Killer Be Killed - Max Cavalera
Questions: Adam Parry

Max Cavalera is a name synonymous with heavy music. The metal mastermind has been the driving force behind some of the biggest heavy bands of the modern era; Sepultura, Nailbomb, Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy to name just a few. He has worked with a multitude of musical greats over the years, from Mike Patton and Dave Grohl to Jello Biafra and Corey Taylor. His latest venture, the deservedly tagged ‘supergroup’ Killer Be Killed, released their debut album this year and will be making their highly anticipated live debut at Australia’s Soundwave festival in February 2015.
An excited Max spoke to Caught in the Mosh about the formation of the band, his love of metal and what fans can expect from the Killer Be Killed live shows.
How did Killer Be Killed come together and start making music?
It was more with Greg. Greg had the idea to make a project and so he called me and talked me through it. We got together, here in Phoenix, recorded a demo of like 10 songs that were really raw but really cool and had a lot of potential. Then Greg’s friend Dave was a good drummer and he joined the band and then after that we needed one more guy and we called Troy from Mastodon. Once we got Troy in the band it became a supergroup and we wrote more stuff together and then went into the studio, wrote more stuff together and recorded the album. The record is just a collaboration of everyone putting their ideas together, everybody helping each other and doing something on the side that is different from our own bands. We are all in established bands but this is something on the side people weren’t expecting, so I think this Killer Be Killed record is really cool because of that. It’s really unexpected, very different from what we normally do in our own bands. It doesn’t really sound like Soulfly, it doesn’t really sound like The Dillinger Escape Plan or Mastodon, but it has little pieces that remind us of those bands, but in general sounds like a new group and a new band and I think that’s what’s cool about Killer Be Killed.
Having a number of members from other established bands, how did the song writing process differ from how you would normally write songs with Soulfly?
I wrote some of it similar. I write at home, make riffs at home, so I brought a lot of the riffs and showed them to Greg and Troy and they really liked my riffs. I also wrote a lot of riffs in the rehearsal room and in the studio. All of us contributed; there are some of Greg’s riffs on the album, some of Troy’s riffs and then we shared all the vocals between the three of us. It was great work, everybody pulling together, like being part of a team. That’s why when I think of Killer Be Killed, for me, it doesn’t sound like a project, even though it is a project. It sounds more like a band, a real band and I think that’s the coolest thing about this record.
Killer Be Killed has obviously been labelled, as you have said, as a “supergroup”. Did you feel any extra pressure due to the project being looked at in that way?
No, there’s not much you can do about that. People put those names on it and you gotta roll with it, you know? I was excited to play with the guys and I look forward it. I’m a big Mastodon fan and a big Dillinger Escape Plan fan, so getting to play with those guys was an honour, as a fan. I looked forward to doing my part on the record, to make the best record possible. I wasn’t nervous. I was having fun putting my ideas out, my energy out and enjoying the moment.
An excited Max spoke to Caught in the Mosh about the formation of the band, his love of metal and what fans can expect from the Killer Be Killed live shows.
How did Killer Be Killed come together and start making music?
It was more with Greg. Greg had the idea to make a project and so he called me and talked me through it. We got together, here in Phoenix, recorded a demo of like 10 songs that were really raw but really cool and had a lot of potential. Then Greg’s friend Dave was a good drummer and he joined the band and then after that we needed one more guy and we called Troy from Mastodon. Once we got Troy in the band it became a supergroup and we wrote more stuff together and then went into the studio, wrote more stuff together and recorded the album. The record is just a collaboration of everyone putting their ideas together, everybody helping each other and doing something on the side that is different from our own bands. We are all in established bands but this is something on the side people weren’t expecting, so I think this Killer Be Killed record is really cool because of that. It’s really unexpected, very different from what we normally do in our own bands. It doesn’t really sound like Soulfly, it doesn’t really sound like The Dillinger Escape Plan or Mastodon, but it has little pieces that remind us of those bands, but in general sounds like a new group and a new band and I think that’s what’s cool about Killer Be Killed.
