Vio-Lence

Vio-Lence is an American thrash metal band formed in San Francisco in 1985. The group is active from 1985 to the present and is associated with Bay Area thrash metal and speed metal. Its known members include Robert Flynn and Ray Vegas.

Early line-up and recordings

The band establishes a stable line-up with Phil Demmel and Robb Flynn on guitars, Dean Dell on bass, Perry Strickland on drums and Sean Killian on vocals. In 1986 it releases a demo tape on Mechanic Records. After that recording, the band enters the studio for its debut album, Eternal Nightmare, a seven-track release issued in 1988. Although it receives limited promotion, it is well regarded by thrash audiences and critics.

Albums, EPs and label releases

Alongside Forbidden, Vio-Lence is described as one of the new Bay Area thrash prospects. In 1989 it signs with Megaforce Records and later issues its second album, Oppressing the Masses, in 1990 with improved distribution and marketing. The record is produced by Alex Periales and includes a video for “World in a World”.

In 1991 the band releases the EP Torture Tactics, which contains three studio tracks and one live track. Those studio recordings come from the demo period and are recorded during the Oppressing the Masses sessions. The group’s third and final studio album, Nothing to Gain, follows in 1993.

Break-up, related projects and later activity

Internal conflict in 1992 leads to Robb Flynn’s departure. Flynn later forms Machine Head with Adam Duce, Logan Mader and Tony Constanza. After Nothing to Gain is released, Perry Strickland leaves and the band dissolves. Phil Demmel, Dean Dell, Ray Vega and Mark Hernandez then form Torque, a half-thrash band that releases one studio album and plays several live shows before disbanding. Demmel later forms the industrial rock band Technocracy.

Flynn remains active in Machine Head as guitarist and singer. Demmel rejoins Flynn in Machine Head from 2003 to 2018, after first serving there as a temporary guitarist.

Reissues, rare releases and reunion shows

Vio-Lence reissues Eternal Nightmare as a two-disc edition with rare tracks and a live concert. In 2005 the band also issues a seven-inch vinyl release with two demo tracks from the 1986 tape and one unreleased track. The record is limited to 1,000 copies, pressed by BoneCrusher Records, with a small quantity distributed through a Seattle record shop.

A DVD titled Blood And Dirt is produced by Tales From the Pit Productions and released through Megaforce Records in 2006.

The band later reunites for Killian on Command: An Evening of Vio-Lence, a benefit for Sean Killian after he is diagnosed with stage four liver cirrhosis. The event takes place at The Midway in San Francisco and includes Bay Area thrash bands such as Testament, Exodus, Death Angel, Forbidden and Mordred. The show ends with “World in a World”, performed with four-fifths of the Eternal Nightmare and Oppressing the Masses line-up, with Robb Flynn handling vocals in place of Killian.

Further reunion activity follows in 2019, including a performance of Eternal Nightmare in full at the Metro in Oakland, a matinee show after the first date sells out, and an appearance at Alcatraz Metal Fest in Kortrijk, Belgium. The band also books a Los Angeles show for that period.

Personnel changes

After the reunion period, Vio-Lence parts ways with guitarist Ray Vegas and replaces him with Bobby Gustafson, formerly of Overkill. The band’s current line-up also includes bassist Christian Olde Wolbers, formerly of Fear Factory, in place of Deen Dell.