Savages (Soulfly album)

Last updated

Savages
Soulfly Savages.jpg
Savages album cover art by Paul Stottler
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 30, 2013 (UK)
October 1, 2013 (US)
October 4, 2013 (EU)
December 13, 2013 (Brazil)
RecordedMay–June 2013
Studio Studio X, Seattle, Washington [1]
Genre
Length58:10 (regular edition)
69:30 (special edition)
Label Nuclear Blast
Producer Terry Date
Soulfly chronology
Enslaved
(2012)
Savages
(2013)
Archangel
(2015)
Singles from Savages
  1. "Bloodshed"
    Released: August 8, 2013
  2. "Master of Savagery"
    Released: September 9, 2013
  3. "Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla"
    Released: 2014
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 64/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
about.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Blabbermouth.net Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Classic Rock Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
musicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Revolver Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Time for Metal Magazin Germany9.5/10 [11]

Savages is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Soulfly, released on September 30, 2013. [2] The album is the first to feature drummer Zyon Cavalera, frontman Max's son, in a full-time capacity after the departure of David Kinkade in 2012. The first single from the album, "Bloodshed" featuring Max's other son (and Zyon's brother) Igor, debuted on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show on August 6, 2013. [12]

Contents

The album was produced by Terry Date, who had previously performed mixing work for Soulfly on 3 , Prophecy and Dark Ages . [13] The album features a number of guest vocalists including Lody Kong's Igor Cavalera Jr., I Declare War's Jamie Hanks, Clutch's Neil Fallon and Napalm Death's Mitch Harris. [14]

Savages marks the group's first record to be released on Nuclear Blast Records. It was released in CD (digipak edition with two bonus tracks, and standard jewel case), limited edition vinyl, and digital download formats.

The album debuted at No. 84 on the Billboard 200, selling 4,700 copies during the first week after the release. [15]

Songs

"Bloodshed" is the first of three singles released from the album. This song plays in mid-tempo and contains little tribal influences. [16] "El Comegente" features Portuguese and Spanish lyrics about the 1980s Venezuelan serial killer and cannibal Dorángel Vargas, who is an "El Comegente", Spanish for people eater. Tony Campos is featured as vocalist while playing bass. The closing section has Led Zeppelin-like acoustic bass solo and Marc Rizzo calls this part "Mars Part Two". [17]

"Master of Savagery" is the quasi-title track and the second single of the album containing grooves similar to earlier Soulfly albums followed by bass solo. The album's third single, "Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla", has Pantera-like grooves with clean vocals by Neil Fallon. [18] "Fallen" begins with an acoustic guitar, then thrashy riffs, followed by monster-like growls by guest Jamie Hanks of I Declare War. "Cannibal Holocaust" is a speedy song speaking about destruction of humanity due to cannibalism.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Max Cavalera except where stated

Savages CD track listing [2]
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Bloodshed" (feat. Igor Cavalera Jr.) 6:55
2."Cannibal Holocaust" 3:29
3."Fallen" (feat. Jamie Hanks) 5:55
4."Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla" (feat. Neil Fallon)Max Cavalera, Neil Fallon 7:29
5."Master of Savagery" 5:10
6."Spiral" 5:34
7."This Is Violence" 4:23
8."K.C.S." (Kill, Cut, Scalp) (feat. Mitch Harris) 5:15
9."El Comegente"Max Cavalera, Tony Campos 8:17
10."Soulfliktion" 5:43
Total length:58:10
Digipak bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Fuck Reality"5:25
12."Soulfly IX"5:55
Total length:69:30

Reception

Savages is generally positively reviewed by critics. [3] Matt Hinch of about.com said that "For the most part, Savages is fairly typical Soulfly. It's a mix of the new and old without flip-flopping song to song, yet still way more aggressive and thrashy than their first three albums." [4] James Christopher Conger of AllMusic described that this album continues the Soulfly tradition, "meant to be taken as both a warning and a rebel yell, offering up an audio invoice for our past transgressions and a shot of adrenaline for the war ahead." [2] Record Collector praised this album as very good, "Savages is a feisty record that returns to the familiar blend of hardcore, thrash and groove metal." [9] One review had a negative response. According to Kerrang! this album has "too many songs utilise the same plodding, mid-paced grooves and simple, one-line refrains." [7]

According to Blabbermouth.net, Max Cavalera stated that this album is "about the human condition right now. We have the Internet and we're working on missions to Mars, but we are still decapitating each other and blowing up marathons. We're still savages. Even with technology and how far we've come in the world, our spirit is still that of a savage". This publisher reviewed that this album's riffing connects well with Soulfly. [5] Another critic (musicOMH) had a mixed response, but this album signals an end of bad situations. [8]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [19] 43
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [20] 83
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [21] 86
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [22] 39
French Albums (SNEP) [23] 91
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [24] 41
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [25] 37
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [26] 48
US Billboard 200 [27] 84

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 James Christopher Monger (September 30, 2013). "Savages – Soulfly Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Savages Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Hinch, Matt. "Soulfly – Savages Review". about.com . Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Ray Van Horn Jr. (September 25, 2013). "Savages – CD Reviews – Savages Soulfly". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  6. . Classic Rock Magazine. November 2013. p. 93.{{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. 1 2 . Kerrang!. October 5, 2013. p. 54.{{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. 1 2 Martin Headon (September 30, 2013). "Soulfly – Savages". Album Reviews. musicOMH . Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Savages". Reviews. Record Collector Magazine. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  10. Sammi Chichester (October 1, 2013). "Review: Soulfly — Savages". Heavy Metal News. Revolver . Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  11. Rene Wolters. "CD-Reviews » Soulfly – Savages". time-for-metal.eu. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013.
  12. Alex May (August 9, 2013). Soulfly reveal artwork and tracklist for 'Savages', unveil new single 'Bloodshed'. News. Rockadia. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  13. SOULFLY Taps Producer TERRY DATE For New Album. Blabbermouth.net. April 6, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  14. NEW SOULFLY ALBUM TO FEATURE MEMBERS OF CLUTCH AND NAPALM DEATH. Metal Insider. July 24, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  15. SOULFLY's 'Savages' Cracks U.S. Top 100. News. Blabbermouth.net. October 9, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
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