Reviews list for Vio-Lence - Oppressing the Masses (1990)

"Yeah, draw people being grabbed by giant arms going off to the left. Nude, but make sure you can't see their penises, we don't want to be obscene or anything."

Oppressing the Masses is one of those albums where the vocalist talks about politically charged subjects with the dignity and class I expect from a teenager who is butthurt about his parents. (Because they didn't get him a Playstation, or in 1990 terms, they didn't get him an Amiga) Talking is the right word because this guy barely sounds like he's singing. He's got a nice rythmn to him, at least.

The backing band are not interesting to compensate. I dare say that they intended to be bland to compliment the vocals. They do have a few things going for them, like a proto-groove metal sound, but ultimately this just sounds like something you've heard done much better by other people long before.

I purchased the 1990 sophomore album from Bay Area thrashers Vio-lence on cassette pretty close to its release date after really digging the dubbed copy of their thrashtastic 1988 debut album "Eternal Nightmare" I'd picked up from a school mate the previous year. "Oppressing The Masses" isn't as consistently relentless in its high tempo assault on the senses but it's no less effective in my opinion. The song-writing & riff structures are highly professional with the musical talent of the instrumentalists being very impressive indeed. I particularly enjoy the shredding guitar solos but the riffs are all of a high quality too. Front man Sean Killian will once again be a sticking point for some listeners but I think he sounds a little more natural when compared to the debut & I actually quite enjoy the psychotic edge he brings to things which reminds me a lot of former Exodus madman Paul Baloff. The tracklisting is extremely consistent with a solid quality level being maintained throughout. "World In A World" is the only genuine Bay Area classic in my opinion though which is a shame because there was so much potential to make this an even more significant release in the annals of thrash metal history. As it is though, I'd still recommend "Oppressing The Masses" to all of our The Pit clan members & rate it just behind “Eternal Nightmare” in terms of Vio-lence’s back catalogue overall.

While stacks of metal fans love Vio-Lence, especially their debut album Eternal Nightmare, there are also a bunch of others that simply find the vocalist far too awful for any enjoyment. I fall firmly within the latter category and no matter how good some of their riffs are, his shocking performance always distracts me and ultimately ruins it all. I think I'm in the minority when I say that Oppressing the Masses is a better album than the debut so-called "classic".

Killian's vocals on this album are a little less painful and at times they are bordering on decent. They’re still distracting though, and I really dislike it when bands (like Exodus) follow up verses with what sounds like the rest of the band calling out a couple of lines simultaneously (gang vocals). Vio-Lence do that in spades! But the riffs are also catchier and more memorable than on the debut, making this album more listenable.

The longer tracks such as I Profit and Liquid Courage are the ones that really get me nodding my head with approval. Vio-Lence could have been so much better had that one member not raised his ugly head.