Razor – Violent Restitution LP

Violent Restitution is Razor’s fifth full-length album, bridging the gap between Custom Killing (1987) and Shotgun Justice (1990). It was originally released on German label SPV Records in 1988, containing 14 tracks altogether, many of them under three minutes long (such as the lethal ‘Behind Bars’ or ‘Below the Belt’). The album was recorded at Phase One Studios in Toronto, Canada.

Violent Restitution is dedicated to action movie actor Charles Bronson. It is the first Razor album to feature new drummer Rob Mills, who does a fantastic job. Adam Carlo, Dave Carlo’s brother, had joined the band on bass. Violent Restitution is also the last record to feature original vocalist Stace McLaren and is therefore loved by die-hard Razor fans and described as the band’s final ‘authentic album’.

1988 was probably the year in which thrash metal reached its commercial peak. Razor have always remained true to their raw and aggressive thrash roots. Whereas bands like Heathen, Blind Illusion, Meliah Rage, Toxik and Agent Steel, to name just a few, brought an increasingly technical flavour to the genre, Dave Carlo’s bunch remained as unpolished and straightforward as on their fantastic debut Armed and Dangerous (which still awaits an official reissue).

In fan circles, Violent Restitution has become something of a cult album; for many, it even marks Razor’s finest hour. Even if that seems like a bit of an exaggeration, one thing is certain: the 14 tracks perfectly sum up Dave Carlo’s unwavering vision of true-blue, uncompromising thrash metal with that tiny punk edge (just listen to ‘Fed Up’).