Cavalera Conspiracy

Annoying, predictable album title dampening the proceedings aside, it is with much anticipation that punters worldwide will be spinning this debut from the Cavalera Conspiracy. Featuring reunited Sepultura brothers Max and Iggor Cavalera, along with Max’s Soulfly bud Marc Rizzo on guitar and Gojira’s Joe Duplantier on bass, this 11-track effort starts off predictably enough, with the title track being a fast thrasher with a bit of groove. The surprise is that things never let up, with the album as a whole being fast, thrash-y and intense in ways that neither Soulfly nor Sepultura have managed to be in a while. And while some may lament the lack of ideas, I say two thumbs up — what these guys do best is put their heads down and thrash to the finish line, and it’s refreshing to hear them do it again (see standout track "Hex” for proof). Although this definitely has a punk rock vibe to it — Arise it isn’t — metalheads are going to eat it up.