Soulfly – Omen
Soulfly first caught my attention with their second album Primitive, and since then I’ve eagerly anticipated each and every release from them. Keep in mind, that was just about ten years ago, and to say that the band is still relevant to metal fans’ interests is promising. With the legacy Cavalera has with Sepultura, and now the track record he’s built with Soulfly, it’s a wonder he’s not trying to do it again. Oh, wait, that’s right. There’s now Cavalera Conspiracy… I digress. You’re here to find out if Omen, hot off the heels of 2008’s Conquer, is worthy of the Soulfly name. The short answer? Absolutely.
Omen is ready to burst from the gates and into your ears. Don’t expect Conquer, which was heavily Egyptian. Don’t expect the heavily Brazilian Primitive. As a matter of fact, don’t even expect Prophecy-like subtlety. Don’t expect much seasoning. This is thrashy-crustpunky-grindy-death-tinged metal. That’s the best I can do (good luck pronouncing that). Oh and Rizzo? His best work to date. My goodness that man can wail.
That’s not to say there isn’t some ethnicity thrown in here. We are talking about a band lead by the brain behind Sepultura and the guitarist behind the few moments of awesome that Ill Nino provided from time to time. There are a few parts where you’ll hear a sitar and some Egyptian-inspired solos/riffing; that is, however, it. I can count on two fingers the times I heard any ethnic drums. This is stripped down, late-Cavalera-era Sepultura stuff, just without that whole “Oh, we only need two strings on our guitars” vibe. Every string gets used here. The only exception is “Soulfly VII,” which feels extremely out of place on a record this, pardon the caps, BRUTAL. I can understand Max’s need to continue with his non-metal Soulfly mega-epic lead out songs, but it’s foreign here. Imagine an Emo kid hanging at a Cannibal Corpse concert. Knew you couldn’t.
Most impressive on Omen is the groovy nature of the riffs. They’re punky and they’ll get you moving. There are some great hooks here. Yet, at other times Max and company will throw in some broken-down death riffs that remind you of Brujeria. Of course, worth mentioning yet again is Rizzo’s lead work. Phenomenal. Production is top notch, as expected, and feels much closer to the warmer, clearer mix featured on Prophecy rather than the more recent mid-heavy, low-passing filter that Conquer was seemingly run through. Max’s vocals are what they are. If you like em, you like em. This album also features a couple of guest appearances (a low count for most Soulfly records) from Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puciato and Prong’s Tommy Victor. Both are good appearances, and Max lets them really own the songs they guest on. Puciato’s vocals really fit well with this type of music. It’s a shame Dillinger Escape Plan can’t turn up their distortion…
The bottom line: if you’re into Soulfly, you will like this record. If you’re not a fan of their more tribal works, but loved Prophecy, give this one a spin. If you’re a fan of good metal in general, pick this up. If you’re reading this site and have read this far, just buy the thing.
About The Writer
Share This Post
Other Posts You Might Like
Buy The Album
Band Links
19 Comments
March 29th, 2010 at 7:18 am
Outstanding! I've been waiting on this CD for awhile now. Max is a master at his craft & always finds a way to outshine every previous attempt. I think I own every CD that Max has ever layed his hands upon & thus so far I've been impressed w/ each & every attempt, I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Soulfly are kinda like a fine wine & continue to get better & better with time….
[Reply to this comment]
March 31st, 2010 at 11:58 pm
The fact that you rate this band at all has ruined any credibility this site has for reviewing. Complete, and utter fuck-up. This site is no longer included in the list of links machine head use.
[Reply to this comment]
everybody replied:
June 21st, 2010 at 11:06 am
Thought Max Cavalera stood for something. Turns out he's obviously a sad idiot. Singing about mass murderers is sick as is anybody who would defend this song or this band. What about some respect for the victims' families?
[Reply to this comment]
April 1st, 2010 at 6:01 am
The Colonel…..Muhahahahahahah! Well, I believe that blabbermouth’s forums are still taking “angry-metal head guy” applications…lol
[Reply to this comment]
April 1st, 2010 at 7:19 am
Well, the fact that 1) You've never been to this site before now, 2) You didn't look at ANY other reviews, and 3) Our link is still listed on the Machine Head forums ruins any credibility YOU might have had…assuming that you had any to begin with. Thanks for visiting.
[Reply to this comment]
April 1st, 2010 at 7:33 am
Colonel calm down the new Limp Bizkit material will be out soon and you can go "break stuff" and go "rollin" blasting "my way" flashing your Wes Borland tattoo to strangers.
[Reply to this comment]
April 1st, 2010 at 7:39 am
Soulfly é muito foda Max é o melhor vocalista Omen deve vim estorando tudo
[Reply to this comment]
April 6th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Colonel go eat some KFC and listen to Good Charlotte
[Reply to this comment]
April 21st, 2010 at 11:13 pm
this album sucks major dick!! it doesn't even sound like Soulfly…..fucking Suckfly!! the only good thing about this album is that its musically well written. Marc is literally raping the guitar to make this album sound good. Max is getting old and his lyrics just suck now. i don't know if this was rushed by roadrunner (usually is or altered by them) or Max went in the studio with shit in his ears but dam man….a big piece of garbage!! don't buy it. wait for something better to come out….if possible….
