Experience the primal tribal furry that is Soulfly! ~ As told by AleX Distefano

Images by Caren Spitler and KJ Banuk

Fresh off a US tour with the almighty Slayer, Soulfly used their time off to do what they do best, play live. The quintet made three consecutive stops in Southern California, bringing their tribal, optimistic musical assault to fans from the LA area.

With original drummer Roy Mayorga back in the mix, Soulfly's music is back to the "primitive" heavy, cathartic and full of emotions, which come to life in their live performances. Guitarist Mikey Doling(formerly of Snot) jammed on-stage with bass player Marcello Diazo, while lead singer/guitarist Max Cavalera unleashed his energy, with a sense of hope and unity all funneled through a of furious amalgam of heavy metal, tribal and world music drum beats, mixed with a sense of hope and unity all played out through the spirit of the music.

Playing songs off all three of their albums, including their newest slab of brutality, SOULFLY III, the band raced through a set that would unite the entire spectrum of heavy music, from thrashy punk, to hellacious death metal, Soulfly can even mix hard-core riffs, and calmer reggae styles; all in the span of one song. The pit was filled with young and old, white and black, guys and girls, Soulfly don't discriminate, and though it may seem like it's the same old negative, evil noise, the lyrics and music speak louder than the sound or appearance, rather than give props to Satan, Soulfly give props to spirituality, nature, and karma.

"We wanna give memory too all those who have died and left us this past year," said lead screamer Max C. "From Joey Ramone, and Layne Stanley, to Dave Williams of Drowning Pool,. you will all live on, in Spirit!" he yelled as the band shredded into A three song set of old school Sepultura and Nailbomb classics,(both of whom were Max's former bands). The crowd, much like a volcano, erupted into a ravenous pit of energy, and through the swirling circle the unleashing of emotions both on-stage and off was at its all time high of the night. This is what Soulfly can do best, make the audience unleash their energy and emotions.

Openers Downthesun and Northside Kings Provided the warm up entertainment, the latter being a mix between Sick of it All and Agnostic Front, while the former sounded like a mix between Fear Factory, Janes Addiction and the Reverend Horton Heat, all splashed together with an industrial metal tinge, which made for an interesting sound. All in all soulfly proved they can be spiritual, optimistic and cathartic, yet heavy and brutal at the same time.