Igor Cavalera likes to keep it in the family. When he isn't bashing heads with his brother Max in Cavalera Conspiracy he's opening minds minds with his wife Laima Leyton in his heavy electronic dance project Mix Hell. Click "more" to see the duo in action. Read more...

For the follow-up to Sepultura's 2006 release Dante XXI, a concept album based on Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy," the band has concocted a new concept record about the Anthony Burgess novel and Stanley Kubrick film "A Clockwork Orange." The disc, A-Lex (out January 27), is Sepultura's first album not to feature co-founder Igor Cavalera, and marks the studio debut of new drummer Jean Dolabella. It was recorded in Sao Paulo, Brazil at Trama studios and was mixed at Mega Studios.

Flush with storming beats, incisive riffs and ornate instrumentation, A-Lex is one of the band's most narrative, elaborate and well conceived releases. Ironically, it was also one of their most enjoyable to create. We recently tracked down guitarist and longtime band member Andreas Kisser at his Brazil home to talk about the joy of recording concept albums, the inspiration of Burgess and Kubrick and the new insights he developed about one of his favorite stories, "A Clockwork Orange."

Kisser also addressed the departure of former drummer Igor Cavalera, the addition of Dolabella and why he's uninterested in a Roots-era Sepultura reunion. Click "more" to stream or download the podcast. Read more...

It has been a little while since we pitted Cavalera Conspiracy against Soulfly in our last Who Rocks Harder challenge. We didn't post sooner, in part, because we were in denial of who won. Seriously, that Conspiracy debut, Inflikted, is one of our favorite albums of the year. Sadly, our vote for Cavalery Conspiracy wouldn't have helped since Soulfly won by a good 20 percent.

Interestingly, it seems like most old-school Sepultura fans sided with us. "I gotta lean to Cavalera Conspiracy," wrote Kingsnake. It's about as close to Sepultura as we’re gonna get in this lifetime."

Beneath the Lineup concurred: "I love the old thrash sound so I have to go with Cavalera Conspiracy plus Igor is one of my favorite drummers."

The Soulfly voters didn't have much to say. The typical comment, like the one by 666, read something like "I prefer Soulfly." But the great thing about a democracy is anyone with a voice (or in this case an Internet connection) can vote, and you don't have to be able to defend your choice.

Still, we can understand where the somewhat silent majority are coming from. Soulfly have amassed some cool stuff over their 11 years together, and the band's new album, Conquer, which comes out July 29, is pretty fierce as well.

To celebrate Soulfly's victory, click "more" and watch an 84-minute, professionally shot video of the band from the 2006 Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium: Read more...