Review by Ben for Vio-Lence - Oppressing the Masses (1990)

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.