Soulfly

Ritual Roadrunner

Metal’s one-man riff factory hits another peak.

No one could accuse Max Cavalera of being a slouch. Even just since 2008 the former Sepultura frontman has released 10 studio albums (five with Soulfly, four with Cavalera Conspiracy and one with the all-star Kill Or Be Killed) and been on tour almost remorselessly.

You might expect him to be running out of steam, but Ritual, Soulfly’s eleventh full-length record, is almost comically explosive and full of exhilarating moments. The expected clatter of ethnic percussion and those trademark lolloping grooves are present and correct, but Max’s extreme inclinations are the dominant force.

The opening title track and the heads-down chug-off of Evil Empowered are instant crowd pleasers, but it’s the visceral attack of more multi-paced, deathly blasts like Dead Behind The Eyes and Under Rapture that truly startle. Yes, it’s more of the scabrous same, but in the best possible way. He’s still got it.