Primitive
Soulfly
2000
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Released on 26 September 2000, Primitive is the second studio album by heavy metal band Soulfly and represents a crucial milestone in Max Cavalera's career after his departure from Sepultura. This work stands out as Cavalera's most collaborative and multifaceted artistic statement to date, expanding the boundaries of nu metal with a bold fusion of heaviness, Brazilian tribal rhythms, grunge elements and touches of hip-hop. The album not only solidified Soulfly's sonic identity, but also deepened the exploration of spiritual, prophetic and aggressive themes, uniquely incorporating world music into its heavy sound. Primitive demonstrated a deliberate evolution from the rawer, more direct sound of the band's debut album, aiming for a more polished and textured production, without losing the leader's characteristic intensity.
Context
Soulfly was formed in 1997 by Max Cavalera in Phoenix, Arizona, following his tumultuous departure from Sepultura. Cavalera's decision to leave the Brazilian band occurred amidst disagreements over his wife remaining as manager, leading him to seek a new platform for his musical and spiritual ideas. The creation of Soulfly was born with the proposal to combine sounds and spiritual beliefs, a concept deeply influenced by the pain of dealing with the death of his stepson and best friend, Dana Wells. After the release of the self-titled debut album in 1998, which established the foundations of the band's tribal and aggressive sound, Soulfly entered the studio to record Primitive. The line-up for this album featured Max Cavalera on vocals, four-string guitar and berimbau, Mikey Doling on lead guitar, Marcello D. Rapp on bass and the addition of new drummer Joe Nuñez, who replaced Roy Mayorga.
Recording
The conception and recording of Primitive took place between 1999 and 2000 at The Saltmine Studio Oasis studio, located in Mesa, Arizona. For this work, the band enlisted the production of Toby Wright, known for his work with bands such as Alice in Chains and Korn, who sought a more spacious and refined sound compared to the raw approach of the debut album, produced by Ross Robinson. Wright's touches are noticeable throughout the record, with the inclusion of synthesizers, keyboards and additional drum programming, elements that contributed to the album's hybrid and multifaceted sound. Mixing was handled by Andy Wallace and mastering by George Marino. In addition to the main production, Max Cavalera is credited as co-producer on several tracks, while Sean Lennon also contributed as co-producer on the song "Son Song". Hand percussion, a pillar of Soulfly's sonic identity, was deepened with the participation of Larry McDonald and Meia Noite.
Songs
Primitive is a melting pot of influences and collaborations, with several tracks that stand out for their originality. The album opens with "Back to the Primitive", which immediately introduces the tribal element with the sound of the berimbau. "Jumpdafuckup" is one of the highlights, featuring the striking vocals of Corey Taylor from Slipknot and sludgy riffs, and is even recognised as a nu-metal 'classic'. "Mulambo" made an appearance in the film The Forsaken and featured backing vocals from the Mulambo Tribe, while "Terrorist" is notable for incorporating lyrics from Sepultura's "Inner Self" and Slayer's "Criminally Insane", in addition to vocal participation from Tom Araya of Slayer. The emotional "Son Song" is a tribute to the deceased fathers of Max Cavalera and Sean Lennon (the iconic John Lennon), with Sean Lennon co-writing, singing and playing on the track, which features grunge-sounding riffs à la Alice in Chains and vocals similar to Layne Staley's. The song "In Memory of..." innovates for Soulfly by incorporating rap elements, with contributions from Babatunde Rabouin, Deonte Perry and Justus Olbert. The instrumental "Soulfly II" is a sequel to the first album's title track, exploring a vast array of instruments such as congas, piano, sitar, twang and various wind instruments. Asha Rabouin makes her first appearance with the band on "Flyhigh", while "Pain" features collaborations from Chino Moreno of Deftones and Grady Avenell of Will Haven.
Legacy
Primitive achieved notable commercial success, selling over 226,569 copies by 2002. The album reached position 32 on the Billboard 200 and 11th position on the US independent charts, becoming the band's most successful album in the country. Critical reception was predominantly positive and diverse, with Rolling Stone praising the depth of the sound and Max Cavalera's 'lived growl', while Q Magazine highlighted the impact of the percussive and ethnic grooves. Melody Maker even classified Primitive as 'the metal album of the year so far', praising its 'incendiary mix of nu metal, reggae and Brazilian rhythms'. NME referred to Max Cavalera as the 'Bob Marley of heavy metal', noting the artist's political anger. Alternative Press described the album as a work of great scope, uniting 'pre-millennium' speed metal with hip-hop and ambient instrumentals. More recently, in 2019, the song "Jumpdafuckup" was included by Joe Smith-Engelhardt of Alternative Press in his list of the '10 essential nu-metal tracks that still hold up today', solidifying the album's place as a pillar of the genre.
Analyses
Discogs
Primitive – Discogs
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