Go Ahead and Die - Unhealthy Mechanisms

Go Ahead and Die – Unhealthy Mechanisms
Release Date: 20th October 2023
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Order/Stream
Genre: Crust, Death Metal, Punk, Thrash, Hardcore.
FFO: The Troops of Doom, Nailbomb, Celtic Frost, Toxic Holocaust.
Review By: Mark Young

As much a throwback to simpler times, this is a gnarly, filthy grime covered blast through courtesy of the brothers Cavalera, with Igor stepping up to the microphone as well as supplying guitar and bass aural destruction. As the PR notes, it’s caustic, rough and has that crust-punk ethos running through it. There is an energy coursing in each song, drums pounding with riffs that feel that were recorded with a minimalist approach. It’s refreshing in its approach, it’s not Sepultura. It’s not Soulfly, it’s closer in some respects to Killer be Killed in terms of the riffs and build, but has that hard centre that cuts through.

There is a definite punk swing to it which works extremely well, Drug O-Cop as an example has a Dead Kennedy feel combined with an 80s thrash which goes down well. Both Max and Igor A sound full of vim and vigor on this, pulling out all the stops and No Easy Way Out is one of the most immediate things they’ve done in years. Special mention to Johnny Valles for not allowing the brothers to overshadow the drums as that kit is pounded to dust.

M.D.A (Most Dangerous Animal) is a prime example of a good idea that is hammered to length, and Chasm has that delicious early Sepultura sound – drums being battered, growls, frantic guitars, which is always welcome.

As much as it grabs your attention, you feel that some of these could have been trimmed to maximize that punk attack, but on the whole it’s a terrific noise that will translate to the live arena extremely well. This isn’t a half-arsed group pretending or trading on a famous name. They have written a collection of extreme modern punk that takes from their collective experiences and influences and not so much polished it up, but rather added another layer of grime to it. In terms of what it is, it’s ok and to a standard, that you would expect from Max and Igor once they put their talents to it. It’s not earth-shattering, nor essential, but it does have moments of class. But that is what they are, just moments.