Year: 2022
Total Time: 24:47
Label: Metal Blade Records
For those of you who are not familiar with them, VIO-LENCE is a Thrash Metal band from the Bay Area that was formed in 1985, during the explosion of the genre, and remained active until 1993 when it has been dissolved. Their reputation was strong during the following years because the impact of their impressive debut album “Eternal Nightmare” and the fact that Robb Flynn of MACHINE HEAD was a member of the band. Also, another ex-MACHINE HEAD member came from VIO-LENCE, the guitarist Phil Demmel, who was VIO-LENCE’s founding member.
The departure Phil Demmel, in 2018 from Robb Flynn’s band, resurrected VIO-LENCE, who returned after three decades. He decided to activate them, releasing new music this year with the EP “Let the World Burn”. Demmel is a pretty good guitarist, so his decision created feelings of excitement among the Bay Area fans. But did that move have any sense? The answer is given through the musical quality of this new EP, with which I wouldn’t say that I got enthusiastic, as the five songs of the new release are from mediocre to indifferent. The compositions have in their DNA all those components of the classic American Thrash Metal sound, but they sound quite simple and slightly weak, without the dynamic you would expect from a band of this genre. Also, Sean Killian’s vocals are a bit misplaced, as it sounds like he’s singing in a crossover band.
I believe that Phil Demmel’s decision to release new songs with VIO-LENCE was hasty and this is reflected in “Let the World Burn’s” quality as it did not meet the expectations we had. Perhaps it would have been better if they had worked harder for a new full-length album, but ok it has been 29 years since VIO-LENCE’s last release, and we’ll respect the fact that they wanted to stay in the spotlight. So, we are patient until the band’s next release, to see if they finally have improved and if this reunion has any meaning and any good music to offer us.
Rating: 6/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: VIO-LENCE – Facebook Page
