Soulfly

It may not yet be regarded as an important date, but there's every chance that August 17, 2006, will come to be known as one of the most important days in metal this decade. For it was on that Thursday that Soulfly held their tenth Annual D-Low Memorial Festival in Arizona, named after, and dedicated to, frontman Max Cavalera's stepson Dana Wells, who was killed in a car crash in 1996. Tickets were cheap - $1 a pop - and with a selection of guest musicians such as former drummer Roy Mayorga and ex-Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson, it was always going to be a night to remember. But no-one had expected this.

With Soulfly's set thundering along with the momentum of a possessed bulldozer, Max Cavalera stepped up to the mic and, with a smile, announced there would be one more special guest tonight. His name was Igor Cavalera and he would be coming onstage to play drums on a few songs. And for the first time since Max walked out of Brazilian metal titans Sepultura ten years ago in a hail of acrimony and accusations, he and his younger brother stood together on the same stage, bringing to an end one of the most publicised and personal rifts in metal history.

"I saw the faces on the crowd in front of the stage," recalls Cavalera Snr. with a smile. "They were in a bit of shock and disbelief, it was great."

I ask him to sum up how it felt to be onstage playing with Igor again, to which Cavalera replies, "Thunder is the first thing that comes to mind, the sound of drums like thunder. And then there's this serious look on his face like he's about to engage in a war. And I remember those things from years of touring with Sepultura, the war face that Igor has behind the drums."

So did it make Cavalera realise what he'd missed in the last ten years?

"Yeah, it's the kind of thing you can't really explain in words, but I knew what it was," he sighs. "For both of us it was a very awesome, amazing, cool moment that I'd like to continue. I don't have anything planned, Soulfly's very busy, but the future is bringing us together somehow and so we're going to see what happens."

Indeed, as far as Cavalera is concerned, a Sepultura reunion is more a matter of when than if.

"I've always been at peace with everyone in the band, I really don't hate anyone. I knew that at some point we were gonna meet up again somehow. We'll see what happens."

There is, of course, more happening in Cavalera's life at the moment than talk of a Sepultura reunion, with Soulfly's tour in support of latest album 'Darkest Days' continuing to wind its way across the world. Their next stop is Australia and Cavalera's voice buzzes with excitement at the prospect of returning. Sadly, it took a few high profile deaths to remind him to appreciate these moments.

"Sepultura toured with The Ramones in Brazil, it was an unbelievable, amazing tour," he starts. "But little did I know it was the last time I was going to see The Ramones. You don't really think of those things when you're doing tours. And especially with the tragedy of Dimebag [Darrell, ex-Pantera guitarist shot on stage in 2004], I think of those things a little more now than I used to, you appreciate the tours and try and enjoy them a little more."

Remarkably, given everything else happening in his life, Cavalera has found time to start work on Soulfly's next album. And he can barely restrain his joy when he announces it could be the band's heaviest album yet.

"It's going to be insane," he enthuses. "Dub music is the only normal thing I listen to, and dub music is quite insane if you think about it. Most people can't understand it 'cause the bass is so loud in dub. Apart from that, all I've been listening to is just heavy shit. I just got my old Massacre records and my old Hellhammer records. When I wake up I listen to this shit from morning to night. I'm a worse metalhead than I've ever been in my life! And I have a band full of metalheads who just want to play faster and darker and more heavy, so everything indicates that the next album is going to be heavy as shit. And I'm ready."

Rod Yates

dB proudly presents Soulfly at Fowler's Live on Wed 25 October. 'Darkest Days' is out now through Roadrunner.