Nailbomb. NAILBOMB. It feels hard to believe that I got to see Nailbomb’s first show since 1995, but here we are. Max Cavalera is in at least six bands, has worked with at least a dozen more, and performed with three of those during the first-ever Max Cavalera Dynasty Show (MCDS) – Soulfly, Nailbomb, and Go Ahead and Die (GAAD). Max’s son, Igor, almost performed in three bands that night (Nailbomb, GAAD, Healing Magic), and Igor’s girlfriend Jackie Cruz performed in both GAAD and Jade Helm. Max’s other son, Richie, is the frontman for Incite, who also played. So, six Cavalera Dynasty bands, with four local bands opening the show – Six Million Dead, Shadow Guilt, Ocean Harvest, and Zherra.
Let’s get right into things.
Zherra was the first local opener and the lightest act, so to speak; they felt to me as if Avenged Sevenfold would have been a rock band, rather than a metal band. While not quite the powerhouse of Avenged Sevenfold, Zherra knew they had to get the crowd warmed up and gave it earnest effort, dishing out catchy riffs and some decent banter. Zherra, like the other local acts, had a 30-minute set, and they moved through it as the early crowd filled the arena and settled in for the night. While the band didn’t stand out to me in any particular way, the crowd cheered for them and the set ended up with a little moshing.
Ocean Harvest was next. Local, and with mostly Indigenous members, they offered the night something in way of a metalcore/deathcore vibe that was unique among the night. The crowd was immediately drawn to the group and became much more active and aggressive. As the most interactive of the local acts, they consistently engaged with the crowd in a way that garnered a very positive response. I had a difficult time connecting with the band’s timing and song structures, but I appreciated their intensity and effort.
Shadow Guilt brought in a notable number of fans, all wearing the band’s shirt. Clearly a well-liked group, they offered a lot of energy to the crowd (vocalist Bryan Reid, sporting a bright yellow Venom sweatshirt, was all-go all night, even joining the pit for part of one of their songs). Largely thrash metal with a bit of death metal added in, they aimed high during the show and played as though they were the headliners and gave it their all. For me, again, this local band did not offer anything magnetic or incredible, but their energy was certainly impressive.
The last of the local four bands was Six Million Dead, a blackened death five-piece. They were the second Indigenous group (all five members are Indigenous), and the crowd appeared electrified by this, with many of the fans sharing an Indigenous identity. Their set is where the night turned into a heavier and more intense show as they unleashed brutal riffs and powerful vocals into the venue. The crowd moshed, surged forward, and cheered! Six Million Dead offered a no-nonsense set of metal. My favorite of the local openers, this is a band to keep an eye on.
Jackie Cruz, the vocalist for Jade Helm, is also a key member of GAAD, and thus it makes sense to include her in this show lineup. They are a different type of band than the rest, largely immersed in post-Punk/Rock energy and presentation. A palate cleanser in the show, they offer straightforward energy that invites the crowd to dance and breathe between the intensity of the various metal acts. Enjoyable, with a touch of mystique, Jade Helm made for a nice addition to the show.
Another of Igor Cavalera’s bands, the Healing Magic set was a bittersweet one, due to a terribly late pizza delivery that kept me at the back of the theater (I couldn’t see the band’s energy as much, but the sound was solid). That aside, I was hit hard by the heavy, almost sludgy, sound.. Slower, heavier, and dirtier than Igor’s other bands, they made for a very interesting segue deeper into the Cavalera projects. I would have liked a longer set, or perhaps I need to see them again, to really get a feel for the band, but I think it has some promise in the realm of stoner/sludge. I would recommend seeing the band live before listening to their albums (as I did), as this gives you a different sound that was more enjoyable. Igor’s intensity and energy are still present here, and the group allowed the audience to jam with them, in a manner of speaking, as you could practically see the waves from the music roll over the crowd with a raw rhythm. A highlight of the night for me.
