Soulfly: Totem

I remember seeing Soulfly in concert many years ago when they opened for Pantera in 2001 or so and even in my formative, more agreeable years I wasn't exactly impressed. They were basically a Nu Metal band with some weird percussive stuff added in, and that's never been anything even remotely close to something I'd consider desirable. Well, apparently at some point between then and now Max Cavalera decided he agreed with me and started veering back towards the thrash-worn roads taken previously by Sepultura. Totem is a surprisingly decent groovy thrash record that still leaves a lot to be desired, especially when comparing it to classics like Beneath the Remains and Arise.

It was certainly nice to hear some actual riffing and energetic thrashing drums in album opener "Superstition". It's not at all what I expected, and it gives off the same vibes you'd get from Arise-era Sep when they decided to slow down and get a bit chunky. Max's vocals have never been great, but he doesn't sound bad at all here, too. He sounds remarkably like his younger self on "Totem" for the most part, which is impressive for an older scene vet. It's angry screaming, but he doesn't sound tired or worn out like Tom Araya did near the end of his run. "Filth Upon Filth" definitely gives the impression that Max had been listening to a lot of Lamb of God before laying it to tape. It starts out with one of those bouncy and note dense LoG riffs before letting loose into an old school thrash circle pit stomp. The guitar solos here aren't too shabby, either; "The Damage Done" has a few particularly nice ones.

I wouldn't say the songs on Totem are particularly memorable, but they are competent and well performed with plenty of energy. Soulfly are still a dirty, and gritty band with more groovy, mid-paced bits than I would prefer in the end, and that definitely brings my enjoyment of the album down. Everything kind of turns into "Fast thrash part, slow groove riff, thrash part with solo, end scene", which is a downer and makes the album feel very samey in the end. That said, if you are a Max fan, or a lapsed Max fan that hasn't paid attention to Soulfly (or Sepultura, for that matter) in a long time, it's worth a listen.

Tracklist:
1. Superstition
2. Scouring the Vile
3. Filth upon Filth
4. Rot in Pain
5. The Damage Done
6. Totem
7. Ancestors
8. Ecstasy of Gold
9. Soulfly XII
10. Spirit Animal

Added: May 15th 2023
Reviewer: Brandon Miles
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 416
Language: english

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