Ελληνικά
Genre: Τhrash Metal
Country: Brazil
Label: Kill Again Records
Year: 2025
With great joy and almost out of nowhere, we learn about a new full-length release from the Brazilian band Violator, and honestly, we don’t quite know what to expect. They were one of the most serious proposals of the so-called Thrash Revival, and everything they released during 2004–2013 (splits, EPs, full lengths) was pure gold. Since then, they have been oscillating between decline and resilience, without being very productive and having disbanded twice. Against this backdrop, the release of “Unholy Retribution” is itself a pleasant surprise, so let’s see what remains the same and what has changed since then.
The lineup has remained essentially the same, with guitarist Marcio Cambito being the newest member, though present since 2006. Their label continues to be Kill Again Records, and what remains to be heard is, most importantly, their music. Just one listen reveals that this is an outstanding thrash album, the kind we unfortunately don’t hear as often anymore. Brazilian thrash is famed for its rawness, brutality, and roughness, and Violator do not compromise on these elements.
On a second listen, some new elements can be identified in their sound, which suit them very well. The overall compositions have become longer and may lose a bit of their immediacy. Nevertheless, they have crafted a suffocating and morbid atmosphere reminiscent of death metal, or to stay within thrash, albums like Slayer’s “Hell Awaits.” Whereas they used to play at consistently high speeds, now there are more breaks and cuts, but these truly hit you hard with a similar approach to what happened on Sepultura’s “Arise” — naturally, “Brazilian style.” It seems these are deliberate changes that keep the band’s identity intact and push them a step further without losing the rawness that has always been their defining feature.
For anyone who missed them back in the day, “Unholy Retribution” is an excellent introduction to Violator. Longtime fans will be positively surprised. In a year when thrash metal is generally at a moderate level, Violator’s new album feels like an oasis in the desert.
