Can the Earth complete a rotation if Max Cavalera doesn't release a new album? It'd certainly be bad news if it was true, but the good news is that "Unhealthy Mechanisms," the sophomore album from Go Ahead And Die, is a massive improvement on their lacklustre debut. For those unaware, Go Ahead And Die is Max Cavalera's tribute to the punk bands of his youth, joined in the pursuit by his son Igor Amadeus Cavalera and new drummer Johnny Valles (Goreshack, Healing Magic, ex-Skeletal Remains,) who replaces Zach Coleman of Khemmis behind the kit. The self-titled debut was a muddy misfire that could have been more, but luckily, the trio seems to have fixed those issues for their second release.

The change in production is noticeable from the very beginning, giving a much clearer sound without diluting the intention or aggression of the album. This time around, the band seems more influenced by the British hardcore punk of the 1980s rather than American groups like Black Flag, as evidenced by "Drug-O-Cop," which takes strong inspiration from Discharge. Early grindcore and crust punk also play a role here, with the fingerprints of Extreme Noise Terror, Amebix, and especially Napalm Death being found on such tracks as "Desert Carnage" and the title track.

Energy is abundant on "Unhealthy Mechanisms," with a frantic, at times chaotic pace throughout. "M.D.A." is a perfect example of this, with the trio hurtling through the song at breakneck speed and a little black metal style shrieks added for good measure. Elsewhere, "No Easy Way Out" recalls the more punk-influenced Sepultura songs of old, while "Tumors" is a solid thrash metal song with a rattling bass sound and a solid groove in the intro.

It's a good album, though it's not without problems. There's still a little too much messing around with feedback and some strange sound effects, in particular, the ear-assaulting intro of "Cyber Slavery," which also has some bizarre vocal echoes. Some songs are fine, but they don't seem to go anywhere, with "Blast Zone" in particular falling into that trap, offering a decent riff but not much more. "Chasm" also fails to make much of an impact, being full of aggression but not a lot in terms of songwriting.

All in all, "Unhealthy Mechanisms" is a huge step above the band's first album. The tracks are more memorable, the sound is infinitely better and the influences are better placed, with the album feeling more like a metallic take on a certain style, rather than an established musician with a recognised sound trying to ape Circle Jerks or Minor Threat. If you like your metal to be fast and furious with enough "fuck you" attitude to please your punk and hardcore friends, give it a shot, you just might be pleasantly surprised.