Vio-lence

The Profile

Vio-lence are an American Bay Area thrash metal band formed in the mid-1980s. Their debut Eternal Nightmare (1988) and its follow-up Oppressing the Masses (1990) became cult classics for speed, gang vocals and razor-sharp riffing. After disbanding in the 1990s, they reunited for shows in the 2000s and again from 2019, returning with the EP Let The World Burn in 2022.

Key members include vocalist Sean Killian and guitarists Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel; Flynn later founded Machine Head. Oppressing the Masses was produced by Alex Perialas, and the song Torture Tactics was censored, with about 20,000 copies reportedly destroyed. The band is associated with the San Francisco Bay Area thrash scene.

DeBaser’s reviews hail Vio-lence as a Bay Area thrash force: savage riffs, whiplash tempo changes, and gang-shouted choruses. Eternal Nightmare is praised for extreme ferocity, while Oppressing the Masses is lauded for tighter production and technical bite. Sean Killian’s unconventional, divisive vocals are seen as a unique strength. The infamous censorship of Torture Tactics and standout tracks like Officer Nice and World In A World recur throughout.