Vio-lence

Vio-lence
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1985 in San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Founder	Phil Demmel, Perry Strickland, Troy Fua, Jerry Birr, Eddie Billy
Headquarters	San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Sean Killian (vocals), Phil Demmel (guitar), Robb Flynn (guitar), Deen Dell (bass), Perry Strickland (drums)
Products	Studio albums, EPs, demos, DVDs
Number of employees	Band members and touring musicians

Vio-lence is a thrash metal group from the United States, established in 1985 within the San Francisco Bay Area. Their discography includes demo recordings, three EPs, and a trio of full-length studio albums. Widely acknowledged as a significant contributor to the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal movement, Vio-lence is frequently regarded as one of the foremost representatives of the genre's second wave. They are also identified as part of the so-called "Big Six of Bay Area Thrash Metal," alongside Exodus, Testament, Death Angel, Lȧȧz Rockit, and Forbidden.

The band's most prominent lineup consisted of guitarists Phil Demmel and Robb Flynn, bassist Deen Dell, drummer Perry Strickland, and vocalist Sean Killian. This formation was responsible for all three studio albums: Eternal Nightmare (1988), Oppressing the Masses (1990), and Nothing to Gain (1993). After disbanding in 1994 and performing intermittently between 2001 and 2003, Vio-lence reunited in January 2019. Their first new release in nearly three decades, the EP Let the World Burn, was issued in March 2022. The current roster features Killian supported by live members Nick Souza, Claudeous Creamer, Jeff Salgado, and Ira Black.

Early years

Initially formed under the name Death Penalty in 1985, Vio-lence included Phil Demmel on lead guitar, Perry Strickland on drums, Troy Fua handling rhythm guitar, Jerry Birr as vocalist, and Eddie Billy playing bass. Soon after their debut performance, the band changed its name first to Violence and eventually to Vio-lence due to conflicts over naming rights. Following two demo releases in 1986, Birr, Fua, and Billy were replaced by Sean Killian (vocals), Robb Flynn (ex-Forbidden Evil) on guitar, and Deen Dell on bass. Their strong foothold in Northern California's local scene—supporting acts such as D.R.I., Kreator, Suicidal Tendencies, as well as contemporaries Testament and Exodus—paved the way for a contract with MCA Records' Mechanic imprint.

Between February and April 1988, Vio-lence recorded their debut full-length album Eternal Nightmare at studios located in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Released during the summer of that year, the album garnered favorable critiques and reached number 154 on the Billboard 200 chart, with sales surpassing 30,000 copies. Throughout 1988 and 1989, they toured extensively alongside bands like Testament, Voivod, Death Angel, Sanctuary, Nuclear Assault, D.R.I., M.O.D., and Cro-Mags. The underground acclaim of this record attracted attention from Megaforce Records—home to Testament and Anthrax—which subsequently signed Vio-lence.

In December 1989, Vio-lence entered the studio to produce their sophomore effort and only release under Megaforce: Oppressing the Masses, which was distributed through Atlantic Records. Although its release was delayed until summer 1990, it achieved moderate commercial reception accompanied by a music video for "World in a World." Approximately 20,000 copies were sold; however, controversy arose when Atlantic demanded removal of the track "Torture Tactics," resulting in initial copies being destroyed and later reissued without that song. Supporting this album involved touring with Overkill, Exodus, Forbidden, Flotsam and Jetsam, Prong, Defiance, and Rigor Mortis.

After parting ways with Atlantic/Megaforce in 1991, Vio-lence released the EP Torture Tactics, which featured three studio tracks from the Oppressing the Masses sessions alongside one live recording. Internal disagreements led to Robb Flynn's exit in 1992; he went on to establish the groove metal band Machine Head. In 1993, Vio-lence unveiled their third studio album Nothing to Gain, recorded earlier in 1990 but lacking touring support after its release. Subsequently, drummer Perry Strickland also left the group.

Breakup

Following their attempt to produce a fourth studio album and performing their final concert for nearly a decade on December 18, 1993, in San Francisco with a revamped lineup, Vio-lence officially disbanded. Members Phil Demmel, Deen Dell, Ray Vegas, and Mark Hernandez went on to establish the groove/thrash metal group Torque, which dissolved after releasing a single album. Subsequently, Demmel founded the band Technocracy. Robb Flynn had been Machine Head's guitarist and vocalist since 1991; Demmel joined Machine Head initially as a session guitarist in 2003 before becoming a permanent member until his departure in 2018.

