It’s one thing to see siblings together in music, but two generations in one band is not as typical. Go Ahead And Die features legendary Max Cavalera (ex-Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy, Soulfly, etc.) and his son, Igor Cavalera Jr. (Healing Magic, Lody Kong). What’s more, Johnny Valles (live drummer for Cerebral Rot, Black Braid, etc.) has picked up the drumming role on their latest album, Unhealthy Mechanisms (Nuclear Blast Records). The three-piece specializes in a groovy death metal band with some crossover punk spilled over the top.

“Split Scalp” is the shortest track on Unhealthy Mechanisms at three minutes and sixteen seconds. However, the song transitions back and forth between a raging, speed-induced car accident soundtrack and some primitive, knuckle-dragging groove spots. There is a little feedback heard before “Tumors” comes knocking down the door with another caveman “unga-bunga” riff to swing your body and flailing limbs at. This trades back and forth with a more thrashy, death metal section complete with blast beats and tremolo picking. 

Go Ahead And Die leave the best for last with the last track, the album title, ‘Unhealthy Mechanisms’. The meat and potatoes, so-to-speak, of this closer is the absolutely crushing breakdown throughout most of the latter half of the track, only to thrash out for the closing seconds.

Coming into this, I did not know of Go Ahead And Die’s existence, but certainly had a preconceived notion that because at least one Cavalera was involved, that it would sound similar to the other projects. I was happily corrected and impressed after only a couple times through Unhealthy Mechanisms. There is certainly a formula on this album, but it works as every track is exciting and keeps the energy up for over forty one minutes. 

From now on when I hear more news from G.A.A.D., I will pay attention and know what to expect.

Buy the album here:

https://goaheadanddie.bfan.link/gaaduhmech.ema

7 / 10

TIM LEDIN