UMUR "Let the World Burn" is an EP release by US, California based thrash metal act Vio-Lence. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in March 2022. Vio-Lence originally formed in 1985 and released three full-length studio albums before calling it quits in 1993. By the time "Nothing to Gain" (1993) came out guitarist Robb Flynn had already moved on and formed Machine Head, and second guitarist Phil Demmel would join Machine Head in 2003, after his post-Vio-Lence act Torque failed to take off (a band which also featured other late lineup Vio-Lence members). Demmel however chose to leave Machine Head in 2018 as he and Flynn no longer agreed on the musical direction or general business of the band, and he subsequently asked former Vio-Lence lead vocalist Sean Killian and drummer Perry Strickland to join him in a new version of Vio-Lence. Former Overkill guitarist Bobby Gustafson was brought in as well as former Fear Factory bassist Christian Olde Wolbers to complete the new quintet lineup.

Stylistically the material on this comeback EP is hard edged, punchy, and aggressive thrash metal done the Bay Area Vio-Lence way. Killian was always a "water divider" type vocalist, and while his voice and vocal style are a little less unique (to some less grating on the ears would probably be a more valid description) on the five tracks on the 24:47 minutes long EP, they are still probably an aquired taste. The riffs are sharp, thrashy, and raw, and the rhythm section are tight and deliver a powerful attack. It´s audible that these guys are seasoned veterans of the scene. Not in the sense that this sounds like grandpa playing, but because everything is delivered with thight precision and an understanding for the right balance between catchiness and rawness. It´s Exodus I think about first, when I listen to Vio-Lence (artists like Forbidden and the related Demonica could also be mentioned as valid references), but the latter are generally faster, more aggressive, and intense.

"Let the World Burn" features a powerful, clear, and sharp sounding production, which suits the material perfectly. The bass is audible, the drums sound sharp, and the guitars are aggressive and punchy. Overall this EP is a good quality comeback for Vio-Lence and for fans of late 80s/early 90s Bay Area thrash metal it´s mandatory listening material. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

siLLy puPPy VIO-LENCE of course is recognized as one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s premiere thrash metal bands of the 1980s having been one of the one of the first bands to follow in the footsteps of Metallica and Exodus. The band under its original lineup released a mere three albums in its existence from 1985-93 with its debut “Eternal Nightmare” reaching classic status over the ensuing decades but i don’t think that that anybody really expected this band to ever reemerge from the past considering Robert Flynn found commercial success in his next project Machine Head however whoever owns the rights to the name can carry on the trademark band name in any desired way and that’s exactly what has happened some 29 years after the last VIO-LENCE album was released.

This is a classic band that was never expected to be heard from again but with the continued popularity of thrash metal and the profitable comeback albums of bands from Possessed and the continued success of bands like Exodus, VIO-LENCE’s classic status would surely be wasted if not followed up by some modern visitation of all that came before and lo and behold here we are in the calendar date of 2022 with a new product from one of the Bay Area’s most celebrated “underground” thrash metal acts! Not confident enough to release a full-length follow-up to the 1993 release “Nothing To Gain,” the new lineup of VIO-LENCE opted for the EP option. The new noisemakers include the original members of vocalist Sean Killian, guitarist Phil Demmel and drummer Perry Strickland but welcomes newbies Bobby Gustafson (guitars) and Christian Olde Wolbers (bass) into the family.

OK, so what we have here is a tribute to the thrash metal archives, that which pays perfect tribute to the music from the band’s classic era without moving on in any way shape or form. Is that bad? Well, of course, that resides in the classic adage of “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” OK, just a factual check here. We ARE in the year 2022 and the thrash metal that VIO-LENCE launched in its classic 80s heyday is roughly four decades old at this point. Yeah, sad but true. Speed is not shocking any longer and tones and timbres are the wave of the future. LET THE WORLD BEGIN offers nothing new under the sun but DOES offer a competent modern take on classic 80s thrash metal music. How are we supposed to take a modern interpretation of classic thrash metal in the modern age? I dunno. That’s for you to decide.

Overall i like this. Not in an OMG this is fucking cool beyond comprehension level of mentality but rather that “WOW, i’m so glad that a classic band is so capable of keeping their shit together after all this time” sorta way. Yeah, this is a band that saw its heyday in the 80s and 90s but for a seemingly impromptu release that comes from nowhere i can’t deny that this is a thoroughly enjoyable EP from start to finish. Yeah, not evolving the thrash metal sound in any conceivable form but as far as enjoyable is concerned, i gotta admit that this is an excellent retro comeback that i really wasn’t expecting! Is it bad for band of decades ago to pretend that decades haven’t elapsed? I dunno, but i can say that these core band members haven’t lost their vision in any way.