There are interviews you do because they matter in the moment, and then there are interviews that feel like chapters in an ongoing history. Sitting down with Max Cavalera again felt like the latter. This was our third conversation, and somehow it landed at another important point in his journey.
Soulfly’s thirteenth album Chama is out in the world, and it is one of the most focused, brutal, and spiritually charged records Max has released in years. At the same time, January 2026 will see Max return to Australia with Soulfly and, in a moment decades in the making, Nailbomb performing on Australian soil for the first time ever, alongside Snot.
This is not nostalgia. This is momentum.
Fire Reignited: Why Chama Feels Different
From the first moments of our conversation, Max was clear about where he is at right now. Energised. Hungry. Inspired. Playing new Soulfly material while resurrecting Nailbomb feels, in his words, like the best of both worlds. That sense of creative fire burns through every minute of Chama.
Max describes the album as one of the most brutal Soulfly records to date, but crucially, it is still anchored in the band’s tribal foundation. He refers to it as “tribal technology”, a fusion of primal rhythm and modern noise, feedback, and sonic experimentation. Songs like Storm The Gates, Favela / Dystopia, and Nihilist have already been tested live in the US, and the reaction has been explosive. Max is already picturing Froth and Fury in Adelaide erupting the same way Big Day Out did back in 1999.
The Story of the Flame
While Chama is not a strict concept album, it carries a powerful narrative thread. Max revealed that the story was developed with his son Igor Amadeus, who is also a writer. The idea centres on a boy growing up in the favelas, surrounded by violence, drugs, and corruption. After the death of his mother, he is guided to leave that world behind and journey into the jungle, where he connects with the spirits of the forest and finds his inner strength.
For Max, the story is semi autobiographical. He has lost his mother. He has been to the jungle. He understands the pull of spiritual reconnection. But the message goes far beyond Brazil. As Max explained, this story could happen anywhere. Australia. Europe. Nepal. It is about finding strength within yourself, no matter where you come from.
That spiritual undercurrent runs deep throughout the record. Max even floated the idea of an animated video for the instrumental Soulfly XIII, describing the track as a sonic equivalent of an ayahuasca journey through the jungle. It is another reminder that Soulfly has never been just about riffs. It is about vision.
Riffs, Guests, and the Power of Community
Chama is stacked with collaborators, but nothing feels forced. Michael Amott appears on Ghenna. Dino Cazares tears into No Pain = No Power. Todd Jones delivers what Max calls the heaviest line on the entire record on Nihilist. Ben Cook and Gabe Franco add further texture.
For Max, guest appearances are not about star power. They are about unity. Inspiration. Brotherhood. Metal as a shared community rather than a competition. A single line. A short solo. The right energy at the right moment. That philosophy has been part of Soulfly since the very beginning, and Chama feels like a modern extension of that original idea.
Passing the Torch: Zyon in the Producer’s Chair
One of the most significant shifts on Chama is behind the desk. For the first time in Soulfly’s history, Max handed full production duties to his son Zyon, alongside Arthur Rizk. It was a risk, by Max’s own admission, but one driven by enthusiasm rather than experience.
The studio became a playground of pedals, noise, and experimentation. Foundations were laid, then dismantled and rebuilt with layers of feedback and texture. Max could not hide his pride talking about Zyon, not only as a producer, but as a drummer whose live performance he describes as out of this world. Australian audiences are about to see that firsthand.
With Igor Amadeus contributing story, bass, and vocals across Soulfly and Nailbomb, Chama feels like a true family record. For Max, this is the real definition of success. Not awards. Not sales. But creating something meaningful with his children.
Nailbomb Returns, Right on Time
Nailbomb’s return is not a novelty. It is a statement. Max was blunt about why now was the moment. Point Blank is simply too good a record to never be played live. And in a world defined by war, corruption, and social collapse, its message feels more relevant than ever.
With a lineup that includes Igor Amadeus on vocals, Adam Jarvis on drums, Johny Chow on bass, Travis Stone on guitar, and Alex Cha on samplers, Nailbomb is ferocious, modern, and terrifyingly current. Max promises Australian fans they are in for a serious treat.
Froth and Fury: Fire on Australian Soil
A huge part of this Australian return is Froth and Fury Festival, where Max will appear with both Soulfly and Nailbomb. For Australian fans, this is not just another festival slot. It is a convergence of eras, identities, and intent.
Max spoke about Froth and Fury with clear excitement. The idea of unleashing Soulfly’s tribal power and Nailbomb’s industrial hostility on the same festival stage feels almost unreal, especially given Nailbomb has never performed in Australia before. For longtime fans, it is a once in a lifetime moment. For younger fans, it is history arriving in real time.
Froth and Fury represents everything Max has always loved about the Australian scene. Passion over polish. Community over industry. Sweat, noise, and meaning colliding in one space. It is the perfect environment for Chama to come alive and for Point Blank to detonate with full force.
Australia, The Tribe Awaits
From Big Day Out in 1999 to Good Things in 2022, Max’s relationship with Australian metal fans runs deep. January 2026 brings that connection full circle. Soulfly. Nailbomb. Snot. Brisbane. Sydney. Melbourne. Perth. Adelaide.
As Max put it simply, metal is about aggression with meaning. About brotherhood. About picking each other up when we fall. That philosophy has guided his entire career, and it is why Chama feels like more than just another album.
The flame is burning strong, and Australia is about to feel the heat.
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jan 24 | Perth, WA | HPC (Froth & Fury Festival) |
| Mon, Jan 26 | Brisbane, QLD | The Tivoli |
| Tue, Jan 27 | Sydney, NSW | Enmore Theatre |
| Fri, Jan 30 | Melbourne, VIC | The Forum |
| Sat, Jan 31 | Adelaide, SA | Adelaide Showgrounds (Froth & Fury Festival) |
FROTH AND FURY TICKETS AND INFO HERE : https://www.frothandfuryfest.com/
All other shows grab your Tickets through The Phoenix AU Here: https://thephoenix.au/
