I was recently watching a film about the 1,000 journals project, where 1,000 blank journals were randomly placed places by the artist Someguy and found their way into the lives of different people. In Andrea Kreuzhage's documentary, 1000 Journals, about the journal project there is a great scene near the top of the film where the question is asked about what happens to our creativity as we age. Kids in a kindergarten class will all raise their hands if someone asks how many of them are artists. As we grow older and life stamps us down, many people lose touch with their creative impulses. We care about our jobs or our regular lives, but how many of us continue to write, play an instrument or paint? Some people are just too caught up in the day to day or wonder what others will think. There are those, however, who stay both reliable and creative. It is less about making art than that they are living it.

In the world of metal there are few names that call to mind images of flying bodies and punishing, aggressive music like the name "Cavalera". Brothers Max and Igor first wowed the world with their musical roots in Brazil's pre-eminent metal band Sepultura. In subsequent years, even when the Cavalera's weren't getting along, Max still delivered us the goods in Soulfly while Igor was doing his thing in Sepultura. This is a family that, despite hardships in life, has always turned rage and struggle into powerful, passionate art. It might not be the same kind of art as Picasso, but it is art nonetheless.

The flame of this dedication to metal has cast a large shadow, but it hasn't failed to ignite the interest of Max's step son, Richie Cavalera. As the voice behind Arizona's Incite, Richie displays the same manner of frenzied, yet true to life "call it like you see it" aggression that has made his relatives metal legends. Richie has been waiting for the right time and line-up to unleash his own stark musical pictures to the public and the time for that debut full-length has finally come. Incite's The Slaughter cuts to the bone with "Nothing To Fear". This band is fully capable of leading their own charge, despite the added expectations on the shoulders of someone with the name Cavalera. Richie must surely be confident, or else he wouldn't have been able to do such a good job alongside Max and Igor themselves when he did a vocal cameo on the recent Cavalera Conspiracy record, Inflikted, the special reunion album between the Cavalera brothers who have been estranged for over a decade.

The bottom line though is that this is less about Richie's family tree than that Incite is a promising and vicious band any metal fan will wanna crank. The Slaughter was recorded with ex-Soulfly axeman Logan Madder and rages from top to bottom. The stage time Incite has been racking up really pays off on disc. The Slaughter feels more old school than it is, reminiscent of great ‘80s works mixed with a ‘90s-present day heavier emphasis. Think Sepultura circa Arise meeting up with Throwdown circa now for a bloodbath. It would be a great soundtrack if you turned the volume down on Taxi Driver or cruised the streets with a gun and took a hard look at your surroundings yourself. Rest assured, the Cavalera's devotion to metal can still be trusted.

MORGAN Y. EVANS: How are you doing today? What's goin' on? Where are you?

RICHIE CAVALERA: I am doing great. I am in Towson, Maryland on the day the album comes out. It’s very exciting around the venue today.

MYE: It must feel great to have the release date here! You guys need to seriously hook up a show with the band Stemm, who are involved with the UFC. Their latest record Blood Scent is very high octane and I can only imagine what would happen if your bands’ hit a venue together! Playing such an aggressive style of music, how do you keep from seriously hurting yourselves and do it every night?

RC: It’s how I like to let out my emotions. I am a quiet person, but on stage it’s a different story. I love getting the pit going and getting people wild. I do get hurt though. I’ve had 30+ stitches from various shows, and injuries. It’s just part of the life. You really get the energy to do it every night from the crowd. They are your fuel source, for sure.

MYE: Incite has been together since 2004, but only are getting the debut out now. Were you just waiting for all the pieces to fit?

RC: Yeah, man. In 2006 I made a huge decision to replace the entire lineup to get Incite more in a direction that I enjoyed more. It took time to find the right pieces because you need to learn about someone and experience things with them, so in 2007 all the things came together for the band. We are in a very good place right now. We all have one goal in life, and that’s Incite so it makes things exactly how I was looking for it to be. So now with it all right we give the world The Slaughter!

MYE: I interviewed Max Cavalera for this very publication, which was really great as a longtime fan, around the time when Cavalera Conspiracy dropped Inflikted. We talked about how he likes aggressive, attention grabbing names. The Slaughter certainly fits into that category. Are you really nice guys in Incite, or do you want to kill everyone? A little (or a lot) of both?

