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Rating: Uh-oh! It has been pointed out to us that this review also appears (in whole or in part) on metalitalia.com
An abyss. An abyss of creativity and inspiration exists today between Soulfly and Sepultura. And I suppose you might be wondering if it's ever necessary to reiterate this or if it's useful to make these banal and, above all, pointless comparisons... well, we also lean towards no, yet the current distance between the two groups, in terms of attitude and composition, is such that it leaves us astounded and forces us to revive the weighty comparison, even for just a moment.
Max Cavalera, with the fourth work of his solo project (because this is what it has come to be), further demonstrates his ability to “do band alone,” thus lending a kernel of truth to the suspicions regarding the notion that Sepultura were mainly supported by his spirit, and now are orphaned of any soul.
“Prophecy,” released in 2004, is described by Max himself as a different album from the previous ones, inclined to wink at the abstract (but not so abstract) concept of world music, sounds without precise rules, embracing various cultures and traditions, a mishmash of influences and boundless experimentations; all this seems a bit exaggerated, to be honest, as Soulfly remain firmly anchored to the cause they've been pursuing since their inception, that of a visceral, passionate metal, rich in tribalism, modern and free, although, upon closer examination of the new album, one notices a convinced inclination towards more refined sounds, imbuing with class a music that hardly needs it, created by a person whose charisma is widely known. A charisma that has allowed the leader of Soulfly to overturn the band's lineup for the umpteenth time, while keeping the approach and execution intensity intact: crucial, in my view, is the addition of Marc Rizzo from Ill Nino, a guitarist who naturally ranges from flamenco to reggae, from rock to heavy metal, and who has been able to give a personal touch to the compositions here; returning behind the drums is the resurrected Joe Nunez, already present on “Primitive”; and then, last but not least, emerges the presence of no less than two bassists: Bobby Burns (ex-Primer 55) and a certain Dave Ellefson, for those who might not know, the only person capable of standing by the “firecracker” Dave Mustaine during the entire historical arc completed by Megadeth, and here present in five tracks.
Now, the tracks, indeed: with the premise that there's not even a shadow of subpar songs, the first part of the album presents us Soulfly in their usual guise, namely monolithic and well-cadenced riffs, Max's voice that sets the pace in his unmistakable style and chants anthemic choruses with immediate impact, and excellent in this sense are the title-track, “Living Sacrifice” and “Mars”; the usual acoustic-percussive incursions, usually placed at the end of a track, can be found in quite a few songs, along with some really well-executed lacerating solos, but it is especially in the second half of “Prophecy” that they manage to become incisive, touching, and fundamental in the economy of this superb album: just listen to “Moses,” a reggae-metal hyper-melodic piece that, if my intuition doesn't deceive me, could become a phenomenal rock club hit... oh dear, stuff that Dub War were already doing years ago, anyway undoubtedly one of the peaks of the record! And there's really so much more to tell about the contents of this fourth chapter... Meia Noite's contribution to the percussion, the beautiful cover of Helmet’s “In The Meantime,” the inevitable self-celebratory instrumental, “Soulfly IV,” the confirmed presence of the talented Asha Rabouin (lead vocalist on “Wings”), the collaboration with a Serbian musician, one Ljubomir Dimitrijevic, in several tracks, the use of bagpipes and winds... aspects that decisively contribute to making “Prophecy” a work highly worthy of purchase and that probably place it just a step below the eponymous, seismic debut of the Brazilian-American combo.
Excellent and grand Max, as always! What else is there to say, but: the song remains insane...
A must-have.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Prophecy (03:35)
I see the Red Sea part in front of me
I see the desert clouds bleed above me
I'm with the prophets on the final destiny
We'll fight the heathens and the ghost enemy
This is the prophecy
This is the prophecy
I see the money beggars on the last temptation
We're marching now through the devastation
I'm with the prophets on a misson of salvation
Cities falling, nations falling nations
This is the prophecy
This is the prophecy
I see the new millennium tribal warfare
I see them blind sheep going nowhere
The new exodus, just like they say
I see the crown of thorns, you know i was there
This is the prophecy
This is the prophecy
I see the times in this armaggideon
I see the flag of the conquering lion
I must reach the mountains of Zion
I'm with the prophets and the prophecy goes on
This is the prophecy
This is the prophecy
New millennium tribal war
New millennium tribal war
New millennium tribal war
New millennium tribal war
03 Execution Style (02:18)
The execution of the world is set
The revolution you can't take it back
This frustration equals inspiration
The execution of your world is set
Ready Aim Fire
Ready Aim Fire
Ready Aim Fire
Ready Aim Fire
The execution of the world is set
To fight back all you hypocrites
This frustration is my inspiration
The execution of your life is set
Ready Aim Fire
Ready Aim Fire
Ready Aim Fire
Ready Aim Fire
The execution of the world is set
