RSS Feed


VIOLATOR
Scenarios Of Brutality

Kill Again (2013)
Rating: 7/10

Album number three from these Brazilian thrashers comes three years after 2010’s Annihilation Process opus, and as expected it’s another reasonably notable foray into the realms of revival thrash with an American influence evident.

Admittedly, Violator – for all of their clichés – are a tad more volatile than a great many thrash acts doing the rounds today, and I’ve always had a passing interest in these guys since their 2006 debut Chemical Assault. The main issue I’ve always had with Violator – one of at least eight bands to have the same name over the years – is the slightly weak vocal delivery of Pedro “Poney Ret” Arcanjo. For all of his might and intent, Arcanjo is a rather bog standard thrash metal throat-ripper whose choppy rasps and snotty yaps do little to impress me amid the flurry of aggressive guitars and lethal drums.

I guess if I had to pinpoint the Violator sound then I would suggest that any true thrash fans who dig this band also check out the more hostile noise of San Francisco’s Vio-lence. Its frontman Sean Killian Arcanjo can be compared to at times, although he is far less vicious than Killian’s maniacal chops.

Even so, this is a pretty furious thrash record that doesn’t rely on formulaic mosh frills or silly humour. Instead, it’s a frantic delivery boasting socially conscious lyrics and the battering ram drum assault of David “Batera” Araya. Yes, there are a few gang chants thrown in for good measure – particularly on the manic expression of ‘Endless Tyrannies’ – but thrash worshippers will also note the hint of Slayer, early Exodus and old Whiplash. There’s also a strong underground feel here, mainly due to the fact that the quartet prefer to rip, maim and maul instead of choose gimmicks to help their cause.

My favourite track has to be the superb ‘Dead To This World’. With its melodic opening chug, the track slips into a hyper rattle as Arcanjo yelps, “Consumerism has a hidden face, immigrants disgraced in foreign land, freedom stolen, dignity destroyed, brand new slavery”, but the chorus is your rather plain and simple thrash chant. The same can also be said for the hectic ‘No Place For The Cross’, which runs along the same well-trodden ground.

Scenarios Of Brutality offers nine tracks, and like a lot of thrash records over the years runs for under 40 minutes. This does pack a punch as a record however, and it’s certainly a grower, especially once you’ve got your claws into tracks such as ‘Respect Existence Or Expect Resistance’ , ‘Waiting To Exhale’ and ‘Colors Of Hate’.

It’s an album which is about as pure as modern thrash gets, and for that I can’t fault Violator. Where so many modern bands of the thrash revival fail, Violator actually succeed in cracking skulls with their brand of serious metal. If Scenarios Of Brutality had emerged between 1988 and 1991 I think thrash metallers would have enjoyed such a release, but such was the quality back then that they may have suffered for their lack of originality. As it stands today though, Violator are doing their best to maintain high levels of aggression with a big nod to old school values.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share