Oh, yes – this is the kind of thrash my old school ears crave. Total brutality! We had to wait for more than twelve years since Violator’s latest full-length was released, with only two new songs released in 2017. Finally, old school thrash fans will be rewarded with Unholy Retribution, which will be out in less than a month via Kill Again Records. Remember our interview with Razor’s mastermind Dave Carlo a few years ago? Well, this is the same Violator he was talking about as one of the young bands he respects and likes.
The band has been active since 2002 with a solid line up for the last 19 years. The first couple of minutes of opener Hang The Merchants Of Illusion speak volumes of these guys’ hunger and devotion to the genre. And what a killer song title, damn it! The riffs cut as sharp as a razor (pun intended) and there is an ominous, dangerous atmosphere in the subtle melodies. Cult Of Death and Persecution Personality surely have their fair share of early Slayer influence (the amazing cover artwork is another nod to Hell Awaits) but also remind of the cavernous, dirty sound of Schizophrenia and Beneath The Remains. Destroy The Altar, on the other hand brings early Death to mind, while The Evil Order and Chapel Of The Sick accelerate the tempo and aggression even further, with spectacular guitar parts and solos.
Guitarists Capaça and Marcio Cambito manage to throw in an avalanche of riffs in every song, but never forget to introduce an evil harmony or a masterful tempo transition. Thus, the songs never get tedious and keep engaging your attention. Rot In Hell is another excellent example of how well Violator have mastered the art of tempo-change, with unexpected twists and bursts of frenetic speeds. Vengeance Storm starts with a long, atmospheric, oppressive intro, before it throws us in the abyss once again. This is thrash done right, without inventing the wheel, just pure obliteration of the senses for 41 minutes.
It is hard to hear something equally good, well produced and professionally performed nowadays. The old classic bands don’t sound like that anymore and I can only think of Nekromantheon, The Haunted and Inculter, which have recently released albums that have impressed me as much as Unholy Retribution.
9/10
Unholy Retribution will be out on September 5th and can be pre-ordered from HERE and in a few weeks HERE
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