' (2022)
* ''Chama'' (2025)

==Concert tours==
* Supporting [[Snot (band)|Snot]] (April–May 1998)
* The Song Remains Insane Tour (May–June 1998; August 1998)
* [[Ozzfest|Ozzfest 1998]] (July–August 1998)
* [[Strangeland (film)|Strangeland]] Tour (September–November 1998)
* South American Tour (December 1998)
* [[Big Day Out|Big Day Out 1999]] (January 1999)
* Bring Da Shit Tour (April–May 1999; July–August 1999)
* Supporting [[Rammstein]] (June 1999)
* Abril Pro Rock (April 2000) [[Recife]]
* [[Ozzfest|Ozzfest 2000]] 
* Primitive Tour (September–December 2000; April–June 2001)
* Supporting [[Pantera]] (February–March 2001)
* Supporting [[Static-X]] (January–February 2002)
* Call to Arms Tour (June–July 2002; November 2002–July 2003)
* Supporting [[Slayer]] (August–September 2002)
* Prophecy Tour (March–October 2004)
* Disturbing the Peace (February–July 2005)
* The Dark Ages Tour (October 2005–October 2006)
* Australian [[Gigantour]] (October 2006)
* The Dark Ages Tour II (April–December 2007)
* Conquer Tour (August 2008–October 2009)
* Conquering North American (March–April 2010)
* Omen Tour (May–December 2011)
* Enslaved Tour (February–July 2012)
* Maximum Cavalera Tour (July 2012–August 2013)
* Savages Tour (October 2013–October 2014)
* From the Amazon to the Nile Tour, co-headlining with [[Nile (band)|Nile]] (April 2018–May 2018)
* Totem Tour (August 2022 - present)

==Notes==
*[[Ian Christe|Christe, Ian]] (2003). ''Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal''. HarperCollins. {{ISBN|0-380-81127-8}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
*{{allmusic}}
*{{discogs artist}}

{{Soulfly}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1997 establishments in Arizona]]
[[Category:American groove metal musical groups]]
[[Category:American thrash metal musical groups]]
[[Category:American death metal musical groups]]
[[Category:American musical quartets]]
[[Category:American nu metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Arizona]]
[[Category:American political music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1997]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Phoenix, Arizona]]
[[Category:Nuclear Blast artists]]
[[Category:Roadrunner Records artists]]
[[Category:Soulfly| ]]