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Violator: Chemical assault
27/12/10 || InquisitorGeneralis
Everyone and their cocksucking mother have been telling me to check out Brazilian thrashers Violator’s 2006 release “Chemical Assault”. It even made our Best of the 2000’s list at #38 so there has to be something going on here right?
This is the best new old-sounding thrash! they tell me…
This blows all other thrash bands out of the water! I hear…
They will rename the Big Four the Furious Five after hearing Violator! is what I’m told…
Honestly, I don’t see the incredible greatness here. “Chemical Assault” is not a bad record though, not at all. There are some pretty catchy tracks. However, it is nothing insanely special. I am starting to like more of these thrash revival bands than I used to but only if they add something new or creative to the tried and true trash formula. Vektor kick ass by adding in some whacky, progressive, Voivoid-esque elements to their death-leaning thrash. Hexen rely on some impressive guitar work and dual melodies to help them stand out from the pack. Black Breath mix thrash with a little death’n‘roll to create a grimy, from-the-gutter sound. Violator gets all of the thrash basics right: speedy riffs, spastic solos, fast drumming, and some genuinely awesome breakdown sections. However, everything on here has been done before. If I want brutal, relentless thrash metal I will listen to Demolition Hammer or early Sepulutra. Those bands perfected that shit.
Ok, maybe I am being a bit harsh. “Chemical Assault” is a pretty good record but certainly not up to the hype it was recommended with. “Toxic death”, “Addicted to mosh”, “Brainwashed possession”, and “Atomic nightmare” are all pretty solid and feature lots and lots of headbang-inducing riffs and tempo changes that will certainly inspire some monstrous moshing at a live show. Again, none of this is groundbreaking or original though. I know that is the fucking point with this retro stuff but being old-school just for old-school’s sake just does not do it for me. I will admit this, “Destined to die” fucking rules and is hands down the strongest track on “Chemical Assault”. The band is obviously competent and the production is pretty good too. I could use more from the drums but I am used to insane amounts of doublebass and time changes in my metal so I know I am a bit biased there. Still, I can’t say anything bad about the band’s performance on here. It’s tight. The vocals are your standard thrash talk/snarl variety and are also done well.
“Chemical Assault” is a fine thrash record and I am certainly not upset I picked it up. However, the savior of new thrash it is not. There is too much repetition and not enough originality. If Violator can up the creativity a bit I really think they could put out an incredible record in the future. This one ain’t bad and if you like straight-up, old-school thrash check it out; just don’t expect anything you have not heard before. I think the following score reflects my feelings perfectly.
- Information
- Released: 2006
- Label: Kill Again Records
- Website: www.violatorthrash.com
- Band
- Pedro Poney Ret: vocals. bass
- Pedro Capaça: guitars
- David Araya: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Atomic Nightmare
- 02. UxFxTx (United for Thrash)
- 03. Destined to Die
- 04. Addicted to Mosh
- 05. Brainwash Possession
- 06. Ordered to Thrash
- 07. Toxic Death
- 08. Lethal Injection
- 09. The Plague Returns
- 10. After Nuclear Devastation
