Soulfly (photo: Jason Schreurs)
Perhaps the most anticipated moment of thrash/groove metal band Soulfly’s first ever live appearance in Victoria, BC was when vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera yelled “Jumpdafuckup” into the microphone during the extended encore of their song “Eye for an Eye.”
Cavalera, after all, developed the phrase soon after leaving legendary Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura in the mid-’90s and embracing the nu-metal leanings of his previous band fully with his new project, a decidedly more, shall we say, “jumdafuckup” type of band. Funnily enough, over the years Soulfly has slowly come around to being a thrash metal band like their predecessor was, and their live performance,which was peppered with newer material, reflected that.
Running through the highlights from their nine albums (really, has it been nine albums already?), Soulfly even took some time to dip into the classic Sepultura catalog, playing songs such as “Roots Bloody Roots,” “Refuse/Resist” and “Arise” to a more-than-eager crowd.
Cavalera, flanked by his 21-year-old son, Zyon, on drums, as well as longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo and relatively new bassist Tony Campos, seemed content to let his solid band do most of the handiwork, instead focusing on timing his grunts, growls and yells and playing the odd guitar lick and solo (at a suspiciously muted volume) when it suited him. Still a commanding physical presence and sporting at least 20 pounds of dreadlocks, Cavalera engaged the crowd with chant-alongs and repeated instructions to pogo and circle pit.
Definitely not in his thrash metal prime anymore, Cavalera has been smart to surround himself with impressive musicians, not the least of which is his stalwart drumming son. Zyon was a maniac back there on the skins, which was even more impressive when you consider he’d just played in the opening band, Lody Kong (also featuring Max’s other son, Igor, on vocals and guitars, named after his brother and Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera… man, this is getting confusing).
If anything, Soulfly’s live show proved that tribal rhythms and soccer chants from a living legend of metal can go a long way in keeping the flames alive. Plus, hearing “Back to the Primitive” live was a real nu-metal treat; a reminder of why one of the world’s goofiest hard rock genres ever still manages to hit that sweet spot in our inner lunkheads.
Jumpdafuckup.
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