BIOGRAPHY

Vio-lence is an American thrash metal band that formed in 1985 in the San Francisco Bay area. Throughout their career, they have released demo tapes, three EP’s, and three studio albums. The band is best known for its role in the influential Bay Area thrash metal scene of the 1980’s and is often seen as one of the leading bands of the genre’s second wave. Vio-lence is also considered part of the “Big Six of Bay Area Thrash Metal,” along with Testament, Exodus, Death Angel, Lȧȧz Rockit, and Forbidden.

Vio-lence released three studio albums—Eternal Nightmare (1988), Oppressing the Masses (1990), and Nothing to Gain (1993)—featuring members Sean Killian, Phil Demmel, Robb Flynn, Deen Dell, and Perry Strickland. After breaking up in 1994 and briefly reuniting for live shows from 2001 to 2003, the band reunited again in January 2019. In March 2022, they released Let the World Burn, their first new material in nearly 30 years. The current lineup includes vocalist Sean Killian, veteran guitarists Ira Black and Claudeous Creamer, drummer Nick Souza, and bassist Jeff Salgado.

Vio-lence has appeared at numerous high-profile metal festivals worldwide, including Bloodstock Open Air, Keep It True Festival, Wacken Open Air, Alcatraz MetalFest, Hammersonic, Maryland Deathfest, Milwaukee Metal Fest (and more) while continuing an active international touring schedule. In late 2023, the band toured Europe as part of the MTV Headbangers Ball European Tour, followed by the Eternal Nightmare U.S. Headlining Tour in Spring 2024. In 2025, Vio-lence returned overseas for the Oppressing the Masses European Tour and later joined the Death Angel Act III Tour across the United States reinforcing their enduring presence on the global metal circuit.

Vio-lence is currently working on new music and scheduled 2026 dates are forthcoming.