Interview With Max Cavalera
July 23rd, 2008 by Stephanie Stevens
It’s been a while since Brazilian brothers Max and Iggor Cavalera was playing on the same record and on the same stage. But in 2008 the guys are back in brotherhood creating new music in the new project CAVALERA CONSPIRACY. For metal fans alike you have followed these guys since the early days of Sepultura and to see them back in the same band and releasing music that is brutal, honest and more passionate then ever is a blessing.
I had a chance to sit with Max Cavalera before the bands set in Worcester, Ma and he was able to talk to me about how it is being back with his brother, the new Soulfly record and how the recording process was this time around.
HOW DIFFERENT IS IT WORKING WITH YOUR BROTHER VS. WORKING WITH OTHER ARTISTS?
It’s just easier like with other drummers I have to explain things and do out counts for them. So when Iggor and I play we just do it we know. We play at a speed where its our own speed and tempo so those are very unique things that I don’t find with anyone else. Even after the 10 years we got back together and everything is exactly the same. Musically it was the same we went right into it. The ten years didn’t matter musically the minute we worked together again it just clicked.
ON THE INFLIKTED CD PEOPLE HAD EXPECTATIONS ON HEARING THAT SEPULTURA SOUND. WHEN YOU DID WRITE THIS ALBUM WERE YOU LOOKING TO MAKE SOMETHING NEW?
We didn’t even think about the past. I just made the album as raw and natural as possible. I didn’t sit down and discuss what kind of vibe this album would have. People would say I like it because it’s raw and aggressive and it’s got a cool thrash vibe with a groove. I’m glad they like it like that but we didn’t try to do it like that it just happen to come out like that and I think its cooler and more natural. If we plan too much sometimes the result gets a little predictable.
AND IT IS A SHORTER ALBUM!
Yes! Definitely compared to Soulfly it is shorter. I was responsible for that I wanted a shorter album. I was trying to think in terms of like reign In Blood from Slayer. Shorter is better, less is more. Especially with a lot of fast songs so that was the idea, I was always telling them when they were writing to cut things down. They wanted to continue jamming and I’m like no it’s good like this. To me it was better for Soulfly it is better to be longer but I think with this band it could even be shorter.
JUST MAKES YOU HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER ALBUM WITH THIS BAND.
Right!! I still want to make a shorter record. More crazy and its difficult cause the jams we had were really good like with BLACK ARK. It was hard because you don’t want to cut the whole part off because it is a really cool jam but at the same time I don’t want it to drag. So I had to find a balance. You can hear the album in 40 minutes so it’s great.
WAS THE RECORDING PROCESS EASIER?
I think recording with Iggor has always been similar. I enjoy it because he is a very creative drummer and he inspires the people in the room and you see everyone playing better because of him. I would say it was just as fun with the making of the album with Iggor.
YOU PRODUCED THIS ALBUM BUT GIVE FULL CREDIT TO LOGAN FOR ENGINEERING IT. WHY?
Well I think he is a very good engineer and somebody that captures the sound very well. He worked very hard on it. So I felt like I should really give him props for doing it and working hard. I don’t worry about self promotion. I don’t really care. I put it produced by me because those are the words you use but if I had another word I would use it because I am not a producer. Producer guys they drink coffee and stays in the studio and I don’t drink coffee and I don’t like the studios that much. But I produced the record because I kind of had a vision for it, so I did it but I have a very different vision then say like Rick Rubin, I have a very different way of working then him.
SO IS IT TRUE YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING THE WHOLE ALBUM ON THIS TOUR?
Yes, we did it mixed with some Sepultura and Nailbomb stuff. It makes it even more interesting. One of the ideas was to do the whole album the way the album is but I felt like it is stronger if you mix the songs with older songs. It comes out more powerful. In my head I wanted to do the whole album but when we tried it in Europe it didn’t translate that good. It was missing something so we ditched that idea and ended up mixing.
ALSO YOUR STEP SON RITCHIE SANG ON BLACK ARK BUT ALSO HIS BAND INCITE IS OUT ON THE ROAD WITH YOU. ARE YOU A MENTOR FOR HIM ON THE ROAD?
I don’t help him with much because I think he needs to suffer (laughing) No he needs to learn. I put him on the tour and he has thanked me so much for that but I like to see him struggle and I think he likes that. He has never asked me for help. The only thing he ever asked me was once to help him in the studio for a demo. So I went and helped him on the guitar sound but that is about it.
HOW IS IT HAVING YOUR BROTHER BACK BACKING YOU EVERY NIGHT?
It took a while to get use to because it’s been a long time but it’s great. We have fun, we talk between songs, we joke around and we get serious at times to make a kick ass set. It’s good it’s really good. I missed playing with him so I am very happy to have him back playing with me and he is also.
YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A NEW SOULFLY ALBUM?
Yes, it’s actually coming out the end of July.
WHAT WILL YOU DO ONCE THAT IS RELEASED?
Finishing this tour then we are playing with the Ozzfest in TX and then we go to Australia then that is a bout it with CONSPIRACY and then we will take this up next year. The rest will focus on Soulfly. Its natural we planned it like that.
NEW SOULFLY WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO IN IT?
I think its deeper it’s called CONQUER. It’s the same vibe as DARK AGES but I think it’s heavier and faster. So we took everything one step up. Which is surprising a lot of fans because a lot of them were like it can not get any heavier as DARK AGES but it can. It took a little work with the guys but it’s defiantly some cool stuff. There is a song with Dave from Throwdown sings on which is called UNLEASHED. So I am very excited for the record. It’s going to be good.
ANY LAST COMMENTS?
Thanks to all the fans out there. Killer!!
Â
“Sanctuary”
Links: Cavalera Conspiracy on Myspace
