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Rating: It is useless to insistently ask how the new Soulfly album is because probably no further explanations are needed beyond what we've already said regarding their previous work "Dark Ages." It would take just a tiny effort to reorder one's thoughts about what Max Cavalera has produced in his recent works after deciding to leave an internationally renowned band like Sepultura. Just a few different adjustments, a few more tweaks compared to what we have come to expect from him, and here comes "Conquer," ready for real.
Certainly, the core of the discussion revolves around the figure of the Brazilian, a character who probably composes continuously, rightly considering that this sixth Soulfly album arrives a few months after the hugely successful "Inflikted" signed by Cavalera Conspiracy. This is precisely the image one needs to focus on to understand where this new work comes from.
...because Max is one of those who, every time you put him in front of a microphone and give him his beloved "Brazilian guitar," can bring down a building...[cit.]
Behind an incredibly angry goddess Kali on the cover, there are eleven tracks of thrash/hardcore metal tradition that reek of rebellion and violence, pedestals that the Brazilian uses to shout out his opinion with few words and stand on the right side against any global conspiracy. We find Max committed to pouring his soul into every one of his songs, built piece by piece, with the task of cutting, destroying, lashing, and tearing apart everything they encounter on their path. The enemies to face are always the same; they come from the world, bearing names like war, destruction, Armageddon, and paranoia. Without too many issues, our Max dissects them with his angry voice, unleashes them behind tight riffs and powerful drumming, and opens the dance with a punk mantra like "Blood Fire War Hate" until reaching a true gem like "Soulfly VI," as fluid as a Satriani song and the only real pause from thrash metal, leaving room for a much calmer and more dreamy sound.
I think the limited edition is much more satisfying than the regular one because, out of pure curiosity, I wouldn't miss out on two unmissable tracks like the cover of Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People" and "Sailing On" by Bad Brains. Overall, a very powerful and in your face album. Thankfully, there are still those who can pull it off.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Unleash (05:10)
War after war
The Lion roar
Hell after Hell
Cambodian death bells
Scum after scum
They blot out the sun
Hill after hills
In the killing fields
No more fear of failure
No more suffering
No more lies, I will arise
From blood-filled rivers of my enemies
Unleash war
Unleash my wrath
Unleash revenge
Unleash my Hell
Pig after pig
The blood runs cold
Stone after stone
The kingdom comes
Doom after doom
The fallen ruins
Hate after hate
There’s no escape
Unleash war
Unleash my wrath
Unleash revenge
Unleash my Hell
No more scars of judgment
No more tolerance
No more compromise, I stand Baptized in Fire
Unleashing My revenge
Unleash War
Unleash my wrath
Unleash revenge
Unleash my Hell
You never ever learn
I’ve reached the point of no return
No I can’t take it anymore
You’re borrowing the blood I earned
From onslaught to Oblivion
You’re never taking me alive
Victimized, brutalized, terrorized, crucified
Crucified… Crucified…
In the heavy side of life we live
It’s not how we whose, but it is how it is
Unleash !
Unleash !
Unleash !
Unleash !
06 Rough (03:29)
Doomsday calling
Karma's burning
Seeing black
Chaos forming
Vulture culture
Total rapture
Killing kingdom
Now has come
Make it rough, fucking rough
It's how you land
Not how you fall...
Incendiary...
Mercenary...
Seeing red, you turn to ashes
Eclipse comes, blot out the sun
You crash and burn
You thrash and burn
Make it rough, rucking rough
It's how you land
Not how you fall...
Hostility...
Brutality...
I'll blind the world
Reality
Against the world we're coming rough
The King of Kings designed me tough
The riots, the bombs
The city is a tomb
Corrosion, corruption
Unleash destruction
Critical time, critical mass
Make it rough, killing fast
Make it rough, fucking rough
It's how you land...
Not how you fall...
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Other reviews
By ThirdWorldChaos
"Conquer, like everything Max, the new King Midas, touches is gold, is anger, power, protest, aggression, rebellion, insurgence, guerrilla warfare in the form of ethnic thrash metal and tropical hardcore."
"From the initial nuclear assault of the thrash anthem 'Blood Fire War Hate'... to the conclusive, melodic and relaxing 'Soulfly VI,' examples of true mastery follow one another."
