Metal maniacs, rejoice! I am proud to present to you: SOULFLY; signed via Nuclear Blast Records, hailing from Brazilian grounds - performing Groove/Thrash/Death Metal, on their 10th Studio Album entitled: "Ritual" (released October 19th, 2018).

Since formation 1997; the quintet in question have 10 studio albums behind them, having been acquainted with SOULFLY and being a huge fan of old-school SEPULTURA as well as NAILBOMB, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and KILLER BE KILLED; I was all to excited to learn of the newest album that mastermind Max Cavalera has to offer entitled: "Ritual", 10 tracks ranging at around 43:13 - the legendary band arrange an intricately designed formula of Groove/Thrash/Death Metal developments. Having already reviewed the previous record: "Archangel" - which was an absolute blast, I immediately raise my power level to the maximum (Cavalera?) after hearing the tribal elements with the titular track... all original expectations has already been exceeded.

Consisting of Max Cavalera on vocals/rhythm guitar; the frontman consistently delivers guttural growls with deadly pipes of malicious relentlessness, and a boistrous barrage of savagely sinister rhythms that demonstrate complexly composed dexterity - distributed with groovy diligence. "Ritual" amplifies with advanced adrenaline, amalgamated with tribal chants and eerie wailing - after being transformed with extremely executed headbanging harmonies. Lead guitarist & long-time SOULFLY veteran Marc Rizzo efficiently establishes blistering riffs and solos with his trademark sound; fuelled with bouncy catchiness and battle hardened hymns that contrast with the ritualistic Navajo choir, and the crunchy yet rhythmic vehemence the band flamboyantly fabricate.

"Dead Behind The Eyes" is a beastly mammoth; with LAMB OF GOD veteran Randy Blythe joining the fray for some hardcore extremity, the battering assault energizes with crunchy chaos and meticulous mayhem with an aesthetic of primitive persistency. This song is based on the Hellriser character: Cenobite, as both are vicious as they are vital - with a deadly yet diverse homage of chastised creativity. Continuing on with the behemoth known as "The Summoning"; it captures extraudinary patterns of unceasingly intense instrumentation & musicianship, unleashing razor-sharp nimbleness with fluidly polished vitality - introducing some massively monstrous blast beasts that embody an electronica culmimation to it. I get so amped when I hear this beast, and it was the first song to be played live off the record, having witnessed it - I still love it.

"Evil Empowered" is the next single next to "Ritual" & "Dead Behind The Eyes"; frolicking with more impressive orchestration from newcomer bassist Mike Leon, who strums his axe with stampeding onslaughts of rampaging supremacy - with double bass pummelling as deft ripping steamrolls towards a soaring scream with an engaging chorus section with songwriting memorability and lyricism like "Rise Above! Rise Above!". It's a stomper of a track; as hammering drummer Zyon Cavalera slams his steel with infectious manifestations of raw pounds of strength, speedily smashing with adroit attributes in which get me pumped for more - he evidently lives for his drums and this is profound here. As I compare "Ritual" to the last few records, the converged combination of old-school roots and new is ambitiously fused - dominately & proficiently.

"Under Rapture" is the next belter; bashing with breakdowns that thrash with smacking roars of deafening rage, charged with hostile malevolence that will make one break chairs over other chairs - or create a damaging wall of death for sport. The borderline foundation here is full of mid-tempo tones of passionate pulverization, seamlessly rushing and shredding with galloping chugs of quirky quakes of systematic symbolic strikes of oppression – featuring a cameo courtesy of machine gun riffing from death metal demigod Ross Dolan from IMMOLATION, good fucking stuff! "Demonized" is a blitzkreig lighting-bolt of aggressively and adequately coherent innovation, conjured with devilish conquering of frantic frenzies of diabolical transitions – one of my favourites on the record for sure, it revs my soul(fly) and generates an utmost stimulating reaction.

"Blood On The Street" begins with a flute in which exemplifies the tribal genetic even more, until more bloodshed shreds more carnage and deadliness with a more slower riff yet still dark and dynamic - another enjoyably entertaining headbanger. "Bite The Bullet" differentiates with the aforementioned characteristics; until the chorus portion comes in, with the overuse of the lyrics: "BITE, BITE THE BULLET!" which is all well and good...it's just hard to not think of those notes when I listen to the song – yet it still wins me over, as it captures elegant memorability with some exquisitely rewarding relishments. "Feedback!" returns to excruciating insanity, terrorizing the eardrums with grinding efficaciousness showing off the band's dedication to the musical spectrum they chose...a gargantuan finale until the spiritualist end with the instrumental "Soulfly XI" overall concludes the record with what sounds like a strangely romantic version compared to previous additions - still somewhat enlightening and fulfilling though. Bottom line; I jammed to yet another classic SOULFLY record, as a fanatic of all things Cavalera - I was very grateful to be offered to review this beast, simply put... this may well be Album Of The Year material for me, bravo you Brazilian motherfuckers!!<