The wait is finally over: VIOLATOR are ready to break their silence with the release of “Chapel of the Sick”, the first single from their long-awaited comeback album “Unholy Retribution”, due out September 5th, 2025 via Kill Again Records.
A furious onslaught of razor-sharp riffs and venomous intent, the track sets the tone for what promises to be one of the most uncompromising thrash records of the year.
Elaborating on the new single, the band shared:
“We have crossed beyond fear…”
Part of the chorus of “Chapel of the Sick,” the first single and music video from Violator’s new album, reveals a fundamental and inescapable theme of the album: the desire for revenge after emerging from dark times.
In a way, it applies to the pandemic context, the neo-fascist nightmare that has ravaged Brazil, and even the band itself, which has been silent for several years.
However, as the lyrics unfold, we soon realize that the theme is much more specific: a clear metaphor for Palestinian resistance. And that the “chapel of the sick” is the State of Israel itself, in its most bloodthirsty form.
Musically, it is also one of the most incisive tracks. The guitars pile up riffs of typical Slayer lineage, both in form and tone, with cutting picking, power chords that provide the bridge its dynamics – like “Chemical Warfare” — and total fury after the chorus.
At the the “mosh” part, when the riff summons the drums, they emulate cruel Zionist bombardments (watch the video!), and then what we hear is one of the most charming double-pedal grooves in thrash metal in recent memory. The drums sound, in fact, is one of the high points of “Unholy Retribution” as a whole.
Like a letter of intent, “Chapel of the Sick” is Violator making it clear that they haven’t cooled off. That certain things are non-negotiable, among them the irrevocable commitment to thrash. The reaffirmation of the pact, before revealing other possibilities in an album full of them.
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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Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 