Gunther Haagendazs | Up High in the Trees | 06/20/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'll admit. I found out about Soulfly before Sepultura. I realize that Sepultura 1985-1996 is a lot better than Soulfly in Comparison. But with this in mind, I still am able to Enjoy almost anything Max Does. (Almost, I hate the Record 3) When I picked this Double Record up, I was just starting into the Metal Scene. I feel that it doesn't take a minute long Guitar solo with millions of cords to make a good song/band. What I did feel that mattered were good drums. I am not the Average person, who listens to average music. I like it different, just look at some of my other reviews. I am a drummer/percussionist in a band right now. (Part of my drum set is scratch built)I love Tribal drums, and when I found out about Soulfly, it was an opportunity I couldn't refuse. I picked up this record and the Primitive Digipak with 4 bonus songs. Now that's a lot of Tribal Metal. And while Primitive has somewhat faded, this 2 disc version remains as strong as ever.
Some people say this is Nu-metal. I disagree. The only part that I feel is Nu-Metal is the Verse that Fred Durst "Sings" in Bleed. My definition of Nu-Metal is Rock combine with Rap Elements and no solos. This, my dear reader, is Tribal Metal, something Sepultura started with the record Chaos A.D. What will stand out in Tribal Metal more is focus on the drums and atmosphere. While guitar solos do make an occasional appearance, you're not going to find Beneath the Remains here.
The first Disc, the actual record, is 5 Stars in itself. You can tell that Max was Pissed when they recorded it. This was due to his Stepson's Murder.
1. Eye for an Eye (10/10) Great opener that really gets your attention.
2. No Hope = No Fear (10/10) It used to make my hair stand on end if I got really into it.
3. Bleed (9/10)is where some Sepultura fans following Max, (when this was first released) may have snapped due to Fred Durst making an appearance. I would like to point out that, this was release in 1998, Bizkit didn't start to sell out until the next year, and not that it mattered much. This was probably the best lyrics the D-bag ever wrote.
4. Tribe (10/10) is classic, with Max Cavelera starting out on the Berimbau.
5. Bumba (6/10) is what I could consider filler, while it has a reggae atmosphere and all, I am just tempted to press the skip button.
6. First commandment (9/10) eerie, great song with creepy drums and features Chino from the Deftones. I don't like the Deftones, and they make too many appearances with Max, but they manage to do a good Job.
7. Bumbklaatt (9/10) I guess is an insult Max made up, and the Guitars are what make the song stand out so much.
8. Soulfly (7/10)it's a very nice, calm instrumental.
9. Umbabarauma (9/10)is a Portuguese song about Soccer. Very nice.
10. Quilambo (6/10)is like Bumba. And while it has a good message behind it, it isn't that great. Features Guest Benji from the Reggae Metal Band Dub War.
11. Fire (7/10)it's a really catchy tune, even though the lyrics are very simple, also has a good solo.
12. The Song Remains Insane (10/10) brutal and strange and wheni it starts, it doesn't let go.
13. No. (10/10) If people followed these rules, society would be better. Very Vulgar.
14. Prejudice. (10/10)Benji returns with a better performace than Quilambo. It lists Max and Benji as using Chains on here but I don't here them.
15. Karmageddon (6/10)closes the album with a bizarre instrumental. Good way to close the Album but a little boring.
Disc 2: honestly, why buy the normal version for $17 when you can throw in 3 more dollars and get a bonus disc with 15 songs and extra artwork?
Remix's I feel that the Remixes of Tribe and Soulfly are the only ones that have a real big change. The Eternal Spirit Mix feels like it was combined with First Commandment. The Quilambo and Umbabarauma Mix's sound very similar to each other; it's just played at a different distortion level with some techno noises in the background.
The Live Songs are great and have Crystal Clear Quality. The Opener Eye For an Eye and Tribe are found on the Digipak of Primitive. And after No Hope = No Fear there's supposed to be Spit (Sepultura). I don't know about the rest of the missing Live Songs though. The live version of Bleed with Dana's little brother is hilarious. The kid doesn't know how to sing into the microphone or isn't used to it, because at one point you can tell he isn't close enough to it or he forgot a line.
The Eye for an Eye (Live at Indigo Ranch) 10/10 is basically a Live Demo. (Indigo Ranch is where they recorded it) Somewhat different and pretty cool. In the credits, it proudly states that the drummer mixed it in 5 minutes.
The 2 B-sides. Cangaceiro (6/10) and Ain't no Feeble Bastard (Discharge Cover)(8/10) are short songs that have a Punk atmosphere to them and sound somewhat like Demos.
The B-Side that for some Reason wasn't put on the 2nd disc but should have.
Possibility of Life's Destruction (Discharge Cover) 10/10 it's 1 and a half minutes of Pure Thrash. Very fun!!!"
Great stuff
Pluimer | L.A., CA | 12/31/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of my friends loaned me this cd. I loved it and went and bought it right away. The remixes are great too. Im glad to see that noone has anything less than a 5 star rating because it deserves every little star! Im dissapointed that more people dont know about Soulfly. They'll get the public attention they deserve very soon. Laters."
Max at his best!
fearfactory1016@yahoo.com | YOUR BACK YARD | 11/03/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was sad as any to hear of Sepulturas break-up, but one listen to their self titled album, and it is a real mixed blessing! "Bleed" and "Tribe" are two of my favorite tracks, plus for an extra couple of bucks you get a second disc full of rare remixes and live tracks. Any fan of Sepultra, will easily find a home with Soulfly."
Soulfly tribe attempt #1
John Wayne | 08/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent cd, blended nicely. Even the instrumental track seems to fit right in the midst of the mayham. The use of the various instruments is part of what seperates Soulfly from many of the other bands in a time that the majority of metal has been drained of originality. People that are disgruntled about the Sepultura break up need to get over it. Max Cavelera is still pushing out great music and who can discourage an artists from flexing his mind and trying something else? Personally i like this album better than the majority(if not all) the Max era Sepultura. Yeah....that's right...i said it. And now i set myself up for the useless review award by the die hard Sepultura fans....oh well!"
It's Pretty Good
John Wayne | 03/13/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I gotta be honest, when I got this CD, I put it in, and listened some, I skipped Eye For an Eye because that was the [one] song that I had heard. Let me tell you, the WHOLE album (first) takes getting used to. I've listened to it a bunch of times now, and it's gradually getting better. When I first got it, I would've given it a 1-2 star(s). But now, I have given it a 4 because it's better. The 2nd CD makes it TOTALLY worth it though, as the remixes and live versions are AWESOME. I would suggest this to people who like reggae/rap/heavy metal, but not limp bizkit because they would take a LONG time to get used to it, just like me. So buy it or don't, hope I influenced you."