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NERVOSA
Jailbreak

Napalm (2023)
Rating: 6.5/10

Although I like Nervosa, the shift in line-up suggests instability within the ranks. Guitarist Prika Amaral is the only surviving member from the 2021 album Perpetual Chaos. Now Prika also takes on vocal duties and is joined by new members Helena Kotina (guitar), Hel Pyre (bass) and Michaela Naydenova (drums).

When one considers the major overhaul, Nervosa remains the same sound wise. I wasn’t expecting a drastic shift in musicality, but I also didn’t expect such a bog standard return to type. What you get here is the same, and rather predictable scathing thrash. ‘When The Truth Is A Lie’ features a guest appearance from Exodus axeman Gary Holt who brings extra vim, but other than that this album streaks by in somewhat generic fashion. Even with highlights such as ‘Superstition Failed’, featuring Lena Scissorhands (Infected Rain / Death Dealer Union) on vocals, it remains just another Slayer-esque expression.

There are no major issues here considering the turbulence within the ranks over the last few years and there are some decent melodies such as on ‘Sacrifice’, but this release feels a bit more streamlined, and one can sort of see why Crypta formed.

This is not the heaviest Nervosa outing, but it’s one that will no doubt enable the new members to gel. Unfortunately, in spite of becoming somewhat leaders in the thrash field, Jailbreak is not the sort of record to cement the status of Nervosa even with its archetypal seething. Albums like this provide plenty of energy, of that there is no doubt, but the novelty wears off all too quickly.

Neil Arnold

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