INSTORM were formed in 2011 and they are from Moscow, Russia. The melodic Death Metal outfit released so far one demo and "Psycho Violence" is their third full-length album. It was mixed and mastered by Roman Nemtsev (SLICE OF SORROW). It has a length of approximately 38 minutes, and it was released via Russian label Metal Carnival Records.

INSTORM have never been a band which played traditional melodeath. One of their standout features is the combination of melodic Death Metal and neoclassical elements, resulting in a technically sophisticated, guitar dominated sound. The new album starts where the last album "Taming The Chaos" (2018) had left: the title song is driven by classical melodies provided by the lead guitars. "Psycho Violence" is a song at insane speed for most of the time with a few changes towards mid-tempo. The extended break has a quiet start introducing the lead guitar solo, but as time goes on, there is a seamless transition towards mid-tempo, and subsequently towards high pace. The lengthy lead guitar solo drives the neoclassical melodies and is the focal point of the track. Despite all the technicality of the guitars, another important element of the INSTORM sound are the growling vocals, which typically are between the medium and high end of the guttural range.

"Time Reaper" starts with catchy guitar riffing at mid-tempo and with epic melodies. It is more a classical melodeath song, with a few IRON MAIDEN vibes in the riffing especially during the chorus parts and in the lead guitar solo. The break for the first part of the lead guitar solo includes Power Metal elements and is played at a high pace. While "Time Reaper" provided a break from the classics, "Senseless Dominion" continues with the neoclassical melodeath assault. The melodic sound framework is entirely based on classical melodies, and they are at the core of the track. There is a short break that is straight and direct with crunching bass lines, which serves as a bridge back to the lead guitar driven sound. The focus on the technical elegance of the guitars comes at the cost of the vocals, which are a bit underrepresented in "Senseless Dominion". The track is the official video release, and the YouTube link is given below.

"The Call" has an epic start with melancholic Folk inspired melodies at a measured mid-tempo. The vocals go with the melodies and the growls have support by female clean vocals. Opposite to "Senseless Dominion", the vocals lead the track very well and are the focal point of "The Call". "In Time" continues with the pace and the melancholy of the "The Call". The melodies are dark and there is more aggression in the vocals, which include some deeper growls as well. As the track goes on, the lead guitars are more and more in the focus of the track, and the melodies include a lot of classical elements.

"The Smoldering Agony" starts once again with plenty of IRON MAIDEN vibes. It is a slow track again with a lot of melancholy in the melodies. The growls are versatile and cover a wide part of the guttural range. Highlight of the track is the lead guitar solo, that includes the melancholic melody framework as well as some direct parts. "Wings For Eternity" starts with a lot of blast-beats and transitions into a mid-tempo verse part. The melodies are a bit more classical driven, which becomes evident during the lead guitar solo. The track also includes a few orchestral arrangements in the background. A feature of the INSTORM sound is that most of the songs contain more than one lead guitar solo and the second one of "Wings For Eternity" is less playful and more direct compared to the first one.

"Bloody Touch" goes back to the neoclassical trademark sound of INSTORM. It is a fast song with a lot of Power Metal elements, but the central element of the track is the classic inspired melodic framework provided by the guitars. "Tears Of Winter" starts with an extended instrumental part and it provides a grim atmosphere. Most of the track is played at a measured tempo, but there are a few mid-tempo parts and twists in rhythm. Vocalist Roman Nemtsev has once again female clean vocal support. The melodies sound Folk inspired, and the sound is supported by the keyboards, which also intensify the atmosphere of the track. The album closes with short classical instrumental "Black And White".

INSTORM deliver a very good melodic Death Metal album. They establish their trademark sound with "Psycho Violence" further, but with more maturity and versatility in the compositions compared to their previous albums. The focus of the "Psycho Violence" sound is put on the technicality and virtuosity of the guitars interpreting neoclassical compositions. However, songs like "Time Reaper" or "The Smoldering Agony" show that INSTORM can mix up their sound very smartly. INSTORM have developed a unique sound over the years, and that makes them stand out from traditional melodic Death Metal bands. The album is well produced. INSTORM set the bar pretty high with "Psycho Violence" and melodic Death Metal fans should not miss out on a 38-minute celebration of a neoclassical melodeath sound.