Album Review: Soulfly – Chama (Nuclear Blast Records)

Extreme metal trailblazers Soulfly will deliver their tribally fuelled thirteenth album ‘Chama’ on October 24th, 2025, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Unlucky for some, but certainly not for us listeners, this thirteenth Soulfly album is a thing of extreme beauty. Metallised groove and heaviness running headfirst into tribal fury and spiritual intensity. Soulfly looking back to their roots, even with nu-metal bounce here and here, but infusing it with fresh touches that make it more than just another Soulfly release.

You know what I mean by that too. While there aren’t bad Soulfly albums, there are Soulfly albums that don’t have much staying power. We’ve all heard one or two like that. Happily, that is not the case here as Chama proves to be not just a banger Soulfly record, but a banger metal record and the first part of it showcases that with potency.

Kicking off with the haunting intro of Indigenous Inquisition, a war cry of sorts, and one that sets the tone of the album. Before Storm the Gates’ full-throttle intensity arrives, and here, we get a short and sharp blast of heavy noise that features big riffs, powerful drums, and Max’s iconic roars and shouts. It’s an instant hit, but for me, there’s no touching Nihilist, which is up there as one the best modern tracks the band have put out. Not just because it goes so damn hard, but comes with varied guitar parts, some of the chunkiest drumming, and a very creative end. it’s downright doomy!

No Pain = No Power is a bit of a shift, most of which comes from the more melodic vocals that guest Ben Cook of No Warning delivers. Although there’s the unmistakable potency of Dino Cazares’ riffing in this one too. Whereas Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott helps turn Ghenna into one of the most punishingly heavy tracks of the album. Although that’s a title that Black Hole Scum could also share, as it’s fair to say that the recent Nailbomb run has had some effect on the direction of this album.

Soulfly have never shied away from the taking an honest and unforgiving look at their ancestry, and how they infuse their roots into their music continues to be one of the most fascinating things about them. Case in point? The spitting and snarling Favela Dystopia, which pays homage to the roots of the band, the Cavalera clan, and their homeland, in critical fashion.

There is a little bit of a lull with Always Was, Always Will Be. The tempo shifts, stop/start nature, and infusion of atmosphere changing the tone, but not necessarily in a negative way as it gives the listener a moment to breathe, while still being undeniably heavy. It also flows wonderfully into Soulfly XIII, the expected instrumental and one of the best the band has produced. The tribal elements mixed with hypnotic melody and potent atmosphere is quite pretty.

Finally, it’s the title track, which means flame in Portuguese. A title that embodies the album and who Soulfly are in 2025. The fire still burns, and if there’s one thing this record showcases, it’s the fact that it’s not diminishing. In fact, it’s getting hotter.

This is a brilliant Soulfly album, and one of 2025’s most satisfying listens.

Soulfly – Chama Track Listing:

1. Indigenous Inquisition
2. Storm the Gates
3. Nihilist
4. No Pain = No Power
5. Ghenna
6. Black Hole Scum
7. Favela – Dystopia
8. Always Was, Always Will Be
9. Xiii
10. Chama

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