Totem

Totem is Soulfly's twelfth studio album and marks a significant transitional period for the band following the departure of long-time guitarist Marc Rizzo. To fill the void, Max Cavalera collaborated with producer Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Code Orange), who not only handled production but also contributed lead guitar work alongside guests like Chris Ulsh and John Powers. This collaboration resulted in a record that critics noted for its 'ramped up aggro' and 'chaotic air.' Sonically, the album is a distillation of Soulfly’s career-long obsession with the intersection of extreme metal and tribal mysticism. It maintains the crushing groove metal foundation but pushes further into death metal territory than its immediate predecessors. The album is particularly notable for its closing track, 'Spirit Animal,' which departs from the metal template to incorporate shimmering synths and vocoded singing, reinforcing the band's experimental spirit.