Reunion

Vio-lence initially reunited for a limited series of shows at the 2001 Thrash of the Titans benefit concert honoring Testament's frontman Chuck Billy, with Ray Vegas stepping in for Robb Flynn on guitar. In 2005, they reissued Eternal Nightmare and released a limited edition 7-inch vinyl featuring demo recordings and an unreleased track under Bone Crusher Records. Due to internal disagreements, the release was restricted to 500 copies sold directly by the band and approximately 100 copies through a Seattle-based record store. The band also issued a DVD entitled Blood and Dirt in 2006 via Megaforce Records.

On November 6, 2017, Vio-lence declared plans to reunite for a benefit event named "Killian on Command," organized to support singer Sean Killian following his diagnosis with stage four liver cirrhosis. The concert took place on January 20, 2018, in San Francisco and featured Vio-lence alongside fellow Bay Area thrash bands Testament, Exodus, Death Angel, Forbidden, and Mordred. The evening concluded with the performance of "World in a World," delivered by four of the five classic members with Flynn handling vocals due to Killian’s health condition. By November of that year, Killian’s recovery had been confirmed.

Rumors of a reunion were fueled by Flynn’s September 2018 announcement regarding Demmel’s exit from Machine Head. In January 2019, Vio-lence confirmed a show at Oakland’s Metro Theatre where they performed Eternal Nightmare in its entirety; due to demand, an additional matinee was added. Their first European performance occurred in August at Belgium’s Alcatraz Metal Festival. Subsequent concerts included their first Los Angeles appearance in over ten years (May 2019) and New York City shows after nearly three decades (November 2019). Touring continued into 2020 alongside Testament and Death Angel. In August 2019, Bloodstock Open Air revealed Vio-lence would make their UK debut in 2020.

The band voiced intentions to compose new material following their last album from 1993, Nothing to Gain. In August 2019, Demmel highlighted that new compositions would prioritize quality rather than speed. Killian mentioned ongoing conversations with Demmel but noted his commitments to various projects such as video game soundtracks and Netflix productions.

Early in 2020, Ray Vegas departed and was replaced by former Overkill guitarist Bobby Gustafson. Shortly thereafter, bassist Deen Dell left and was succeeded by Christian Olde Wolbers, formerly of Fear Factory. In March 2020, Vio-lence signed with Metal Blade Records with plans to record a new EP. On August 20 of that year, they unveiled their first track in over twenty-five years—a cover of Dead Kennedys’ "California über alles".

On June 16, 2021, the band announced their EP Let the World Burn, scheduled for release in early 2022. They were set to headline the postponed European Headbangers Ball Tour in 2021 alongside Voivod, Exciter, and Artillery. A lyric video for "Flesh from Bone" debuted on January 10, 2022; the EP was released on March 4. By February 2022, Demmel disclosed work on another EP aimed for recording that fall with potential release in 2023.

On October 20, 2022, Vio-lence parted ways with Gustafson; drummer Perry Strickland either left or was dismissed by February 2023. On February 5, 2024, Demmel announced his departure following a final performance on February 11, leaving Sean Killian as the only remaining original member. Christian Olde Wolbers exited on February 24, 2025 to concentrate on his solo endeavors and production career.

Current lineup

Sean Killian – lead vocals (1986–1994, 2001–2003, 2019–present)

Touring musicians currently active

Ira Black – lead guitar (2022–2024, 2025–present)
Nick Souza – drums (2024–present)
Jeff Salgado – bass guitar (2025–present)
Claudeous Creamer – rhythm guitar (2025–present)

Past members

Phil Demmel – lead guitar (1985–1994, 2001–2003, 2019–2024)
Perry Strickland – drums (1985–1993, 2001–2003, 2019–2023)
Troy Fua – rhythm guitar (1985–1987, 2001–2003)
Jerry Birr – vocals (1985–1986)
Eddie Billy – bass (1985)
Deen Dell – bass guitar (1985–1994, 2001–2003, 2019–2020)
Robb Flynn – rhythm guitar (1987–1992)
Ray Vegas – rhythm guitar (1992–1994, 2001, 2019–2020)
Mark Hernandez – drums (1993–1994)
Steve Schmidt – rhythm guitar (2001; deceased 2021)
Bobby Gustafson – rhythm guitar (2020–2022)
Christian Olde Wolbers – bass guitar (2020–2025)

Former touring members

Mario Salcedo – rhythm guitar (2023–2025)
Adrian Aguilar – drums (2023–2024)
Miles Dimitri Baker – lead guitar (2023–2024)
Max Mayhem – lead guitar (2024–2025)

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Torture Tactics (1991)
Demos... They Just Keep Killing (2003)
Let the World Burn (2022)

Demos

First demo (1986)
Second 1986 demo (1986)
Rough demo (1988)
Torque (1993)

Reissues

Oppressing the Masses/Torture Tactics (2005)

DVD releases

Blood and Dirt (2006)