Sometimes, the Old School trends in Metal gives birth to good musical names. It's not possible for such a set of bands to create something new or different from what already exists (it's their main feature), but it doesn't mean that the bands can't make something good. And the Finnish quartet GRAVE VIOLATOR are a living proof of these words, as their first album "Back to the Cult" shows. They play in a powerful Black/Thrash Metal way similar from that one that SODOM did on "Persecution Mania" and DESTRUCTION on "Eternal Devastation" era, but allowing excellent melodies to rise from their songs. Yes, it is truly Old School on their musical elements, but their raw energy is amazing, and can seduce the listener easily, and it is what matters in the end of everything.

The strong point of the album to be in such charming way is the sound quality: although the band prefers to have a nasty and crude form of sound, the production creates something that is like those old classics from their musical genre could be recorded today. It sounds clear and with defined tunes (from where the organic feeling rises). It's nothing new at all, and the listener can say that "Back to the Cult" is a festival of musical clichés. But the value of songs "Baptized in Filthy Semen" (the adrenaline level goes to the sky due the energy that comes from the excellent guitar riffs), "Knife Fighter" (another fast and brutal blow in the ears, with very good tempos and vocals), "Forced Flesh" (a massive attack of storming guitar riffs and nasty solos), "Back to the Cult" (what lovely energy and grasping work from rhythmic session), and "Chamber of Demons" (where some changes of tempos are very good, along with the excellent vocals) can't be denied.

The band is good, shows talent and needs to improve in some aspects (they especially need to learn to use different tempos), but for now, "Back to the Cult" is really a fine piece of Old School Metal.