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Thrash metal bands sure like to "violate." Along with Brazilian thrashers Violator, comes the Norwegian act Violated. Ah, the subtle differences. This is yet another band riding the endless wave of neo-thrash bands sparked by the jean coat sporting Municipal Waste and Toxic Holocaust. Each of these bands is attempting to recapture the brazen energy of the Bay Area Thrash scene during the 80s. Some of them are successful, but many of them are not. Violated fall somewhere in the middle. They create fierce and intense moods with their music, sometimes too much so, making the songs convoluted and a tad directionless. While they certainly can write good riffs, the riffs all blend into each other, making the album tedious and repetitive. Only Death Awaits is a bland and tired release, rehashing classic Thrash, and drying it out into a shadow of its former glory.

At just under 30 minutes, this album comes and goes just as it began, and there was no reason to keep it going. After three songs, all of the aggressiveness becomes stale. Violated borrow from classic Thrash bands, bearing close resemblance to Testament at times, but are never able to achieve the richness of such bands. Where Testament would have layered on more riffs, Violated use simple two to three note riffs underscored by Hans Wik's imbecilic tough guy shouting. Wik doesn't sound angry; he sounds like he's desperately trying to convince you he can beat you up. It's juvenile and unnecessary. The vocals strain the album, making it hard to take seriously, even when it's good. Violated have taken classic style of Thrash, and dumbed it down for modern audiences.

Violated have jumped on the Thrash bandwagon, but they aren't able to they provide the wagon any momentum. Instead, they're slowing it down with their mediocrity. The riffs blend into one another, as they're almost entirely the same. Their vocals are nothing more than poorly executed hostility. There are thousands of young and energetic Thrash bands out there now. Violated are one you can ignore.