Bay Area thrash icons VIO-LENCE will return to the stage this April for a special eight-date headlining tour featuring the band performing their classic 1988-released debut full-length Eternal Nightmare in its entirety!
The tour runs from April 5th in Cambridge, Massachusetts through April 13th in Chicago, Illinois. Support will be provided by Exhorder, Deceased, and Mortal Wound. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
VIO-LENCE w/ Exhorder, Deceased, Mortal Wound: 4/05/2024 Middle East / Downstairs – Cambridge, MA 4/06/2024 Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 4/07/2024 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA 4/08/2024 The Ottobar – Baltimore, MD 4/10/2024 The Winchester – Cleveland, OH 4/11/2024 Legends Bar & Venue – Cincinnati, OH 4/12/2024 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 4/13/2024 Reggies – Chicago, IL
Formed in 1985, Oakland thrashers VIO-LENCE helped define and refine what came to be known as the Bay Area sound, dropping three seminal albums before splitting in 1993. Leaving behind a heady legacy, they briefly reformed a handful of times in the intervening years before becoming a full-time band once more in 2019.
After playing a string of successful shows, the quintet delivered Let The World Burn in 2022, a five-song EP showcasing their first new material in twenty-nine years. Delivering on the classic VIO-LENCE sound, Let The World Burn was tracked in Trident Studios in Pacheco, California by Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Exodus), mixed by Tue Madsen (Dark Tranquillity, Heaven Shall Burn), and mastered by Ted Jensen (Alice In Chains, Death Angel).
San Fransisco (CA) – Bay Area Hardcore/Thrash/Groove Metal quartet ALMOST DEAD have signed to Innerstrength Records!
ALMOST DEAD are about to record their sixth full length album for the label! On the forthcoming album, the band take their sound even further into realms of the extreme, building off all of their previous influences, incorporating new ones, and growing their reach both internationally and domestically.
Since forming in Martinez, CA in 2004, ALMOSTDEAD has been churning out an aggressive blend of thrash, groove metal and hardcore. The group’s sound is influenced by the likes of Panteraand Sepultura, infused with that of their local Bay Area scene like Testament and Machine Head, as well as incorporating more modern influences such as New England metalcore and New York death metal. ALMOST DEAD has created their own original style that still includes all the elements of metal you know and love.
ALMOST DEAD have released five full-length albums to date: Almost Dead (2007), Internal Chaos (2008), Mindfucked(2012), Lay Me Down To Waste(2018), and Brutal Onslaught(2021).
In a 10/10-rated review, Jennytate.wordpress.com called 2018’s Lay Me Down To Waste “a slab of steel driven rage and blood spurting horror, like you’ve never heard before. Atmospherically dense, with visual assault and gothic mind terror. Almost Dead are masters at brevity of power. ‘LMDTW’ multiplies the energy and strength of even the heaviest of metal albums. Leaving you terrorized, traumatized and gagging for more.”
Metal Hammer Spain called 2021’s Brutal Onslaught “one of the best metal releases of the year…for the faithful of American thrash metal,” referring to it as an album that demonstrated “incredible virtuosity” and “characterized by the great variety of riffs and the power it has from beginning to end.”
In early 2021 ALMOST DEAD signed a worldwide deal with Art Gates Records, looking to take their unique blend of metal music and intense live performances and share it with the rest of the world. In partnership with the Flaming Arts Agency, ALMOST DEAD embarked on the “Black Rituals Tour 2021″ in Europe, alongside co-headliners Batushka (PL) and Belphegor (AT), as well as fellow support Diabolical (SE) and Warhammer (GR).
ALMOST DEAD continues to play all across California and internationally.
Line-up:
Vocals: Tony Rolandelli Guitars: Zach Weed Drums: Ryan Glick Bass Guitar. Felix Portillo
Bay Area thrash icons VIO–LENCE are readying to kick off a stretch of live shows this weekend with Swiss thrash legends, Coroner. The journey begins May 21st with a pair of shows at Reggies in Chicago. Exciter and LichKing join the run for some select shows leading up to VIO–LENCE’s performance at Maryland Deathfest. In June, the band will play a trio of shows in Oakland, Seattle, and Portland. In August, VIO–LENCE will perform in San Diego and Los Angeles before pillaging the stage at this year’s edition of Psycho Las Vegas! See all confirmed dates below.
VIO–LENCE: 5/21/2022 Reggies – Chicago, IL w/ Coroner 5/22/2022 Reggies – Chicago, IL w/ Coroner 5/24/2022 Middle East – Boston, MA w/ Coroner, Exciter, Lich King 5/25/2022 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA w/ Coroner, Exciter, Lich King 5/26/2022 Le Poisson Rouge – New York, NY w/ Coroner, Exciter, Lich King 5/27/2022 Maryland Deathfest – Baltimore, MD 6/05/2022 Oakland Metro Operahouse – Oakland 6/10/2022 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 6/11/2022 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR 8/16/2022 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 8/17/2022 Catch One – Los Angeles, CA 8/19/2022 Psycho Las Vegas @ Resorts World – Las Vegas, NV
An integral part of the San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal scene was, and still is, the quintet known as VIO–LENCE. Formed in 1985, they entered that scene with the intentions of being the most aggressive band that scene had to offer, always delivering a devastating live show complete with vicious mosh pits and constant stage diving by their faithful following, and a nonstop dose of adrenaline delivered by the band. Even though they had not performed since 2003, their frantic style of thrash metal still appeals to metalheads globally. Now they’re reformed and back with their intense live performance and their frantic music.
Joining original members Perry Strickland (drums), Sean Killian (vocals) and Phil Demmel (guitars) are legendary artists Bobby Gustafson (guitars) and Christian Olde Wolbers (bass), creating a formidable five-some ready to take the world by the throat.
The band recently issued their LetThe WorldBurn EP via Metal Blade Records. The five-song EP showcases the band’s first new material in twenty-nine years and fully delivers on the classic VIO–LENCE sound. “That came very naturally,” states founding guitarist Phil Demmel. “I hadn’t written a lot of thrash in the past seventeen years or so but being the main songwriter for the band over the years I wanted that sound, I wanted that mid-‘80s raw thing, but I also wanted to capture our signature notes and structures and stuff like that.”
Elaborates vocalist Sean Killian, “Each song has its own individual sound, they are all very thrash metal, there are grinding riffs, technical riffs, and plenty of speed. The lyrics are written freely with no restrictions and without compromise while the vocal patterns are typically unusual and delivered with a multitude of emotions.”
LetThe WorldBurn was tracked in Trident Studios in Pacheco, California by Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Exodus), mixed by Tue Madsen (Dark Tranquillity, Heaven Shall Burn), and mastered by Ted Jensen (Alice In Chains, Death Angel) with Demmel tracking his solos at home.
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