Live Review: Soulfly w/Cage Fight at O2 Academy Islington!

If you did a survey back in 1998 there would have been few who thought that Soulfly would still be a going concern in 2024 but 28 years after frontman and guitarist Max Cavalera left Sepultura the band are back in London and still here and going strong. We had the pleasure of witnessing them back in the day at London Astoria and then again at Download Festival in 2003 before the “Dark Ages” tour stop at Portsmouth Pyramids circa 2005, so tonight is something of a nostalgia trip despite our love of the bands recorded material in between times. Line up changes, wars of words, global pandemics, births, marriages and deaths have all happened in the career of this band but the only thing that has really changed is how grey Max Cavalera’s beard is these days.

The knowledge that Cage Fight [9/10] opened for Sepultura during the UK leg of the “Quadra” tour a couple of years back means that there is a certain irony that they’re here opening for Soulfly at the O2 Academy Islington tonight. While we patiently await news of a sophomore album the Rachel Aspe fronted Metallic Hardcore crew the four piece take to the stage and win over the audience within a few songs, blistering renditions of “One Minute” and “Respect Ends” going down a storm. Aspe cuts a sultry figure as she stalks the stage between full throated Death Metal outbursts, reminding us why she’s one of the most ferocious vocalists on the scene. The riffs keep coming as “Eating Me Alive” is played in tribute to the late great Trevor Strnd of The Black Dahlia Murder who gave a guest vocal appearance before he tragically passed away. Last but by no means least “Hope Castrated” gets a circle pit as the band finish half an hour of power on a high. We can’t wait to hear what they do next.

This tour might be called “Superstition” and it might feature the artwork from the bands 2022 album “Totem” but in truth it could be an anniversary show for the bands 1998 self titled debut album as Soulfly [10/10] perform more than half of that record, making it the backbone of the set. From the deep grooves of “No Hope = No Fear” to “Tribe” and “Bleed” which sees Richie Cavalera from Incite perform Fred Durst’s vocal parts, tonight feels like a celebration. Circle pits, headbanging and moshing are accompanied by hand claps and chanting as everyone gets involved. Lead guitarist Mike DeLeon may not be Marc Rizzo but tonight is less about those flamboyant leads and more about the blunt force trauma in pure unadulterated Thrash. Bassist Mike Leon’s backing vocals are insane and he knows how to deliver the funky bass lines while giving us some showmanship. Everyone knows the words and every song becomes a sing-a-long anthem, even personal favourite “Bumba“. Tonight may not be listed as sold out but it’s breathing room only as the crowd surfers attempt to reach the stage during “Downstroy“, Zyon Cavalera impressing behind the kit with the sheer power and energy he generates. Perhaps he’ll be on the kit for Slipknot when Max decides he wants to hang up his boots. Aside from a glorious rendition of the aforementioned “Superstition” and a surprisingly good “Filth Upon Filth” from the current record the rest of the set is made up of songs from the first four. The chant of “Blood Fire War Hate” is infectious with London sounding like a Metal choir at the bands command before everyone gets down on their knees and leaps up for “Jumpdafuckup“. That feels special tonight even though everyone is doing it these days. Grand finale? How about “No” with the crowd in full voice? They might have cut out seven albums worth of material but this old school set this was a barnstormer.