Max and Igor Cavalera’s New Song About ‘Street Fighter 6’ Character Zangief Hits Like a Double Lariat
Metal. Video games. We’re all nerds here so we already know how well those two concepts work together. Earlier today, that mix of video game code and riffage smashed into each other yet again, as the Cavalera brothers’ band… Cavalera… released a new original song titled “Piledriver” to mark the release of a piece of cosmetic DLC for Street Fighter 6.
As you may have gathered from the song title (and if you know anything about Street Fighter), then you likely already know that this is about the giant Russian wrestler, Zangief. He’s been a part of the Street Fighter 6 roster of playable characters since the game was released back in June 2023 and has been a part of the series for wayyyy longer. What makes this even more interesting is that the song was released for ‘gief’s fourth costume, which makes him look like a big, badass mech fighter dude. That DLC is coming out tomorrow, alongside the introduction of Street Fighter 4 character C. Viper’s addition to the game’s roster.
Speaking of the song’s release, Street Fighter director Takayuki Nakayama said the following on social media:
“Having grown up listening to Sepultura, Soulfly, and Cavalera Conspiracy, I never imagined that one day I would work with heroes like Max and Iggor. When I found out they had accepted the job — bands I loved since my school days — our sound team, made up of other metal lovers, and I went absolutely wild with joy.
“They showed us their raw and unique worldview in Morbid Visions, made history with Chaos A.D., collaborated with my equally beloved Mike Patton on Roots (my favorite album) and gave me a lot of motivation when I heard Back To The Primitive, by Soulfly. What I’m trying to say is that I am truly and deeply grateful! Thank you.”
What’s particularly weird about this release for me is the fact that Street Fighter has a Brazilian character in Blanka, so why not get the Cavaleras to write a badass tribal sounding metal song about him? It’s just such an odd choice to have them do this for a Russian character, but here we are…
