Review: “Slave Machine” by Nervosa

As we reach the sweet sixteenth year in the existence of Brazilian Death Thrash overloads Nervosa it seems like a great time for them to give us their sixth studio album “Slave Machine“. Once again produced by Martin Furia (Sisters of Suffocation, Howler, Chemicide) of German legends Destruction, the band seeking once more to bridge the gap between old-school power and critical modernity. It has of course been a whirlwind three years since 2023’s “Jailbreak“, during which the band have played shows and festivals around the globe with a line up rebuilt around founding member and last woman standing from the original line up Prika Amaral. She took on vocals as well as guitars for that record and during the touring cycle she proved herself as a powerful front woman when we witnessed the band both as they played Bloodstock Open Air Festival in 2024 and opened for Cradle Of Filth in Europe a year later.

The band comment: “This song is everything that we want to say and play, many different vocal layers and guitar melodies like a scream to say that we are all part of the ‘Slave Machine’. Slave Machine is the most brutal and melodic album of NERVOSA, and we are proud to take this step further, keeping our roots.”

There has been one line up change since that last record with drummer Gabriela Abud exiting stage left after a two year live run to be replaced by the returning Michaela Naydenova. That means for the first time in a long time the same line up of Nervosa have completed back to back records with one addition, bassist Emmelie Herwegh of Sisters of Suffocation fame, as the band have a separate live bassist for touring Europe compared to the rest of the world.

The album begins with “Impending Doom“, a cut with a scene setting introduction of occult ritual and tribal drum patterns before bursting into flame with thunderous percussive battery from Naydenova and throat splitting vocals from Amaral. Leads add a Melodic Death Metal vibe to the chorus which gives it shades of “Dark Ages” era Soulfly as well as a scream-a-long vibe, the verses being nothing short of brutal. Title track “Slave Machine” injects a lethal dose of adrenaline with a faster tempo while following a similar pattern, viciously abrasive verses and ever so slightly brighter, catchy choruses. The difference here is that the chorus is gang chanted or at least vocally layered to give that impression, the power of multiple voices designed to get fists in the air like a call to arms live. A Death Thrash solo is masterfully done and in all honesty it doesn’t get more infectious than this while being this heavy.

There is a Fear Factory like churn and burn to the opening riff attack of “Ghost Notes“, the mournful leads which follow during the chorus adding a depth of melancholia to the otherwise barbed attack from Nervosa as they push their boundaries and reach into the void of Extreme Metal. The mid-track melodic bridge has a Traditional Heavy Metal air to it before a whispered moment that sends a chill down the spine. A powerful statement piece, perhaps its a foretelling of what this five piece could eventually become. Arguably the harshest track on the album “Beast of Burden” finds Aramal spitting blood and venom in the face of her enemies, the frenetic riffs having that air of familiarity about them which gives the song that instant appeal of a lottery winning scratch card, the soloing utterly sublime.

Staccato riff breaks allow the bass line to bleed out gloriously on the vicious little ditty that is “You Are Not a Hero“, a track which has inventive tribal drum patterns and a spellbinding solo. Compared to the earlier cuts this one is more of a slow burn, a track that grows on you over multiple listens but you’ll keep coming back to it for the solo because it’s that good. Flirting with Traditional Heavy Metal riffs once again “Hate” is another polished piece of raw aggression through which you can hear the sounds of the influences on the Nervosa sound, a bit of Iron Maiden and Metallica rearing its ugly head between the brutal roars from Aramal. That’s not a bad thing by any means, instead offering a rear insight into where the band come from without the need for a cover song.

Galloping Death Thrash with melodic precision is at the heart of the war of art that is “The New Empire“, a cut which has moments of epic grandeur that feel like rough diamonds in the dirt. Aramal has not only improved vocally with the three years of experience of performing “Jailbreak” live but also lyrically as if she has found a new way to express her feelings. Those two things help give the album a real sense of drama, weight and gravity with the subtle buried clean backing vocals in “30 Seconds” giving it a haunting quality despite the all consuming rage of the lyrical narrative and riffs flying in all directions.

The politically charged and socially aware “Crawling for Your Pride” shows some progression in the bands song writing capabilities as they blitz the cranium with driving mid-tempo riffs and powerful percussion, those buried clean backing vocals once again working very well. Part of the charm this kind of anthem is that it’s timeless; if it had dropped in 2002 it would have been just as gratefully received. Then there is the skull splitting Death Groove of “Learn or Repeat” which seriously slaps, those aggression levels reaching new heights before a frantic solo. If this one doesn’t make the live set then it will be a great shame because it demands mosh pit violence as does “The Call“, a blistering all out riff attack upon which Aramal doesn’t shy away from saying it like it is. That’s part of what makes it resonate, the abrasive Speed Thrash riffs making a serious impact.

A menacing and sinister conclusion in “Speak in Fire” might be the last thing anyone expected but its an utter triumph as Helena Kotina rips out a huge epic solo. Aramal pushes herself further vocally to give this one more bark and bite and as the dark clouds swirl overhead you just can’t help but crack a smile. As an album “Slave Machine” feels like the big sister of “Jailbreak“. Older, wiser and more aggressive [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Impending Doom
2. Slave Machine
3. Ghost Notes
4. Beast of Burden
5. You Are Not a Hero
6. Hate
7. The New Empire
8. 30 Seconds
9. Crawling for Your Pride
10. Learn or Repeat
11. The Call
12. Speak in Fire

“Slave Machine” by Nervosa is out 3rd April 2026 via Napalm Records