The impossible had happened; Vio-Lence is back! They were one of the most exciting thrash metal groups to come out of the Bay Area in the late 80s. Their run was cut short by the changing musical trends of the early 90s. Vio-Lence had a very dedicated fan base, and those fans are still here, joined by many new ones who never did see the onslaught of their live performances.
Let The World Burn is a new EP from Vio-Lence. It contains five tracks, and lasts about 25 minutes. It’s like getting one side of an album. The band hits with a solid punch from the opening track, and does not let go until the end. This is state of the art thrash that will melt your face off, and still push you into the pit. The songs are energetic, well written, and fresh. The material is very well recorded and well produced. Nothing is accidental here. The band knew what they were doing, and they had the experience to back it up.
Despite some new blood joining Vio-Lence, the spirit of this band is more than preserved. Those are solid Phil Demmel riffs we know and love. He hasn’t lost his magic touch, and there is a level of maturity in his songwriting as well. Vocalist, Sean Killian, provides the lyrics, and his one of a kind approach and singing style. Drummer, Perry Strickland is still a powerhouse drummer; he’s more like a nuclear plant. The new additions to Vio-Lence are guitarist, Bobby Gustafson, of Overkill fame, and bassist, Christian Olde-Wolbers, of Fear Factory fame. Both players extremely talented and effective, and a great match to the original trio.
The five tracks here show that Vio-Lence still has a lot to say, and more recordings is to be expected in the near future. In the meantime, this crusher will keep you salivating for months to come. This is solid, this is Bay Area thrash at its finest. The songs have a live feel, and must be heard live. I can smell the sweat, and I can see the bodies flying, I can hear Vio-Lence playing!
Mark Kadzielawa
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