Cavalera brings Soulfly back to play on home turf
By ALBERT CHING
Get Out

For most people, the Valley in August is the last place they’d want to end up after spending two months in Europe.

For Max Cavalera, whose band Soulfly hits the Marquee Theatre in Tempe on Sunday, it’s a welcome trip home.

“The Phoenix shows definitely have a spot in my heart,” the singer says. “Being local means a lot to me.”

Originally from Brazil, Cavalera now hangs his guitar in Fountain Hills and says hometown fans are often treated to a more diverse set list than the rest of the tour for what he calls “a good, chaotic experience.”

He explains that the chaos stems from the large numbers of family and friends that attend the Valley shows. Pals that include Arizona Diamondbacks ace Randy Johnson, a Soulfly fan and regular guest at their local stops.

Cavalera sees a parallel between his own musical history and the Big Unit’s recent near-trade experience.

“I was in an older band, Sepultura, there were some problems, and I had to start Soulfly,” he says. “It’s the same way with Randy. Either stay or leave, as long as you’re happy with what you’re doing, that’s what’s important.”

Since Cavalera’s departure from the Brazilian metal giants in the late ’90s, he’s experimented with a wide range of musical styles, while not straying too far from the loud rock that put him on the map. Soulfly’s latest album, “Prophecy,” takes this trend even further, infusing the hard sound with Caribbean beats and mariachi guitar.
Another Soulfly signature is the revolving door of musicians that have comprised the band on their four albums. Each disc features a revamped group — an unorthodox working method that was not necessarily the original intention.

“It’s something that happened, it was not totally planned, but it ended up being every album with a different lineup,” Cavalera says. “It’s one more thing that keeps Soulfly different than all the other bands.”

He says he’s enjoyed each lineup, but the current group impresses him the most. The same unit that recorded “Prophecy” is playing on the current tour, minus Dave Ellefson. Yet Cavalera hints that the former Megadeth bassist and Valley resident might just hit the stage with Soulfly at the Tempe show.

Fans will have to see for themselves if that prophecy is fulfilled.