Review by Fran on October 25, 2026.

I have no problem with the retro-thrash movement playing the same kind of music that bands played in the ’80s, as long as it’s fast and heavy like this album. Of course, it isn’t innovative, but thrash is the essence of extreme metal, the spark that ignited everything. Who wouldn’t love that? Besides, even though you can easily recognize some of the direct influences on Violator’s sound, the band has its own way of doing things. When you hear their music, you immediately think of the band’s name. That’s certainly the case with this Brazilian quartet. Indeed, it’s pretty awesome that someone is keeping this kind of music alive after all these years. Full respect to them.

The compositions are built primarily around riffs, with very few melodic elements throughout the album. The music is driven by fast, aggressive thrash beats, punctuated by mid-paced breaks and percussive accents that introduce new riffs. The intensity never lets up, and the riffing draws on the ferocity and speed of classic Brazilian bands, the street-level crossover feel of some American acts, and the traditional Bay Area sound. I found the songwriting solid, powerful, and inspired. It’s not particularly creative, but it’s still entertaining and downright uplifting.

Unlike their first EP, which had decent but limited production that ultimately sounded rather flat, this time the band has been recorded in a way that screams “old school,” perfectly matching the music. The drums sound completely natural and acoustic, and the performance is rock-solid and vivid. The dynamics are intense and expressive, yet the playing remains as precise and consistent as a machine. This driving pulse keeps the riffs moving at full speed, with everything blending together perfectly.

Sadly, the bass guitar is practically nonexistent. I consider this a step backward from the previous EP, where you could at least hear it providing some additional weight. This time, there’s virtually no bass, much like on Metallica’s "…And Justice for All".

The guitars, on the other hand, have a thick, powerful body, with plenty of low end to make them sound genuinely heavy. The distortion has a warm, analog character, possibly tube-driven, while remaining sharp and aggressive. The guitars definitely steal the show. The vocals have a crossover-thrash feel, too. They’re neither clean nor particularly raspy; instead, the vocalist spits out the lyrics with speed and anger. His mid-range delivery is packed with attitude.

I find retro-thrash relevant because many of the bands that pioneered the sound and are still around today have changed considerably over the years. Without the newer generation, nobody might be playing this music in its original old-school fashion. That said, while acknowledging the lack of originality and any real desire to experiment, I still think this album is pretty damn good by any era’s standards. Whether it had been released in 1986 or 2017, it wouldn’t matter. It would still kick ass.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10