How do you introduce new elements into thrash metal without sounding too pretentious or “fluffy”? Sometimes, a careful look at the past can be the way to go, and “The Evil Order”, the second single from VIOLATOR‘s new album, is the embodiment of this dialectic.
Right off the bat, a macabre base with a guitar slur/slur that recalls the intro of “Black Sabbath”. Then, the dragging riff feeds back into primitive Brazilian metal, and the reference (homage?) to Sarcófago’s “Nightmare” is inevitable.
The reminiscences end there, because what follows is pure VIOLATOR juice, only more evil than ever. Perhaps the band has never sounded so malignant and creative. Despite this, the essence of old-school thrash is preserved, without deviation.
In its conclusion, “The Evil Order” returns to the “Sabbath-like” intro to complete the circle of revenge. The order of uniformed tyrants (“the uniform is a pathetic excuse”) is about to collapse.
Stream “The Evil Order” here:
VIOLATOR‘s long-awaited comeback album, “Unholy Retribution”, is due out September 5th, 2025 via Kill Again Records.
True to their roots yet revitalized by a long and intense creative process, “Unholy Retribution” captures VIOLATOR at their most inspired and ferocious. The band delivers a powerful and uncompromising collection of songs that revisit their trademark thrash metal with renewed energy and purpose. This is not a reinvention, it’s a reaffirmation of everything that made VIOLATOR a cult force in the global underground.
From the raw aggression of their breakout EP “Violent Mosh” (2004) and the now-classic debut full-length “Chemical Assault” (2006), VIOLATOR made their mark with a youthful urgency that took no prisoners. That same intensity is alive and well on “Unholy Retribution”, but now it comes sharpened by experience and delivered through more dynamic, tightly constructed compositions. The fire hasn’t dimmed, it’s evolved.
Musically, the album bursts with blistering riffs, tight rhythmic precision and an unmistakable sense of urgency. Groove-laden catchiness and flashes of technical brilliance keep the tracklist flowing like a furious tide – unpredictable, violent and cathartic. The production matches this ferocity with a sonic identity that’s both organic and clear, yet unpolished in just the right way: a raw, analog-flavored mix that enhances every snare hit and guitar bite without sacrificing the band’s gritty edge. It’s a sound that feels live, alive, and undeniably VIOLATOR.
Lyrically, the band stays loyal to its mission: confronting injustice, exposing corruption and shining a harsh light on the rot festering beneath the surface of modern society. With “Unholy Retribution”, VIOLATOR continue to use their music as both weapon and warning.
This is the record that fans of early Vio-Lence, Kreator and Dark Angel have been waiting for – a no-holds-barred thrash assault, deeply rooted in tradition yet bursting with contemporary urgency.
The wait is over. The retribution is unholy. And it starts now.
Tracklist:
1. Hang The Merchants Of Illusion
2. Cult Of Death
3. Persecution Personality
4. Destroy The Altar
5. The Evil Order
6. Chapel Of The Sick
7. Rot In Hell
8. Vengeance Storm
Line-up:
Poney Ret Crucifier – Bass,Vocals
Capaça Bloody Nightmare – Guitars
Cambito Chains Killer – Guitars
Batera Bone Crusher – Drums
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