2018's
Ritual saw
Soulfly apply copious amounts of sonic savagery to a taut, ten-song set that harkened back to frontman
Max Cavalera's
Sepultura heyday.
Totem, the venerable groove/thrash/death metal group's 12th long-player, doesn't deviate one iota from the course set by its predecessor. Bold, brutal, and life-affirming in its commitment to the raw, healing power of decibels,
Cavalera and company may be playing it safe stylistically, but there is no denying the uncompromising brutality of neck-snapping opuses like "Superstition" and "Scouring the Vile." The LP features guest appearances from
John Tardy (
Obituary), John Powers (Eternal Champion), and Chris Ulsh (
Power Trip) and is the first
Soulfly outing for guitarist and co-producer
Arthur Rizk (Eternal Champion,
Sumerlands), who replaced longtime shredder
Marc Rizzo the year prior. ~ James Christopher Monger