Thrashened death metal, deathened thrash metal, thrashy death metal? I’m not sure the best way to describe Brazil’s Nervosa. But new album Perpetual Chaos does indeed contain the aforementioned death and thrash metal concoction. The result? An old school triumph.
It’s odd to talk about a Brazilian metal band that has no connection to a Cavalera family member. They have been the dominant force out of the South American nation for over 20 years. Maybe Max shaving his dreadlocks last year relinquished some of his supremacy. Nervosa are now onto their fourth album release and with so introduce almost an entirely new line-up.
The metal crew who insist ‘female fronted’ is a still thing are going to have an aneurysm now that Nervosa are an all female band following a roster change that leaves guitarist Prika Amaral the only founding member remaining. Given that you can run out of fingers and toes no sweat counting prominent women in metal it’s a stupid term. This is just a straight heavy metal band.
The persecution Nervosa have faced throughout their career due to their gender lends to much of the albums theme. Pursued by Judgement detailing the fight they have had for their well earned recognition. Time To Fight is obviously aimed at the events of 2020, particularly in their homeland. These themes are prototypical thrash metal. The fact they have experienced these first hand lends an old school authenticity to Perpetual Chaos.
13 songs over 44 minutes sounds like a classic thrash recipe. Speed, aggression, violence, all the ingredients you need. A particular standout is the fantastic array of riffs on offer throughout. Harking back to unrefined thrash of old, but still feeling organic and contemporary. An album that begs for repeated listening. Just be careful operating heavy machinery whilst doing so.
New vocalist Diva Satanica living up to her name with brutal spitting death metal vocals. Giving Perpetual Chaos more of an Arch Enemy/melodeath feel, rather than the German thrash mood of former albums. Back to back tracks Perpetual Chaos and Until the Very End could comfortably slot onto a Legion of the Damned release.
As an album to skyrocket Nervosa into the consciousness of the metal masses, they couldn’t have done much better. I have previously written about why thrash has survived where others have faded. Perpetual Chaos continues to prove that there will always be a place in the world for a big dose of gnarly thrash metal. Long may it continue.
Score: 8/10
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