Go Ahead and Die’s set was a second highlight for me for two reasons: first, the band put on a tremendous set that was tight and vibrant and inspired. Igor and Jackie hit a nice stride while Max took the stage for his first of three appearances of the night; and second, the first time I saw GAAD, the set was too dark and the sound was muddled. GAAD delivered a nearly perfect set, filled with passion and intensity and connection. Max has stated that this is Igor’s band, but he looks more energized with this band than his others. Perhaps it is something about playing with his son, or not being the main character (so to speak), but whatever it is puts Max in a special place. Igor and Jackie bulldozed through their parts in a way that dragged the crowd with them – this was, by far, the most aggressive set of the night (so far) from the bands and the crowd, many of whom clamored for more, even though they may have been unfamiliar with the band at the start of the night. Igor has something special, and this band could quickly become a top metal act if things continue.
Incite is the musical project of Max’s other son, Richie, and can be described as a groove metal band with thrash elements, like a (somewhat) grimier Lamb of God in some ways (for an easy comparison). Sadly, I didn’t think much of the band. The energy was great, and the musicians laid down some solid music, but it didn’t feel cohesive, and Richie’s constant attitude and swagger were almost distracting. There were some in the crowd who loved it, but it felt jarring and disorienting in some ways. To be fair, there were parts of the set that were fun and jam-worthy, but the band felt out of place, throwing off the momentum. Perhaps if I had been familiar with the band, I would have been more receptive or less jarred by them, but this set did not offer me much.
Finally, it was time for Nailbomb. The lineup was different than the last time the band played… in 1995 (with only two live performances to their name, this was certainly a very special occasion). The band was comprised of Max (guitar/vox), Igor (guitar/vox), and Travis Stone (guitars), Johny Chow (bass), Alex Cha (samples), and Adam Jarvis (drums). Most likely the highlight of the show for most people, according to their reaction and the crowd’s aggressive moshing, the ensemble played extremely well together and delivered an onslaught of industrial thrash, with by samples and chanting/spoken word filling the void between the songs in a way that felt ominous. A powerful set that was clean and deliberate, everyone was fixated (though many admitted they were not familiar with the band/did not know the significance of their performance). Nailbomb were an array of musicians loving what they did, and once again Igor stood out, seemingly filled with the rage of the early Cavalera music. I was not present for the 1995 performance, and while I’m sure it was something to witness, this was both nostalgic and hopeful, as though to say there is more to come.
Of all the performances, Soulfly’s was easily the most beloved and energetic. The musicians, the crowd, and even the security guards, danced and sang more during this set (which was also the longest) than any other. Soulfly played old songs and newer and kept the energy at a high pace. The nostalgia was thick, and you could see it in the eyes of and smiles of the crowd. The band tore through their set with very little in the way of breaks or needless banter, and the entire set was certainly celebratory, almost as though it was New Year’s or some similar celebration. Soulfly was an interesting creation and departure when it was formed, but has so much love from the fans now that it almost feels as though it is the biggest Cavalera band behind the classic Sepultura lineup. Soulfly put on a strong set and brought the crowd to the highest peak of the night. 
Max clearly loves what he has done and continues to do. You can see it clearly, and his energy permeates everything he touches. His Dynasty Show lasted eight and a half hours, and no one slowed down throughout the event. I have been fortunate to see four of Max’s bands, and while he may have been more intense as a younger man, he certainly leaves you wanting nothing more than more music. Igor is poised to take the dynasty into the new era. The show ended with all of the Cavalera family and bands that were present taking to the stage and linking up for the crowd and for the Cavaleras themselves. The show ended at 12:30 am (doors were at 4 pm!) and the crowd could have gone for hours more.
It is hard to truly translate such an event into text; these things are meant to be experienced and then the stories told to others gathered in solidarity. Reading about the event is only a glimpse into a memory of something visceral, but it can also be a prompt for the reader to seek their own incredible experiences. Max didn’t just put on a terrific show; rather, he brought the past and present together in a window of time big enough for hundreds of people to live through the spectrum of music that he and his family have created. Incredibly, it covered only a portion of that spectrum, but left room for us to hope that we will see more. Every musician present truly seemed as though they wanted to leave their own legacy, and it felt good to receive that desire!
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