A couple years ago, amidst revisiting Sepultura’s catalog with his brother Igor and spearheading the nonstop touring juggernaut that is Soulfly, Max Cavalera introduced us to an exciting new project in Go Ahead and Die. While not necessarily revolutionary, the band’s self titled debut album was the most compelling release to bear Cavalera’s name in quite some time, being a frenetic blend of classic thrash, rabid crust, and black and death metal at their earliest. What it lacked in overall memorability and songs, it made up for in good ol’ fashioned chaotic energy.
Fast forward a couple years and clearly Cavalera had a fun time pursuing this project, so much so that they’ve now unleashed a second album, Unhealthy Mechanisms. Joining Cavalera on this album is his son, Igor Jr., again holding down bass, guitar, and vocals, and new drummer Johnny Valles, who plays alongside the junior Cavalera in Healing Magic. With all due respect to original GAAD drummer Zach Coleman of Khemmis, Valles has a much greater feel for this type of material. Whether he’s blasting into oblivion or laying down nasty d-beats, he does so with the conviction of somebody who grew up studying the drumming of Igor Cavalera.
It’s with this and the overall chemistry of the power trio in mind that I can safely brand Unhealthy Mechanisms a more cohesive album than its predecessor. Whereas Go Ahead and Die came off as a mish mash of extreme metal in its embryonic state, Unhealthy Mechanisms is a rather straightforward death/thrash album, albeit with a heavy emphasis on thrash. Mosh-worthy chug riffs dominate throughout, particularly on cuts like “Split Scalp”, “Tumors”, and “Blast Zone”. I couldn’t help but notice a hint of Power Trip in the attitude and riffage of these songs. In the same breath, one wonders if there would even be a Power Trip without Sepultura’s Arise.
When the band isn’t unleashing its midtempo mosh assault, they treat the listener to pummeling death/thrash in the vein of Beneath the Remains, this formula being executed on the likes of “M.D.A. (Most Dangerous Animal)” and “No Easy Way Out”. While the crust punk influence rears its ugly head throughout this release, it’s not nearly as prominent as on the debut, only dominating on the nasty “Cyber Slavery”. This leaves us with the savage slabs of pure death that are “Chasm” and the closing title cut: A terror-inducing pair that undoubtedly scratches Cavalera’s Bestial Devastation/Morbid Visions era itch.
For what it’s worth, Unhealthy Mechanisms is a crushing collection of extreme metal ragers from one of the genre’s most important pioneers and dedicated flag-wavers. Most of Cavalera’s era have checked out, refusing to explore anything new in metal past the ’80s. Not only does Cavalera champion new bands, but make albums of equal intensity in an effort to keep up, such as this one. Contrary to its title, Unhealthy Mechanisms will make a healthy part of every headbanger’s diet*. * = Side effects may include: Headbanging, thrashing, pogoing, and demonic chanting.
6 out of 10
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
For fans of: Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy, Power Trip