Review Summary: Some of the angriest music you'll ever hear.
Music that makes me want to beat the hell out of someone isn't rare; however, music that almost makes me do it is. Violence Violence couldn't be titled any more appropriately - it's violence in audio form. I saw these guys live before I had ever listened to their music, and I noticed something: People went OFF when they started. Loners who had lurked in the back the whole time were up front, ghost-punching their brains out; others were screaming lyrics at the singer; still others were finding the highest point in the theater and jumping into the crowd. Make no mistake - Violence Violence is some of the angriest music you'll ever hear, bar none.
It begins with a hauntingly dissonant interlude. Afterward, the listener is kicked in the head by the first real track, "Ghosts," and the eardrum beatdown commences from there. Songs like "Living Hell" and "Nail" show Ceremony's faster, thrashier side with speedy guitars and quick 1-2 drum work. Others, like "Walking Home" and "Kersed," are perfect examples of the band's ability to infuse just as much rage and energy into slow, heavy songs. But the band's greatest strength is in combining these two. "This Is My War," "My Hands Are Made Of Spite," and "I Want To Put This To An End" all transfer from quick guitar work and speedy vocals to heavy riffs and powerful shouts that'll get you screaming at your wall like it was that bully in middle school.
Lyrically, they don't try to impress with clever metaphors and catchy one-liners; they write simply and forcefully. Lyrics like "I'm here to wrap my hands around society's neck/Slowly slip away against a lifeless grip" and "Pack your fists full of hate, take a swing at the world" perfectly exemplify their anger-fueled energy. Other songs that deal with personal demons(Living Hell, This Is My War) and views on society(You're All The Same) show their frustration with the world and even themselves. Images like staining streets with the blood of beautiful people are frequent throughout the vocalist's rampage and will terrify you just as much as they intrigue you.
Alas, amongst all my praise, you must have noticed the 4.5 rating. The sole weak point in the album is found on the only song that Ceremony didn't write themselves: "Pressure's On." A solo that's more annoying than impressive and a riff that's not all-too-great to begin with drag down what would have been a classic hardcore album.
All in all, Ceremony have created an astounding album that should be heard by all fans of angry music. The riffs will crush you, the drums will tenderize your inner ears, and the lyrics will have you screaming feelings you never knew you had. Just be sure you don't listen to it around anybody you dislike; you might just end up kicking their ass.
