When push came to shove, few metal fans ever had any doubts that
Max Cavalera would do just fine on his own after his acrimonious split from Brazilian death metal heroes
Sepultura. In fact, the guitarist/singer/songwriter quickly proved himself the better of the two parties with the release of his new band
Soulfly's eponymous debut in 1998.
Primitive,
Soulfly's sophomore solo project, introduces the listener to yet another slew of new musical styles, experiments, and collaborations (including
Slayer's
Tom Araya,
the Deftones'
Chino Moreno, and the entire Mulambo Tribe from Brazil) and boasts a punchy production courtesy of
Korn and
Alice in Chains producer/engineer
Toby Wright. Among the highlights, "Son Song" is a lucid collaboration with
Sean Lennon that succeeds because it is so downright catchy and off the wall, and the closing "Flyhigh" is truly surprising with its female lead co-vocal and bludgeoning detuned guitar groove. ~ John Franck & Ed Rivadavia