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Fifth album from Brazilian Black/Thrash stalwarts Vulcano, originally released in 2004 and now getting a re-release on I Hate Records. So despite the fact that this is the most recent album from the band, it is still five years old. Fortunately for Vulcano, their style is deliberately retro, and so never goes out of style. It was never in style to begin with.

Vulcano purvey a dirty blend of blackened Thrash that calls to mind other stripped-down acts like Morningstar, Nocturnal, or Warhammer, all of them drinking deep from the chalice of Sodom's In The Sign Of Evil. This is a raw attack of thrashy riffs, hammering rhythms, and harsh but not deathy vocals. I enjoy the riffs on this album, and the whole ‘dirty bastards of Satan' vibe is fun, but the whole album is just a little restrained. The guitar tone is a bit weak, and the playing is not as aggressive and off-the-hook as I would like. I really like when stuff like this just crackles with underground wrath, like Sauron on Thrash Assault or Ritual on Soldiers Under Satan's Command. This disc is entertaining, but it lacks a certain spark of feral energy that is the mark of the best Black/Thrash Metal.

Vulcano have been around for a long time, and with this being their first release since 1990, I can tell they have come through with their sound intact. They could make some killer music, but it feels like they need to get just a little more worked up.