Nervosa - Agony
Brazilian thrash power-trio deliver ferocious second album
Taking a page from fellow-Brazilian thrashers Sepultura, power-trio Nervosa deal in mean thrash metal with a passionate intensity. Agony marks their second full-length, and suitable shows a step up in terms of both production and songwriting.
With a raw sounding aggression, Nervosa take the fervent formula of Sepultura’s early years and blend it with the razor-sharp ferocity of Teutonic thrashers like Kreator and Sodom. These influences are clear and are rarely built upon in any significant depth, but Agony is nevertheless a consistent release full of scathing riffs, exhilarating changes in pace and politically aware lyrics.
The album’s sole surprise comes in the form of closer ‘Wayfarer’, which sees Nervosa’s speedy riffs accompanied by soaring clean vocals alongside the group’s standard harsh screams. Its guitars barrel along with a focused intensity until its a cappella final two minutes, and whilst the new vocals are jarring at first, they’re effective.
Agony is not an album to introduce anything excitingly new to the thrash genre, but what’s most important here is the sheer quality of the song-writing. Despite the fact that you’ve probably heard similar bouts of relenting aggression numerous times in the past, Agony is punch-packing release ready to rip your face off with its barrage of fierce riffs.
8/10
