Nervosa - Jailbreak

Angry Metal Guy 70

When Nervosa hit the scene in 2014, they were the talk of the town. An all-female thrash outfit from Brazil that incorporated the soothing sounds of Sodom, Kreator, and Sadus. But, throughout the years (and many o’ lineup changes), Prika Amaral has continued to expand on the thrash influences and charged them with some death licks. For all the hype, Nervosa has never blown me away. With each release, I hope for that breakout record that’ll drop me to my knees, but instead, they’ve established a catalog of solid releases with a handful of stellar pieces. For a minute, I was intrigued by the release of 2021’s Perpetual Chaos because the band picked up a new vocalist. In doing so, I hoped that it would be that great album, but it never panned out. This time around, founding guitarist Prika Amaral takes to the stage and lends her growls and barks to Jailbreak.

And, you know what? I like it. Being the band’s visionary, it would make sense that Amaral would understand the vocal style that matches her aggressive axe play. Though I can’t tell if it’s her chance at the mic or because of the riffs, Jailbreak carries some serious weight that flattens some of the band’s most recent efforts. There’s also far more energy and spontaneity here than on the two previous releases. While this new platter still has too many songs in its tracklist, inevitably resulting in some filler pieces, most songs have direction. The chaotic riff changes make sense, melding trash with death and producing some memorable choruses and solos.

Jailbreak by Nervosa

This crushing character is most prominent on the back half, with ditties like “Behind the Wall,” “When the Truth Is a Lie,” and “Superstition Failed.” The first flies out of the gates with some tasty guitar and drum work that settles into a goosebump-induced thrash lick. But it doesn’t stop there, as this compact, three-minute piece slows to a hard-hitting trudge to support the stellar solo work. “When the Truth Is a Lie” opens with some Roots-era Sepultura pluckings that give way to a monstrous death charge and killer vocal variety. The riffs morph from trashy triplet action to sinister poundings that feel like the devil’s spanking me on my birthday. Exodus’ Gary Holt also adds a classic American thrash flavor with his solo contribution. “Superstition Failed” is a punishing number with guest support from Infected Rain’s Lena Scissorhands. Both vocalists play off each other, adding slithering variation to the At the Gates-inspired riffage alternating with filthy death licks.

Two of the more memorable pieces on the record are “Seed of Death” and closer “Nail the Coffin.” But they are memorable in two completely different ways. “Seed of Death” starts with a beautiful, melodic introduction that grows with each second. When it breaks, we ride into what appears to be a melodeath song akin to Mors Principium Est. The harmonizing leads and solos are aplenty, adding to the song’s character, and the chorus is as sad and somber as heartbreaking moments from Hypocrisy’s discog. If “Seed of Death” is the black sheep of the album, the odd “Nail the Coffin” is the ugly duckling. The closer stands out like a sore thumb amidst the rest with its strange heavy-metal direction. It’s a solid song, but it feels like a bonus track compared to the rest, and its predecessor, “Elements of Sin,” would have been a better closer.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with Jailbreak. It’s an album I can return to far more than Downfall of Mankind and Perpetual Chaos. Of course, I’d rather see the weaker moments removed. The title track is an annoying, repetitive death metal version of something Motörhead might have written. And for all its builds and angst, “Gates to the Fall” literally falls at the end. Aside from the crushing, Kreator-esque opener and “Seed of Death,” I enjoy the second half of Jailbreak the most. But this new record has a power and energy we haven’t seen from the band since Agony. Every member contributes, providing great performances, and Amaral’s vocals are a breath of fresh air to their music. Even though another fucking Napalm Records stream ties me to my desk, I’ve had difficulty putting down my headphones.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: Yeah, it’s Napalm again | Format Reviewed: I know
Label: Napalm Records
Websites: nervosa-brazil.bandcamp.com | nervosaofficial.com | facebook.com/nervosa
Releases Worldwide: September 29th, 2023

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