Holy shit! Violent Reaction already impressed with their demo, two EP's and their debut album "City Streets", but with their second album "Marching On" coming out any day soon now the shit is really gonna hit the fan with even more 'fast and violent noise' straight from the UK on Revelation Records! Check out what founding member and frontman Tom had to say about the new album below!
Q - Hi Tom, first of all thanks a lot for taking the time to do this interview!
A - No problem!
Q - How is everything going with you and the band?
A - Great thanks, we are all just getting ready to hit the USA with Arms Race. I'm currently in London doing a bit of work with Ryan from No Tolerance and eating loads of food.
Q - In the past this question would have been silly because Violent Reaction started off as a one-man band, but could you introduce all the lads that are involved now in Violent Reaction? Maybe a bit on their background as well?
A - Ok, so starting from the back we have Nick Sarnella aka Nicky Spesh on the drums, aside from me he's been in the band the longest, playing a couple of aborted shows before the live band started proper back in 2011. Then there's Charlie aka Chubby Charles on guitar, Charlie has been on every tour we have done and is never forgotten anywhere he goes. Nick & Charlie both play in Arms Race with me and they're in Crown Court too, sickest band. Tom Hardwick aka Razor is the baby of the band, obsessed with shagging and can play every instrument really well, including the telecaster he shreds for us. Callum aka Calcolm X is the latest addition, we live across the hall from each other and he plucks the bass like a champ. Tom and Callum also play in Obstruct and True Vision along with myself, plus they're also the brains behind Shrapnel, probably the sickest band in hardcore.
Q - What was the reason you started off Violent Reaction as a one-man band?
A - It was a few things that all just came together at once. I was living in the Liverpool area where I'm from, and I'd always wanted to do straight edge band but all the straight edge guys there were either not musicians or weren't up for doing bands. Hearing about other one-man projects got me thinking maybe I could do it too for the straight edge band. Then I got my leg broke in a scrap with two coked up squaddies while defending my mum, so the two situations sort of came together and VR was born in my bedroom.
Q - Were you always a bit of a lone wolf in the past as well?
A - Ehhhh I'll just say I'm fine with my own company haha.
Q - In the past you wrote all the songs and played all instruments. Since last year’s “Dead End” EP Violent Reaction has a full line-up. How much influence have the other members on the band’s sound?
A - The 'Dead End' stuff was still shit that I'd already mapped out completely and I just taught the others the songs the night before recording (then wrote the lyrics on the shitter at the studio), but you can still tell it's the full band I think. Sounds more energetic and natural I think. Plus they're all better at their instruments than me. The new LP is pretty much 50/50 between me and Charlie writing-wise though, with one or two from Razor too, and I think we sound much better for it.
Q - Is it something you sometimes miss? Is it something you would consider doing again with perhaps another project?
A - Oh definitely, in fact I've already got a couple cooking...
Q - As I mentioned earlier, the fantastic “Dead End” EP was released last year still on Painkiller Records and Quality Control HQ. At what point was Revelation Records on the phone? How was this contact established?
A - They got in touch right at the end of 2013 (I think?). Basically a friend of ours Branden who works at Rev messaged me saying that Adam the guy in charge of bands there really liked our first LP and was interested in asking us to be on Rev, so would we be into it? It was a resounding 'fucking yes' from the boys so Adam asked and away we went.
Q - Now your second full-length “Marching On” will be released on the label that brought us legendary recordings by Warzone, Judge, Gorilla Biscuits etc… What was your first response?
A - Mate, it's mental. Literally never thought a band I had anything to do with would have that same star Warzone and Side By Side on it, let alone one I stared by myself in my room. That early Rev stuff is untouchable, and it's honestly an honour to now be associated with that history. Painkiller and QCHQ are still our parents though, and Rev are our fuckin' cool grandparents we go and visit for the summer.
Q - You guys uploaded three tracks from the upcoming album on your Bandcamp page and holy shit! I personally think it is going to be the hardcore album of the year! For those not in the loop yet, what can people expect of “Marching On”?
A - Thanks for the kind words mate! Expect more of the same noise we've been spewing out for the last few years. Fuck progression.
Q - On your first album “City Streets” there were guest appearances by your Boston buddies of Brendan, Justin and Chris. Any other friends, besides your band mates, featured on “Marching On”?
A - Aye! We have Sam 'The Boots' Laycock from my other band The Flex guesting on 'Crust Fund', and Callum who is now actually in the band has a part on 'Stand & Fight'. Charlie does additional vox on 'Leave Me Out' too. Also, fuck Old Man Radigan for being the only sellout to have ever been on a VR record haha.
Q - Violent Reaction is obviously a hardcore band with definitely the Oi! influences here and there. What bands influenced your sound over the years?
A - I like a fair amount of Oi stuff these days, but the funny thing is that until the last year or two I probably liked less than ten Oi bands haha, so I always thought it was funny that we got the Oi tag early on. The only Oi stuff that's really influenced my writing is Cockney Rejects and Blitz though, everything else that goes into VR is just old US hardcore and a bit of Chaos UK & Discharge! A lot of have people have mistaken 'Can't Be Beat' as a rip of Skrewdriver, it's actually stolen from Rose Tattoo's banging anthem 'Remedy'!
Q - Did it ever come to your mind to start a ‘side-project’ like Battle Ruins, Vanity or Urban Savage? If so, what would you like to sound like? If not, how come?
A - Charlie and Nick already did with Crown Court! Me and Charlie have a glam/hard rock project in the works though, his riffs are fucking sick and I'm holding down the beat like a poor man's Phil Rudd. Think singles-era Sparrer, Slade and Bon's AC/DC meets the first two Rose Tattoo records. Also, all the bands you mentioned above are sick as fuck.
Q - Okay, I am about to round this interview up. But before I go I like to fire a few short questions at you.
1. What is your favorite Revelation Records release (besides your own haha) and why?
A - I struggle with this impossible choice daily. I think I'm gonna say Side By Side though, the first Rev release I heard, the first I loved, and my favourite youth crew band hands down. BACKFIRE!
2. What new UKHC bands do we need to be on the look-out for?
A - Blind Authority are absolutely smashing it right now. Very violent sounding. Higher Power are doing a sick later Leeway type thing. I've got a new band called True Vision that basically apes the first few Rev releases. Shrapnel are only a year old but have conquered the world!
3. Will Violent Reaction’s (previous) work ever become available on CD for those who don’t own a cassette deck or turntable?
A - Funnily enough, a member of a well known NYHC band has asked us to do this recently. Might be something we gotta gotta do.
Q - Alright that’s it! Thanks a lot! If there is anything you would like to add, feel free to do so!
A - I'm on a bus listening to the Templars. Templars are fucking boss. Cheers for the interview!