Having a number of members from other established bands, how did the song writing process differ from how you would normally write songs with Soulfly?
I wrote some of it similar. I write at home, make riffs at home, so I brought a lot of the riffs and showed them to Greg and Troy and they really liked my riffs. I also wrote a lot of riffs in the rehearsal room and in the studio. All of us contributed; there are some of Greg’s riffs on the album, some of Troy’s riffs and then we shared all the vocals between the three of us. It was great work, everybody pulling together, like being part of a team. That’s why when I think of Killer Be Killed, for me, it doesn’t sound like a project, even though it is a project. It sounds more like a band, a real band and I think that’s the coolest thing about this record.
Killer Be Killed has obviously been labelled, as you have said, as a “supergroup”. Did you feel any extra pressure due to the project being looked at in that way?
No, there’s not much you can do about that. People put those names on it and you gotta roll with it, you know? I was excited to play with the guys and I look forward it. I’m a big Mastodon fan and a big Dillinger Escape Plan fan, so getting to play with those guys was an honour, as a fan. I looked forward to doing my part on the record, to make the best record possible. I wasn’t nervous. I was having fun putting my ideas out, my energy out and enjoying the moment.

Do you think this line up and Killer Be Killed would be something you would like to revisit in years to come?
I think so. I defiantly want a second record in the future and hopefully more after that. I think it’s a really cool concept and it’s something that started out of nowhere and now, with the live shows, playing Soundwave, you get to see how the band plays live and that opens all kinds of possibilities for us around the world. I’m always going to have my main band Soulfly but its good to have Killer Be Killed out there.
You mentioned the live shows. It has been announced that the first ever Killer Be Killed shows will take place on the Soundwave festival here in Australia in 2015. How did it all come to pass that these first shows would take place in Australia?
That just happened. Australia had the highest chart position for Killer Be Killed in the world; it was higher than anywhere else in the world, so the fans really love Killer Be Killed in Australia. If I could pick a place in the world for Killer Be Killed to play first it would be Australia, so it worked out well. They have the festivals set up at the same time we could do it because Dave’s not on tour, Greg’s not on tour, Troy’s not on tour, so we can come to Australia and play Soundwave. I’m very excited to play our first shows ever, the album came out in May, so it’s been a long time. I can’t wait to do it.
Does it mean a lot to you and the band to be able debut this in Australia and showcase Killer Be Killed as a live band?
Well, it’s a lot of pressure but I also think it’s very exciting. It’s the first time for everybody and I think we’ll be really excited. We don’t know what time we’ll be on, maybe early, but we just want to make the best concert possible for everybody.
You’re no stranger to Australia and have toured here many times in the past. What would you say has been your fondest moment of your time spent here?
My fondest memory would be the Big Day Out in ’99 with Soulfly. It was the beginning of Soulfly. The first record had just come out and it was all very new. I had the opportunity to play with Marilyn Manson and Korn. We had an early set - I think we went on at 3:00 in the afternoon. I was a bit nervous, thinking nobody would be there but I was wrong - the place was packed! Everyone was there! We had the most amazing shows ever. With all the troops there from Australia, I realized Soulfly was here to stay. Australia has stuck with Soulfly to this day, but it was a huge experience to play the Big Day Out with Soulfly.
I think so. I defiantly want a second record in the future and hopefully more after that. I think it’s a really cool concept and it’s something that started out of nowhere and now, with the live shows, playing Soundwave, you get to see how the band plays live and that opens all kinds of possibilities for us around the world. I’m always going to have my main band Soulfly but its good to have Killer Be Killed out there.
You mentioned the live shows. It has been announced that the first ever Killer Be Killed shows will take place on the Soundwave festival here in Australia in 2015. How did it all come to pass that these first shows would take place in Australia?
