Max Cavalera: My Bloody Roots book review

Very few bands can achieve true international superstardom. Even fewer have come from countries in South America to reach a star level but Max Cavalera has done just that and with more than one band. Having formed Sepultura in the 80’s, Cavalera made history with Sepultura being the first band to make it big out of Brazil and he did it with his brother, Iggor. In his recently-released autobiography, My Bloody Roots: From Sepultura to Soulfly and Beyond, Cavalera opens up for the first time about many subjects and with complete class as well as he could have left out numerous topics that were obviously tough for him to talk about. He touches on his father dying when was young and going from being a very rich and high-class family to poverty virtually overnight. From there he talks about his battle with alcoholism beginning as well as discussing some of his cocaine use and his addiction to pills. He talks about forming Sepultura and the insanely fast-pace they became popular and how hard it was to deal with that at times. For the first time ever Cavalera talks in detail about how and why he left Sepultura and what led to the departure and the early days of Soulfly. When Cavalera talks about the death of his stepson, Dana, it’s hard to hold back the tears as you can literally feel the pain and sorrow he and his wife, Gloria, felt and he talks about how Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne played a role in helping them get back for the funeral plans and services. Cavalera talks about reuniting with Iggor to form Cavalera Conspiracy, going through rehab to kick his alcohol and painkiller addicion and ends on a positive note with where Soufly and Cavalera Conspiracy are going and finishes up with an Epilogue thanking everyone in his family and all his fans for staying by his side through all his ups and downs, addictions and dark places. My Bloody Roots: From Sepultura to Soulfly and Beyond is a must-read for any Soulfly, Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy or metal fan and will take you into the life of one of the most revered and respected international metal icons of all time and will open your eyes to another side of life. Rating: 10/10 -Reggie Edwards