Band : Soulfly
Album Title : Omen
Label : Roadrunner Records
Distribution : CNR – Concreteweb Promotion Office
Release date : 2010
Review : CD

“Omen” is already the seventh album of Soulfly and the follow-up for “Conquer” (2008).
As you probably know, Soulfly was formed in 1997 after singer/guitar player Max Cavalera left Sepultura in 1996.
With Soulfly, Max continued to mix tribal elements and influences from all around the world into metal music.
Once again, proof of this mixture is delivered on “Omen”. Nothing shocking, nothing boring.
As usual, one of the songs on the album is an instrumental, “Soulfly VII”, and another trademark of all the Soulfly albums are the contributions of guest musicians. This time, Max worked together with singer Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan and with guitar player Tommy Victor of Prong. These collaborations certainly are amongst the best songs of the album.
“Omen” contains 11 songs and has a playing time of 41 minutes.
Highlights of the album are the opening track “Bloodbath & Beyond”, the first single “Rise Of The Fallen” (with additional vocals from Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan), “Lethal Injection” (with crushing guitar riffs from Tommy Victor of Prong), “Off With Their Heads”, “Vulture Culture” and “Counter Sabotage”.
There is also a limited edition available with three bonus tracks on the CD, “Four Sticks” (originally from Led Zeppelin), “Refuse/Resist” from Sepultura and with Zyon Cavalera (son of Max) on drums and “Your Life, My Life” from Excel with Igor Cavalera (another son of Max, not to be confused with his brother Iggor) also on drums. This limited edition also includes a bonus DVD with the concert Soulfly performed at the With Full Force festival in Germany on July 3rd 2009.
Recently, bass player Bobby Burns left Soulfly and was (temporarily) replaced by Johny Chow.
The next release of Max Cavalera will be the new Cavalera Conspiracy album in early 2011.

75/100

Erik.