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Nervosa is a three-piece, all-female band that plays a style of Thrash similar to the late 80s output of bands like Kreator and Coroner. Harsh vocals, sharp, staccato riffs and pounding rhythms were all the rage at that time and Nervosa echoes the classic sound pretty well on their debut, Victim of Yourself. Add in some Repka-like artwork and you're back in 1989.

I've always found the harsh singing style of European Thrash a bit of a turn-off as it doesn't lend itself to things I can sing along with but there's no denying the power contained in the vehement howls and screams of vocalist/bassist Fernanda Lira. I can't understand her but I get the distinct impression she'd put a fist in my eye and/or a boot up my ass if I crossed her in any way. And that's an attitude that pervades Victim of Yourself, even though none of the songs sound much different from the rest. It is also apparent Nervosa are still learning their way around their instruments as the songwriting is fairly simple as are the leads, when they aren't absent altogether.

Victim of Yourself is fairly derivative and the songwriting generic but Nervosa do their best to overcome those shortcomings with energy and enthusiasm. This isn't an album that's going to change the world but if you are looking for a soundtrack for putting your head down and wading into the pit, you could do a lot worse.