That just happened. Australia had the highest chart position for Killer Be Killed in the world; it was higher than anywhere else in the world, so the fans really love Killer Be Killed in Australia. If I could pick a place in the world for Killer Be Killed to play first it would be Australia, so it worked out well. They have the festivals set up at the same time we could do it because Dave’s not on tour, Greg’s not on tour, Troy’s not on tour, so we can come to Australia and play Soundwave. I’m very excited to play our first shows ever, the album came out in May, so it’s been a long time. I can’t wait to do it.
Does it mean a lot to you and the band to be able debut this in Australia and showcase Killer Be Killed as a live band?
Well, it’s a lot of pressure but I also think it’s very exciting. It’s the first time for everybody and I think we’ll be really excited. We don’t know what time we’ll be on, maybe early, but we just want to make the best concert possible for everybody.
You’re no stranger to Australia and have toured here many times in the past. What would you say has been your fondest moment of your time spent here?
My fondest memory would be the Big Day Out in ’99 with Soulfly. It was the beginning of Soulfly. The first record had just come out and it was all very new. I had the opportunity to play with Marilyn Manson and Korn. We had an early set - I think we went on at 3:00 in the afternoon. I was a bit nervous, thinking nobody would be there but I was wrong - the place was packed! Everyone was there! We had the most amazing shows ever. With all the troops there from Australia, I realized Soulfly was here to stay. Australia has stuck with Soulfly to this day, but it was a huge experience to play the Big Day Out with Soulfly.

You play with Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy and now Killer Be Killed. How do you find the time to be involved in so many projects?
I don’t think much (laughs). No, I’m just kidding. You know, I just love being busy. It’s all for metal, all in the name of metal. I love metal, I live for metal. Everyone knows metal is in my blood. All these good bands are all connected somehow through metal, through the music and I think this magic that happens through music, never gets old and takes me to the best places on earth, with great fans and I find it fascinating that my music goes to all these different places. For me, creating Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy or Killer Be Killed is just a way for me to express myself and my place on this earth and I’m very happy I get to do this through music, with my friends.
We are thrilled to have you play the first ever Killer Be Killed shows here in Australia for the Soundwave festival. Do have anything to say to all the fans in Australia?
I just want to thank them for all the great support! They won’t be disappointed. It’s gonna be a great show. We want to play everything on the album plus a few surprises.
I don’t think much (laughs). No, I’m just kidding. You know, I just love being busy. It’s all for metal, all in the name of metal. I love metal, I live for metal. Everyone knows metal is in my blood. All these good bands are all connected somehow through metal, through the music and I think this magic that happens through music, never gets old and takes me to the best places on earth, with great fans and I find it fascinating that my music goes to all these different places. For me, creating Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy or Killer Be Killed is just a way for me to express myself and my place on this earth and I’m very happy I get to do this through music, with my friends.
We are thrilled to have you play the first ever Killer Be Killed shows here in Australia for the Soundwave festival. Do have anything to say to all the fans in Australia?
I just want to thank them for all the great support! They won’t be disappointed. It’s gonna be a great show. We want to play everything on the album plus a few surprises.
Catch the world premier of Killer Be Killed playing live at Australia's Soundwave festival next February and March.
Soundwave dates and venues:
Sat 21st and Sun 22nd Feb - Adelaide, Bonython Park
Sat 21st and Sun 22nd Feb - Melbourne, Showgrounds **NEW VENUE**
Sat 28th Feb and Sun 1st March - Sydney, Olympic Park
Sat 28th Feb and Sun 1st March - Brisbane, RNA Showgrounds
Weekend and Single Day tickets are available now from Soundwave
Soundwave dates and venues:
Sat 21st and Sun 22nd Feb - Adelaide, Bonython Park
Sat 21st and Sun 22nd Feb - Melbourne, Showgrounds **NEW VENUE**
Sat 28th Feb and Sun 1st March - Sydney, Olympic Park
Sat 28th Feb and Sun 1st March - Brisbane, RNA Showgrounds
Weekend and Single Day tickets are available now from Soundwave