DVD Review: Soulfly - The Song Remains Insane

Despite being a fan of Sepultura, especially their excellent Arise, I didn't ever get into Soulfly; having heard a few tracks from their first album, I casually dismissed them. Their latest DVD, 'The Song Remains Insane' (cue cries of anguish from horrified Led Zep fans), has given me the chance to revisit everybody's favourite Brazilian metaller, Max Cavalera, and reassess.

Containing more than the usual live footage (of which there is approximately an hour of performances from around the world), the DVD also provides a revealing insight into the life of Cavalera and the world he inhabits, his beliefs and inspiration. Discovering that the band perform gigs in Africa and Eastern Europe, knowing they're making a loss, says a lot about the deeply spiritual Cavalera and his desire to stay in touch with his fans.

The live performances are excellent and, pleasingly, the sound and video quality throughout are very high. While enjoying the music, I found the offstage footage equally interesting.

This DVD is without a doubt recommended for fans of Soulfly. Sepultura fans might even fancy giving it a whirl to hear latter-day classics 'Refuse/Resist' and 'Roots Bloody Roots' while music fans in general that enjoy the 'groovier' side of metal might find something to enjoy.

Steve McCormick

www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/artists/Soulfly