Formed in the Bay Area in 1985, Oakland thrashers VIO-LENCE helped define and refine what came to be known as the Bay Area sound. They instilled themselves as groundbreakers of the second wave of thrash with their revered 1988 debut album“Eternal Nightmare”.

Throughout ’88 and ’89, VIO-LENCE toured the album to great success alongside thrash comradeslikeTestament, Voivod, Death Angel, Sanctuary, Nuclear Assault, D.R.I., M.O.D.and theCro-Mags.In ’89, Megaforce Records/Atlantic signed the band, leading to the release of the bands’ second album “Oppressing the Masses” (1990). The band toured the album to packed crowds alongside bands like Overkill, Forbidden, Exodus, Flotsam & Jetsam, and Prong. In 1991, VIO-LENCE released their EP “Torture Tactics” and their third studio album“Nothing to Gain”.

1993 brought the unfortunate break-up of the band, with some members splintering off to form TORQUE and MACHINE HEAD. In 2019, the band re-united at last as VIO-LENCE, with original members Phil Demmel (lead guitar), Sean Killian (vocals), Perry Strickland (drums) and a new member informer FEAR FACTORY bassist, Christian Olde Wolbers.