Go Ahead and Die – Go Ahead and Die
Release Date: 11th June 2021
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
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Genre: Death Metal, Crust Punk.
FFO: Soulfly, Black Breath, Nailbomb.
Review By: Ken Love
In the lead up to this review I found myself coming to the realisation that Max Cavalera – in the metal world – is perhaps only rivalled by Phil Anslemo in regards the prolificacy of his side projects. The man is a machine, a heavy metal factory churning out album after album over his illustrious career. Not only that, that same material is being produced in a vein of form that is of a quite astonishing quality. Let’s not beat around the bush, when your back catalogue includes albums like ‘Beneath The Remains’, ‘Arise’, ‘Chaos AD’, ‘Roots’ or ‘Nailbomb’… the bar you are reaching for is stratospherically high. However, Max’s latter day material with Killer Be Killed, Soulfly or Cavalera Conspiracy are all laden with wall-to-wall ragers and some of the most fired up, explosive material he has put to tape since his heyday. On a personal note, I believe ‘Psychosis’ – the last Cavalera Conspiracy record – is one of the most under-rated thrash records of the last decade; it is astoundingly good and a must listen for any fans of ‘Arise’-era Sepultura.
‘Go Ahead & Die’ is borne from the mind of Max’s son, Igor who trades vocal and guitar duties on the record with his dad. The record was written and recorded over the COVID-19 lockdown period with the pandemic, and much of the social & political unrest occurring throughout that tumultuous period, bleeding into its narrative. The group is completed by drummer Zach Coleman from Black Curse and the acclaimed Khemmis who brings a chaos to the material that suits it perfectly.
‘Go Ahead & Die’ is an absolutely frenzied example of thrash, old school death metal and crust-infused punk rock that references Max’s earlier material like classic Sepultura & Nailbomb as well as modern acts like Black Breath or Nails. It’s not designed to be the most innovative, progressive or cutting-edge example of modern heavy music; this is raw, unfiltered piss’n vinegar metal that is all the better for it. No pretentiousness. Pure fucking metal. Pissed off angry metal at a world that has gone to shit. God knows we can all empathise with that just now.
Track titles like ‘Truckloads Full of Bodies’, ‘Go Ahead & Die’ or ‘Worth Less than Piss’ give you a sense of the level this is sitting at. It’s primal & instinctive rage. The duelling vocals of Igor and Max working incredibly well throughout. Igor gives a tremendous account of himself alongside his iconic father; his higher register – more akin to Trivium’s Matt Heafy – terrifically compliments Cavalera Senior’s gruff Brazilian bellow. ‘Toxic Freedom’ has a Discharge hardcore feel that mutates into Black Breath crust territory while ‘Isolated Detonated’ opens with a pure Celtic Frost homage – complete with Tom G Warrior ‘ugh’ – before the pace goes supersonic into thrash and death metal territory with screams of “Godforsaken Madness”. ‘Prophets Prey’ has the sort of chunky barrage of riffs that will cause even the most cynical of metalheads pull their biggest stink face and raise their horns to the sky. ‘Punisher’ – an anthem tackling Gun Control – is the albums most primeval death metal track that comes across like the bastard offspring of Morbid Angel if they were going toe-to-toe with Nails. The title track’s mid-pace, Celtic Frost plod is a welcome counter to the frenetic pace of the majority of the record while ‘(In The) Slaughterline’ is like Chaos AD Sepultura duelling with latter day Napalm Death. Yeah, it’s that good. ‘Go Ahead & Die’ concludes with ‘Roadkill’ which is, simply put, another absolute monster. I scribbled the following in my notes for the song ‘Chunk, Chunk, Chunk, FUCKIN’ CHUNKY’ … the riffs here absolutely slam and there is a moment – 4 minutes in – where the whole song explodes with syncopated double bass drums that feels like a nuclear bomb going off within your skull! It’s outrageous fun.
‘Go Ahead & Die’ is another home run for Max Cavalera and adds further weight to the argument that he is perhaps one of the most consistent and creatively vital legacy artists still active today. Whether it’s working with his young son, his deep love of modern extreme metal bands, or the turbulent global crisis that catalysed its creation; it’s likely all these factors that keep him inspired, energised and delivering music with a youthful abandon that belies his age. The influence of his son should not be understated and it’s clear from this record, as well as the last Soulfly & Cavalera Conspiracy records that the Cavalera Clan are perhaps the most vital family in the metal world.
Awesome!
(4 / 5)
