Soulfly Album: “3 [PA]”

This CD is actually something that I've been looking forward to since the release of "Primitive". Primitive was such a brilliant work that I just could not get enough of anything Soulfly and I've been waiting with baited breath. This disc is another shining light in the darkness that is commercial hardrock, which constantly is bombarding us with Pepsi imagery and Pizza Hut idealism. Now, why the fact that Max's style has not changed is a negative thing with some, I personally think that it is a good thing. Innovation for the sake of innovation seems to be a key phrase with producers within the industry as the need to create more moneymaking machines in order to try to break through to the thinking man is necessary, but we do not fall for it. I would rather have Max write the same ideas with the same verve and power than try to do something "different" just because it seems to be "the time". Yes, this disc could be connected with Primitive and you might not be able to tell the difference...one big album...but so what. It ALL rocks so heavy I am ready to puke just thinking about it, so to Max I say "keep it up".

One of the big things that stands out about this Soulfly release more than the other two is the VERY obvious control that Max actually had over Sepultura (his former band for those who do not know). I have been a huge Sep fan for many years and I was saddened by him leaving, but the Soulfly stuff, while somewhat different, gave me some of that energy back. With this release, it really seems that it could be a Sepultura album. There is the tribal element, which is a given, but there are some songs on this disc that really remind me of "Arise" and "Chaos AD". The political rantings and heartbreak over his stepson's death are once again the main theme, but I think that if it is that important for him to get it out, give it to me. Make me understand, baby!!

Speaking of Dana, the one gripe I have about this album is the song "Tree of Pain". This song's intentions are very good...but its performance is lacking. There seems to be three songs wrapped into one song (hip hop, punk and metal), separated into three VERY separate parts, that by themselves would've been OK, but together they sound forced. Do not get me wrong, the song is good, but it takes the steam out of everything for a minute. That is not saying the message is the energy killer, it is the actual arrangement of the song itself that gets me. Oh well...the next song kicks very much butt, so it all works out.

So, if you have any doubts about the disc, get rid of them. It is a very well put together piece of work. The balance of sad/angry and positive/informative are well done and it will not leave you feeling any loss at all for some kickin' tribal madness!!! The riffs shred and the beats thump hard. Not so much rappy rap on this one, but a return to a more "all metal, all the time" attitude.

Max Cavalera is sort of a world champion of metal. He conquored the world with Sepultura back in the early 90s, and after he left, he did it again with Soulfly. Now, here in the 2000s, here is another Soulfly record, and to be honest it's a bit old.

Not that this record completely blows, like I said, this is probably Soulfly's heaviest to date, it's just the whole metal with tribal beats has gotten old right after the first Soulfly record (with the exception of Ill Nino). Musically, I'd say this falls between the first Soulfly record and Sepultura's classic Chaos A.D. Yeah, it's heavy, it's hard, it's even fast too (ex. "Last of the Mohicans"), but other than that, it's really too repetitive for my tastes. Plus, the lyrics Max is writing is a far cry from the stuff on Chaos A.D. or Arise.

Soulfly fans will love this, no doubt. But in my opinion, I think Ill Nino actaully does this whole latin-metal thing better than Soulfly at this point. Max, little tip, either do something new with Soulfly or go back to Sepultura.

I think it is probably soulfly's best release so far. very good all around with a few sur hits such as "seek n strike", "one", and "brazil"

The reason why Max Cavalera named this album 3 is, duh, third album, but also because he is obsessed with how some metal bands have released third albums (example: Metallica - Master Of Puppets, Black Sabbath - Master of Reality) and how the music becomes heavier. This album is definitely something of an evolution in the band's sound while maintaining what Max has wanted to do from the beginning, which is experiment with different sounds. Some people probably won't understand what I'm talking about when I say "evolution" with this album. *Slaps head* WAKE UP, STUPID! PAY ATTENTION! More thrash, punk, and hardcore sounding tunes, heavier than anything they've done on Primitive and the S/T album. Give it a listen.

This time they're really something: the wallcrushing heaviness gets mixed with a fragile beauty of instrumentals, and - female vocals in the beginning and the end of Tree of Pain; and thrash, being dominant through the cd, easily meets the whole range of music styles and influences: classic rock, latin, nu-metal, and even punk.

The indisputable stand-outs are: Seek'n'Strike, One, Tree of Pain, One Nation, Four Elements, and, maybe some more. The four bonus tracks decorate the album nicely, presenting a couple of lives from the Ozzfest'2000.

Whatever you have expected from Soulfly, and anything you never have, it's all here, on this cd.