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What a nice surprise! Black/Thrash as a genre has a lot of potential, and Nocturnal are as good as any of its most hyped acts. The Thrash influence here is more pronounced than perhaps is typical, giving off a vibe similar to fellow German thrashers Sodom at times (Agent Orange era). The vocals however, provided by capable female frontwoman "Tyrannizer", are a statement of the band's intentions to be much more filthy and vicious than your average Thrash band. Though they're sometimes easy to decipher, her voice is vile and with each spat lyric she seems ready to worship Satan or Cthulhu or whatever great monstrosity influences this album (likely Satan, if the cover is any indication).

With an extremely competent vocalist leading the way, the rest of the band has no problem keeping pace. There are a variety of riffs ranging from mid-paced Heavy/Thrash headbangers to speedier – though still very thrashy – Black-influenced ones. A sparing use of lead guitar in conjunction with the riffing is also very effective and definitely welcome. There's not an excess of solos, but when they do show up they fit nicely into their surroundings and manage to sound interesting enough. Violent Revenge's production values are less minimalistic than some bands falling into the same category (i.e. Sauron), but I have absolutely no complaints, as the riffs and drumming benefit notably from the distinct instrument mixing and robust tone. This album is easily summed up by its elements – Thrash, Black, and a touch of Heavy Metal. Fans into any of these genres, especially the two former, won't be disappointed by Nocturnal's latest solid addition to their catalogue.