VIOLENCE APPROVED come from Saarland and have been completely unknown to me until now. I'm actually surprised by this, because what blasts out of the speakers is hardcore of the finest kind.
Perhaps it's because the band has been in a Sleeping Beauty slumber since 2008. Sometimes it just takes time to find oneself. The band has used these three years intensively to reposition themselves, and the label is also a new one. The label head of District 763 Records co-founded VIOLENCE APPROVED in 2003, and "No Free Rides" is now also being released on the mentioned label. That's how it's done these days.
DIY, professional, and with passion.
VIOLENCE APPROVED offer ten songs on their second album that pack a punch and should please every hardcore fan.
The recording is fat, the individual instruments and vocals are well and distinctly audible. The sound is brutal but not overproduced. It sounds like it was recorded live, and more than once I feel like I'm in the pit while listening. Not many bands can achieve that.
The combo from Saarland moves in powerful hardcore that has its roots in old-school hardcore. Bands like Agnostic Front or Madball come to mind. However, the recording is up to date. Nothing was left to chance here, and every single song is a hit.
However, the band didn't just bury themselves in the studio but invited a few guests. These go by names like Roger Miret (Agnostic Front), Marshall (Warriors), Micha (Anticops), and more. You can definitely brag about that! Not every band can gather such a lineup on a long player. The guys also contributed to the songs, so the already good album gets even more lift. It would be surprising if "No Free Rides" were to go unnoticed.
The album has everything you need for a very good hardcore record.
