MAX CAVALERA: 'I Really Don't Like Writing Lyrics'

SOULFLY guitarist/vocalist Max Cavalera, who got his start fronting the legendary Brazilian thrash metal band SEPULTURA, has admitted to Heavy New York that he doesn't care much for the lyric-writing process. "I really don't like writing lyrics," he said (see video below). "It's totally a mandatory thing. It's like homework. For me, the fun part is riffs, and making the riffs is what I… that's my world. I'm born for that. And when it comes to lyrics, it's an agonizing process. And I know a lot of great stuff came out of it — really inspiring stuff for people, like [SEPULTURA's] 'Refuse/Resist' and [SOULFLY's] 'Eye For An Eye'. But it's not my favorite thing to do. When it's all put together, I like it; I enjoy it. When it clicks. Like, I was extremely happy when we finished the song 'Ritual' [the title track of SOULFLY's latest album], because, to me, 'Ritual' is the kind of song that I can put toe to toe with [SOULFLY's] 'Primitive' or 'Eye For An Eye' or [SEPULTURA's] 'Roots'. It's one of those. And then 'Dead Behind The Eyes', I put that toe to toe with [SEPULTURA's] 'Arise' or 'Beneath The Remains'. So it's definitely cool to see those songs come to life… But I'm not a big fan of writing lyrics — never been. I'm not much of a writing guy to start with. I don't write diaries. So it's kind of an unnatural thing. It's a bit mandatory, like homework, like you have to do it. The producer is like your teacher: 'C'mon, man. You've gotta do it.' But when you do it with somebody that cares, like ['Ritual' album producer] Josh [Wilbur], then it's cool. 'Cause we work on the words and change a lot of the stuff."

"Ritual" was released in October via Nuclear Blast. Cover artwork for the follow-up to 2015's "Archangel" was painted by artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH, SODOM). Additional booklet art was handled by Marcelo Vasco (SLAYER, HATEBREED, KREATOR),who also handled the package design.

SOULFLY's first tour in support of "Ritual" features support from KATAKLYSM, INCITE, CHAOSEUM, ALUKAH and SKINFLINT.