Nothing To Gain - Vio-Lence (Review)

Machine Head are pretty much one of the biggest Metal bands in the world. There is no doubt Robb Flynn is one of the masterminds behind revolutionising Thrash metal and The important Metal revival of the entire Planet. He may of had his moments of lets say selling out, but equally he must be credited for marching through the verbal onslaught and creating the masterpiece, The Blackening. He's one of the few people who managed to reinstate his integrity after such an event, Raise your glass, Metal Up Your Ass.
Machine Head are a fantastic band and an explosive act Live, they really gave Metallica a run for their money when i saw the two play the same show back in febuary. Davidian being Electric Live, easily best performance of the set.
But i want to take you back to a simpler time, 20 years ago when Robb Flynn was involved in his first serious band, Vio-Lence fronted by Sean Killian.
The band consited of Sean Killian, Robb Flynn, Phil Demmel (who as of recent years ironically joined Machine Head), Dean Dell on the bass and Perry Strickland on the skins.
Vio-Lence werent just some other Thrash band, they were balls to the wall straight out insanity. Pushing Thrash metal to its limits. Vio-Lence were an explosive band with literally killer riffs and a speed unparreled on the circuit at that times. You werent that fast unless you were Violence. After 8 years the band broke up in 1993, having 3 LP's and 1 EP they found very little success and after a brawl with a Local Gang Flynn parted ways with Vio-Lence.
Inner Tensions and the Threat of being killed, Robb Flynn left the band with the Band crumbling soon after to form Machine Head in 1993.

With that brief history out of the way i want to start my actual review of Vio-Lences last LP,
Nothing To Gain, released in 1993.
The Album starts with the song Atrocity, first thing i noticed about this was how unusually slow it is for Vio-Lence. If anything it sounds like a blue print for what would become Machine Head. As the song builds up it explodes into a hard hitting chunk of a riff that simply melts yours ears. The bass sounds like machinery very similair to that of Nuclear Assualt, its fantastically executed. Drum wise Perry Strickland maintains his solid drum sound. Then all of a sudden Sean Killians comes in and what can i say. I was shocked.
Sean Killian on previous albums had a very whiny voice, he almost sounded like he didnt know if he was coming or going, but he made up for it with heart and passion he truly was a good frontman live regardless of having not the best of voices.
On this album he seems to of really focused of his good points rather than his weaknesses. He sounds like an aggresive version of Suicidal Tendencies vocalist Mike Muir. A good thing i personally like.
As the album fades out of track 1 it creeps into Twelve Guage Justice, clearly the best song on this album. Its hard hitting Vio-Lence at their very best, a solid song with some of the best solo's ive heard in a long time. It was obvious at this stage in there careers Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel were destined to play together, you hear the solo's it makes you smile with awe there great. The rest of the album all starts to have this very same dark feeling about it, its a very moody album with even a listen makes you feel theres inner tensions within the band at this point. But theres something about that aspect which really pays off. Its almost as if there saying its over but where going out with one hell of an evil sounding bang.
Too often though you find yourself with the slow driven songs sounding too similair, but musically there well wrote and recorded pretty well.
The recording quality of this album is very similair to any other Metal band at that time, somewhat underwhelming but somehow the music shines through as it sticks in your head. If music has that effect on you its a good thing. Other songs which shine on this album are Killing My Words which is more of a Sean Killian Brutal rant, Colour Of Life sounding more like early Vio-Lence (Eternal Nightmare era), and Pain Of Pleasure which has Murderous Riffs and a suprisingly good vocal performance from Sean Killian.
Esentially i must say this is the weakest outing of Vio-Lences releases but theres some gems to be found on here. If you love thrash track this one down, it can be expensive now cause its out of print but its an enjoyable listen which finds you headbanging without thinking about it.

The funny thing about Vio-Lence for me was i initially hated them. I just couldnt get round Killians vocals. But like a lot of things you grow used to it and you start to like it, it becomes familiarity. The unique thing is about his singing is he has a very original style which is actually very hard to sing if you try it, Unfortunatly most people including myself hate it when you first hear it. I urge people to go back though, i listened to all the stuff again and really enjoy it now. His voice combined with Flynn and Demmels riffs/solos, Dells bass and Sticklands solid drum sound made one hell of a force to be reckoned with in the 1980's early 1990's.
I Love Vio-Lence now, would go as far to say more than Machine Head by a Longshot.
Machine Head arent a bad band, there anything but there fantastic. But as times went on ive slowly started to dislike bands based round one person. A bands about family and the passion of doing what you love together, Vio-Lence had this. Machine Head to me just seems like Flynns selfish brain child, hats of to him, great songs, great musician. But Blood is Thicker than Water when it comes to music. Thats my opinion.

So what became of Violence ?

Robb Flynn went off to form tourque which evolved into Machine Head in 1994, His album Burn My Eyes earned cult status and arguably in my opinion has the best opening track ever made. Robb Flynn would not Rejoin his former band on the renunion which lasted 2001-2005
He was replaced by Troy Fua

Phil Demmel Reformed with Vio-Lence after 8 year hiatus in 2001 and played with them until 2005, he then was hired as a session musician on Machine Heads Through The Ashes of Empires and then asked to join the band permantly for The Blackening. Demmel is still to this day a member of Machine Head

Sean Killian left music for good after 1993 and settled down and had a family. He however later reformed Violence in 2001 for The Thrash of the Titans benefit concert for singer of Testament who was diagnosed with testicalar cancer that year.
The concert raised money to get Chuck Billy (Testament) The treatment he needed to cure his diesease. Killian continued with the band until 2005 when they disbanded once again.
He is once again happily living with his family.

Deen Dell rejoined the band once again in 2001 for the Thrash of The Titans benefit until 2005

Perry Strickland also returned for the 2001 benefit and remained till the very end 2005

Quite the fitting end for Vio-Lence,
Pioneers of Thrash Metal.