Soulfly Ritual

Even after two decades of their 'legendary' career SOULFLY continue to evoke almost cult zeal with every new album and every tour. In this sense, the eleventh studio album "Ritual" (Nuclear Blast) lives up to its name as a metallic ceremony of the highest order. The iconic quartet - Max Cavalera (vocals, guitar), Marc Rizzo (lead guitar), Zyon Cavalera (drums) and Mike Leon (bass) - send their words with hard riffs, thundering drums and fearsome growls.

On the title song 'Ritual' you can hear tribal singing building up behind an eerie lamentation before it becomes a neck-breaking groove. At another point the double bass of 'Evil Empowered' chases like a hammering steamroller towards a rapidly rising scream in 'Rise Above'. Dead Behind The Eyes' continues a long tradition of friends and family joining the 'ceremony' by bringing in LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe. He and Max rise into a deadly reputation and response game - a tribute to Hellraiser - as insidious as it is lively. Meanwhile, 'Under Rapture' thrives on its machine-gun-like riffs and a guest appearance by Death Metal demigod Ross Dolan (IMMOLATION).