Downstroy your envy with my bloody hands
This frustration is my inspiration
The execution of your world is set
04 Defeat U (02:10)
So you say that doesn't interfere
And you don't care what happens here
But now I know what's your inner fear
'Cause what we had you were never near
My scars tell the story of destiny's deceit
I remain undisputed and blind to its defeat
It won't - Won't break me
It won't - Defeat me
We will - Will break you
We will - Defeat U
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger they say
I live like that in every way
Surviving on the razor's edge
Integrity until I lay to rest
It's me who's out for blood, soon all the floodgates open
Integrity's my only friend, prepared to fight its omens
It won't - Won't break me
It won't - Defeat me
We will - Will break you
We will - Defeat U
Fire spreads killing fear
Muthafucker your end is near
Can't bring me down
In a sea of shit you drown
05 Mars (05:25)
The new millennium is here
The smell of napalm and fear
All this confusion and mass hysteria
Welcome all to the new frontier
This fucking hate gets bigger and bigger
Consume ourselves in nuclear fear
And let me tell you that's the real enemy
How can you kill what you cannot see
I am Mars the God of War
You bow to me like you did before
I am Mars the God of War
You bow to me like you did before
Gas masks and AK-47's
Now you won't see the gates of heaven
Blood fire destroying weather
To blow you away, blow you away forever
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Chemical warfare and the bloodlust
Sign of Mars in a time to come
Mankind has finally done
I am Mars the God of War
You bow to me like you did before
I am Mars the God of War
You bow to me like you did before
06 I Believe (05:53)
I believe
It must be
I believe
Infinity
I believe
It must be
I believe
Immortality
Every man has to find his own destiny
Just follow your heart and just let it be
I believe in God immortality
I believe
It must be
I believe
Infinity
I believe
It must be
I believe
Immortality
Every man needs to find his own destiny
I believe in God through infinity
Every man needs to find his own destiny
I believe in God beyond mortality
Every man needs to find his own destiny
I believe in God immortality
You can't kill faith
You can't kill God
07 Moses (07:39)
What is wrong with humans from beginning of creation
Brutal dem a never gonna change no I
Father give dem life dat dem turn to sufferation
Politics dem worship in dem rage
They will never make to rule my life
No matter what takes I'm breaking their breaks
With Jah love humanity survive
No matter what takes I'm breaking their breaks
Moses, Moses where are u?
Please! Show up tell the children what to do
Father of creation
Give me inspiration
Father of creation
Give me inspiration
(is armmaggideon time)
What is wrong with humans from beginning of creation
Brutal dem a never gonna change no I
Father give dem life dat dem turn to sufferation
Politics dem worship in dem rage
They will never make to rule my life Ready Aim Fire
The
No matter what takes I'm breaking their breaks
With God love humanity survive
No matter what takes I'm breaking their breaks
Moses, Moses where are u?
Please! Show up tell the children what to do
Father of creation
Give me inspiration
Father of creation
Through da sufferation
In this world that seems so lost
Are we warriors, are we not?
So many battles I have fought
So many more, I'm a soldier of God
Men against men I don't understand
Hate breeds hate in this rat race
We against you, watching you fall
Follow me know, blood of my blood
In this world that seems so lost
Are we warriors, are we not?
So many battles I have fought
So many more, I'm a soldier of God
Tribal war
Jungle law
Follow me now
Blood of my blood
Moses, Moses where are u?
Please! Show up tell the children what to do
09 Porrada (04:07)
Um, dois, treis, quatro
Chegou
E' de fuder
E' e' du caralho
Vai se fuder filha da puta
Vai se fuder cuzao
Vai se fuder filha da puta
Vai se fuder cuzao
Porrada Porrada Porrada Porrada
Entao
Quale' qui e'
Entao
Quale' qui e'
Se ficar o bicho pega
Se corer o bicho come
Se ficar o bicho pega
Se corer o bicho come
Porrada Porrada Porrada Porrada
Um, dois, treis, quatro
Porrada na favela
Porrada na baixada
Porrada na favela
Porrada na baixada
O ze' mane' qual' qui e'
Tu e' malaca tu e' mane'
O ze' mane' qual' qui e'
Tu e' malandro tu e' mane'
Porrada Porrada Porrada Porrada
10 In the Meantime (04:45)
Earth tone suits you
So give it a smile
If i could hold your feet down
Get to know for awhile
To make due is a promise
Hard to keep without help
Never taught to look in
I'm too concerned with my health
Help me spread right, ash is
Cow fertilized
Come down in a feed town
Strength to minimize
Hold it
In the meantime
12 Wings (06:02)
Wings all over us
Watching us from above
Protecting us from this world
Protecting us with your sword
Wings all over us
Calming us when we're sore
Guiding us when we're lost
Even against all odds
Wings all over us
Healing the bleeding pain
Making us seize the day
Helping us find a way
Wings all over us
Everyday I feel your touch
Never letting go
I can feel your soul
Wings all over us
When I die you come and lift me up
Carry me to my home
To meet the king on his throne
Wings all over us
Keep our heads up high
Keeping our spirit alive
Open your arms and rise
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Other reviews
By ThirdWorldChaos
"Prophecy is a fundamental chapter in the Soulfly saga, not only because of the extremely positive nature of the work but also from a symbolic point of view."
"The album brilliantly combines all the elements and characteristics of Soulfly, a must-have."
