SOULFLY Enlists WARBRINGER Bassist CHASE BRYANT for 2025 Spring/Summer European Tour

SOULFLY has brought on Chase Bryant from WARBRINGER to handle bass duties during their upcoming European tour, commencing on June 7 at the South Of Heaven festival in Maastricht, Netherlands.

SOULFLY leader Max Cavalera remarks: “Welcome to the tribe, Chase!”

He goes on to say: “Chase will be the bass player for SOULFLY during our ‘Spirit Animal’ European tour in ’25! Chase is an exceptional musician, blending technical skill with thrash energy!”

“SOULFLY will hit festivals like Graspop and Copenhell, bringing our heavy grooves from Germany to Bulgaria! JUMPDAFUCKUP TRIBE!!!”

This past April, SOULFLY announced the departure of bassist Mike Leon.

Leon, who previously played with HAVOK, joined SOULFLY in September 2015 as the successor to STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos, who exited SOULFLY earlier that year.

SOULFLY‘s most recent album, “Totem”, was released in August 2022 through Nuclear Blast. This follow-up to 2018’s “Ritual” was produced by Max Cavalera and Arthur Rizk at Platinum Underground in Mesa, Arizona, with contributions from John Aquilino and John Powers. The album features guest performances from John Powers (ETERNAL CHAMPION), Chris Ulsh (POWER TRIP), and John Tardy (OBITUARY). Rizk also played lead guitar on the album, while James Bousema created the artwork.

In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. Dino Cazares of FEAR FACTORY filled in on guitar for SOULFLY during their 2021 and 2022 shows.

Guitarist Mike DeLeon has been part of SOULFLY‘s touring lineup for over two years. Previously, he was a member of PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, joining in 2015 as a replacement for Marzi Montazeri. Most recently, Mike subbed for Zakk Wylde during the initial rehearsal for fall 2022 PANTERA shows.

In a recent interview with MetalUnderground.com, Max discussed plans for the next SOULFLY album after “Totem”. He shared: “We’re currently working on the new record. It’s going well. We’re taking our time to do it justice. Right now, we’re finishing up recording, then we’ll move on to mixing and selecting tracks for all the platforms, including Spotify. I’m really proud of it.”

Regarding the direction of the upcoming SOULFLY material, Max shared: “The album feels like it captures the adventurous spirit of the first record [1998’s ‘Soulfly’]. Sonically, it’s quite different—more complex and perhaps even heavier, with deeper grooves. But in terms of spirit and attitude, it’s reminiscent of the debut record, which I find exciting. Finding a way to capture the essence of that time while creating something new is challenging, but rewarding.”

Cavalera explained further: “What’s great about this album is that it returns to the roots that drew me and SOULFLY fans together. Although previous albums explored diverse vibes, some leaning more thrashy, such as ‘Dark Ages’ [2005] and ‘Omen’ [2010]. Creating a record inspired by the initial concept was a challenge, but meaningful. I don’t aim to replicate that first album—rather, I’m using it as a source of inspiration. The songs will each have their unique character. I’m eager to see how fans react.”

When asked about a potential release date for the new SOULFLY album, Max stated: “Currently, we’re eyeing October. It’s a target we’ve discussed. We’ll also have a European tour from June to late July, during which we plan to play one or two new songs, which is exciting. I’ve enjoyed such opportunities in the past. For example, I performed ‘Primitive’ from our second album during the initial tour for the first record, giving fans a sneak peek before its release. A similar experience awaits with this new record—fans will get an early taste before October, especially with the visibility of YouTube in today’s digital age.”