SOULFLY's MAX CAVALERA Talks Corruption In Brazilian Politics

SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera spoke to United Rock Nations about the inspiration for his new song "Evil Empowered", taken from the band's upcoming 11th album, "Ritual". "It's about the corruption of leaders and about every leader that gets elected, pretty much, with the exception of very few, gets this corruption disease and they just use their power for evil means instead of for good, instead of for the people," he said (hear audio below). "Brazil has been a victim [of] that for many years now, since I was a kid. We only had one good president, and he was murdered after they took power. And it just goes to show, if somebody's good, they kill you; they don't want good people involved. It's the system; it's [how] the whole society, the whole system works. It's pretty much similar around the world, I think, everywhere.

"I'm going to Brazil in November. I love to play there, so I get to see firsthand how the place is, how the vibe of the people is," he continued. "My mother lives there, and I talk to her all the time.

"It's too bad, 'cause it's a really great country, I think, with a lot of possibilities to be really, really good," Max added. "And it's kind of been wasted with corruption and just doing the wrong thing — instead of helping the country, they do the opposite. And it kind of sucks. Hopefully one day it will be better."

"Ritual" will be released on October 19 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The follow-up to 2015's "Archangel" was produced, recorded and mixed by Josh Wilbur (KILLER BE KILLED, LAMB OF GOD, GOJIRA). Cover artwork 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. The album features multiple guests, including Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD) and Ross Dolan (IMMOLATION).