Released December 4, 2000 Genre Nu metal Label Roadrunner | Recorded 1999–2000 Length 4:22 | |
Format Enhanced CD single
Promo CD
Promo Cassette | ||
"Back to the Primitive" is a nu metal song by Soulfly, released in 2000. The song, composed by Max Cavalera, is played as the first track of the second Soulfly album, Primitive.
Contents
Music and lyrics
The song features simple downtuned riffs, plus tribal drumming and blabbering; it also plays berimbau to begin the song. Lyrically, this political song is about demoting national government back to local tribal society. Every choruses begin with 'Back to the Primitive', except for the first line of lyric 'Um dois treis quatro' (one two three four in Portuguese) to begin the song, and verses containing just 'Primitive' per line.
Music video
This song begins with a berimbau, but it is not the case for the accompanying music video. Instead the intro plays tribal percussion with 'Soulfly' chants alternately by Cavalera and spectators. The drumming intro lasts 29 seconds, compared to just 23 seconds for the berimbau intro. The most dramatic scene in the video is a man jumping onto the crowd.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Max Cavalera except where noted; all music composed by Max Cavalera.