INCITE
The Slaughter
I Scream 2009

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When I read that this was Max Cavalera's stepson's band I must admit I was thinking well it might suck but then again I have quite liked the last two Soulfly disks so maybe some of that style may rub off on the younger Cavalera family member.

Actually as the first song begins I am almost relieved to say that the first riff doesn't suck at all! The riff is very similar to those you would hear on a Soulfly record these days but somehow even sharper and angrier. The production courtesy of ex Soulfly/Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader is very crisp and makes the album very brutal and yet easy to listen to.

The vocals are very much in the Max mould, being sharp, semi understandable barks but without the endearing Braziilian twang on some of the lines. Guitarwise these guys are very adept indeed. Army of Darkness starts of with a blazing groovy riff asault whilst Richie barks his Maxesque vocals out over the top, inciting a similar tribal energy that Soulfly often creates. In fact let's call this band "Juniorfly" as they have many of the same traits as Daddy's band. The influences are clear to see throughout the record. However to give Incite some credit, the riffs are very cool on this release and can easily stand on their own feet.

This album should appeal to modern thrashers the world over. There is an excitement in the riffs that many older bands fail to deliver with their tired riffs. You can tell this band is very young with their exuberant pleas and shouts for the youth to rise against the establishment with songs like Time For a Change. Towards the end of the album the band really ups the ante riff wise with some blistering runs, take Down and Out for example with it's machine gun rolls and super tight drumming.

I must admit I am very pleasantly surprised with this record. Sure it has some flaws as songs tend to meld together but the riffing never gets too boring and literally every song has a corker. The vocals are very one dimensional and could do with some more in the way of inflection as they tend to get very monotonous. They also need to work a little harder on the refrains to make them stand out a little more. The other thing missing is the lack of raging leadwork which Soulfly now has but Incite more or less lacks. Still if you are a fan of the raging thrash riff in modernised themes then Incite will definitely loosen your fillings. Good stuff and big credit to this young band for making such a hard hitting record and a thunderous production to boot.

© Pirage Forsi
Rating **** (4.0/5.0)

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