RC: Yeah, we are down to kick some ass. But no, The Slaughter is really a way of us saying what we are here to make a lasting impression and leave a trail of bodies in our wake. The title just really fits with the aggression we all have in our lives. It’s very powerful!

MYE: You, of course, were involved in a cameo on the Cavalera Conspiracy Inflikted record. How was that experience as a fan and relative and how has it helped Incite?

RC: It’s been good. I had a great time teaming up with Gojira Joe, Igor, and Max. It was life changing for sure. I pushed really hard for this so I could really show the world what I could do lyrically. It helped by getting exposure, and like I said, showing people the growth I have made in my vocal abilities. It was a life highlight.

MYE: People who are cynics might say that since you are related to Max you have it easier, but one listen to The Slaughter will prove that the band is very talented. It reminds me of older hardcore and metal that makes you feel like the band is so passionate they must know what they are talking about, like when Sepultura or Sick Of It All or Biohazard would paint an intense picture of struggle. What lyrical experiences did you want to draw on for the debut? "Tyranny's End" is particularly strong.

RC: I can’t choose who my family is. I just have to roll with what I got, so this album was my open mic to the world... and to the fans as well as the critics. Yeah, I really wanted to open up, like I said! I’m a really quiet person and writing really helps me let it out. In songs like "Awakening" I talk about a friend’s long time battle with pill addiction, and "Down and Out" is how I felt after firing the old lineup. I was really down and out with my head spinning with what would be my next step. I went political on songs like "Divided We Fail" and also in "Tyranny’s End". It’s about Bush and having 1/3 of my life under his rule. I watched a lot of terrible things with no emotion on his face. I really think people will see me in a new light, and see that my life isn’t perfect by any means.

MYE: How was the experience of sharing the stage with The Dillinger Escape Plan? They are such an important band.

RC:The whole tour and lineup was awesome. To learn and watch these bands every night really helps you out in a lot of ways. It was fun to rage with them and I hope to do it again. They are crazy.

RC: Tell us about working with Logan Madder. Of course, there is the connection via Soulfly, but what made you know Logan was the guy? I love his work with Gojira and Devildriver. It just rips apart the speakers and buries itself in your skull! The guitar sounds on The Slaughter are like gigantic spinning blades! It is direct testosterone with a purpose.

RC: He was the first choice for this album. I have known him for a long time and have had a great relationship with him. It made things very easy for us. I think he is one of the top metal producers out there today. His sound is undeniable. I really hope to work with him on some future Incite projects.

MYE: The record intro is very ominous. It has a classic build up of anticipation before crashing into realms of horror. Not the most uplifting way to start an album! It's like a bad trip, and then the title track guts the listener like a fish! Word up.

RC: Yeah, that was Zak’s sick idea. He was in charge of coming up with the intro and he did a sick job. It really gets your attention and I can’t wait to hear it at the festivals in Europe just before thousands get slayed. I am a huge horror flick fan so this whole vibe is near my heart. Its makes you want to run and hide.

MYE: [laughing] Do you feel you guys have anything to prove or are you feeling really confident? You're a band, like The Destro, for example, who have been slugging it out in the underground awhile and real fans know it. There is also the wider markets to wake up. How do you feel about the band’s chances to kick everyone on their asses?

RC: I don’t know, man. Only time will tell. I would love for us to help this scene get more recognized by the world. We are going to do things the same like I have forever and grind it out. I hope to be a small part of a huge force of bands that must come together rather than spread apart. We are all one family and if we forget that then our music could go away forever, except huge market bands like Beyonce crap.

MYE: That's what's cool about Ozzfest. People might not like every band but it teaches them about lots of different stuff. You've been doing a song every night out on the road with Soulfly lately, right? How has that been, and also, it must rule to see Prong and Cattle Decapitation every night. The new Cattle Decapitation is one of the most disturbing and musically adept grim-journeys to come out this year, and as for Prong...Tommy is just iconic. What cool bands to have on the road with Soulfly!

RC: No, I have not been singing as much with them on this run. I have been just selling merch, promoting Incite and hoping to make some money to get a new van. Cattle are one of my favorite bands so to watch them is a plus. Prong is great and to watch Tommy who is old school...you can really learn from watching a performer like him. Let’s not forget the openers on their first tour ever ,Mutiny Within. They are really kicking ass. I am a fan for sure. It has been a fun tour and I can’t wait to hit the road with Incite soon. Thank you very much for the support!