[Reply to this comment]
April 22nd, 2010 at 3:04 pm
So DJ, I take it love you some Soulfly? Ha Ha Ha! Actually Im glad that this cd doesnt sound like the last SIX albums! I got tired of listening to the congas and bongo's that Jabba Zamboo-lee and the tribe were proud of. It became a tired sound that was severely overdone. Even if you don’t like this cd , you have to give Max and company credit for not making JUST ANOTHER Soulfly album. Like it or not, Max is here to stay…
[Reply to this comment]
May 6th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
This album was clearly not the best Soulfly album to me. It's empty, it's a poor ersatz of the Cavalera Conspiracy album (which was damn good, don't get me wrong). Lyrics and riffs are just repeated over and over, and it gets really boring, Rizzo's talent is under exploited. There is some good material, like "Rise of the Fallen" and "Kingdom", and I kinda like the change in Max's voice, but globally, this album was really cheap. Besides, Max is becoming more and more some sort of greedy whore who makes concerts and albums only for money (I saw him last year in live at Hellfest, he did'nt speak to the public, he looked really bored, even if most people were really excited to hear him at first. I felt really frustrated after his set). For a guy who sang about fighting the system, its really lame…
I'm glad you liked this album, but personally I prefered early Soulfly albums. You can call it "boring folk mess", but at least, these albums were different one to another, not just bad copis of an ancient album. And I bet you that in one year, he won't play even one of these tracks in live, just like he did for his two last albums (except for "Blood Fire War Hate", which was cool, I admit it).
(BTW : english is not my mother language, sorry if I messed up grammar here)
[Reply to this comment]
May 16th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Well everyone, I have been a loooong time Soulfly fan, but before that, a big Sepultura fan. I can say a few things here: One, Max has ALWAYS regurgitated his lyrics, referring to an earlier post, to the point I couldn't keep Chaos AD titles straight bc he says other song names within other songs. He repeats UN, DOS, TRES, QUAAAA….in a quarter of his songs, and lyrically it can get a little boring I agree: but that doesn't even matter bc the man is beastly with everything he does in these bands! Find me another band save Machine Head w/ reunited lead Phil Demmel who assaults your ears like Max's works without reaping or inaudible gutterals like early Impending Doom or Cattle Decap. Two, Max and Marc are a great combo. Three, the riffs are kill. You just won't find a comprable outfit with the longevity and tenacity these guys as the collective name have and have had. I haven't heard the new album, but I can say with certainty that I WILL get it, WILL like it, WILL play it loud, and WILL sing it to the point of losing my voice with the guys when they stop through next, as we always do. Don't come on these threads to talk smack, you'll get thrashed everytime!
[Reply to this comment]
May 25th, 2010 at 8:19 am
100% agree with Theo. Disappointed with omen. For 11 tracks only about 4 were good. Instead of buying this better get The Mist, Chakal or Sarcofago for REAL Brazil Metal.
[Reply to this comment]
May 30th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Sepultura is dyin a slow death and i belive soulfly is going the same way….The only listenable soulfly album was the 1st one with logan on leads..pure machine-sep deadly combo!!! As some one mentined before…its been high time they mix up jungo-bingo tribal metal…its really has become a pain in the you all know where. Its a fact which has to be accepted sadly…Sep-soulfly R.I.P…unles the old Sepultura tight team gets reformed(Fearfactory way)
[Reply to this comment]
August 9th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Great review man!!! Creative unlike anything ERIC has ever written. When I read a review like this it keeps me coming back but then I read all of the negative posts from the other STAFF and I just shake my head.
Lee, I am sure you are a smart guy and if you want readers to stay here on this site instead of going to the other 20 Metal Review sites that are out there I strongly suggest that your staff lay off on the negative comments toward your readers! Let's face it, this is a MUSIC Web Site where you will catch a lot of flak because people are passionate about their music, and you're going to get a lot of bad feedback but to bash them back is unprofessional and childish.
Just post your reviews and only comment back to the people who leave good lashes! Go to other Metal sites and you'll see that they refrain from the grade school antics that your staff has lowered themselves to. I think by reading the comments under Slayer "WPB" and Megadeth "EndGame" you'll see exactly what I mean.
Sincerely,
Sladetroityer
[Reply to this comment]
October 28th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
i have to agree with others that this is a little disappointing, first hearing Rise of the Fallen was looking very promising as if they have gone back to the Primitive days (no pun intended there) but then hearing the rest left me quite confused…
[Reply to this comment]
December 5th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
the song Soulfly VII remind me of The Police…
[Reply to this comment]
January 3rd, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Omen is one of the worse thrash records i've ever heard period.. the generic thrash riffs, sophomoric lyrics (i couldn't stop laughing about how silly the song about Jeffrey Dahmer is.. the chorus sounds like he is singing "Jeffrey Dahmer, masturbator" LOL), crappy production and rehashed singing are just one step below pure crap.
No wonder soulfly has released like a zillion CDs.. it is easy to be prolific when you are taking a CRAP and turning it into a CD
the new Exodus, Overkill and Death Angel blow this away.
[Reply to this comment]
September 27th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Just happened upon this page whilst listening to the album for what i believe is the first time. My verdict? Wow! You’d have to be tone deaf not to like this album (and it appears that some of you are). It is such a refreshing step back toward the early Sepultura as well as the early Soulfly stuff. Well Done guys.
[Reply to this comment]