If there's one thing Max Cavalera should not be reproached for, it's being idle. He never seems to take a break and offers an opus of Soulfly less than a year after the fourth disc of Cavalera Conspiracy. "Ritual" comes after a convincing "Archangel" that had put Soulfly back on track. With a stable line-up, Max Cavalera wanted to go back to his roots and towards a tribal sound. The title and the cover illustrate this idea implemented several times in the album.
'Ritual' which opens the album is in this spirit, especially on the chorus. The mix of genres still works as well as ever. Also 'Bite The Bullet' and 'Blood On The Street' contain tribal elements that give them a beautiful strength. Beside Soulfly keeps this brutal tendency that suits her well with a fearsome mix between groovy thrash and death metal. This gives several punchy tracks: 'The Summoning' and 'Evil Empowered' are direct and energetic, Marc Rizzo signs furious soli while Zyon fights behind his drums. Max Cavalera sings at the limit of his possibilities, but with an uncommon strength of conviction.
And there's something even stronger: the duet with Ross Dolan from Immolation ('Under Rapture') sees the death metal facet brought to the fore for a result that is wickedly powerfull. Another duet, 'Dead Behind The Eyes', with Randy Blythe from Lamb Of God is a perfect concentration of groovy thrash with an intense rhythm. With 'Demonized' the ferocity is there even more. The only lull comes from the final instrumental, 'Soulfly XI', which has a nice sweetness with a jazzy saxophone side and a piano bar lounge feel.
"Ritual" confirms the beautiful artistic shape of a Soulfly who has found the perfect musical formula. Max Cavalera and his men offer a concentrate of raw power that is sure to blow more than one listener's mind.