Powerviolence

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Powerviolence (sometimes written as power violence) is an extremely dissonant and fast subgenre of hardcore punk which is closely related to thrashcore and grindcore. In contrast with grindcore, which is a "crossover" idiom containing musical aspects of heavy metal, powerviolence is just an augmentation of the most challenging qualities of hardcore punk. Like its predecessors, it is usually socio-politically charged and iconoclastic.

Contents

History

Siege are considered the pioneers of powerviolence. [2] Additionally, Infest have received credit for having an early impact on the genre. [3] The microgenre solidified into its commonly recognized form in the early 1990s. This is best exemplified by bands such as Man Is the Bastard, Crossed Out, Neanderthal, No Comment and Capitalist Casualties. Powerviolence groups took inspiration from Siege, Hüsker Dü, SSD, Deep Wound, Neon Christ, Hirax, Impact Unit, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, Negative FX and Corrosion of Conformity.

Spazz vocalist and bassist Chris Dodge's record label Slap-a-Ham Records was a fixture during the rapid rise and decline of powerviolence, releasing influential records by Neanderthal, No Comment, Crossed Out, Infest, Slight Slappers, and Spazz. [4] The label's Fiesta Grande was an annual powerviolence festival held at 924 Gilman from 1993 to 2000. The label 625 Thrashcore (founded by Spazz drummer Max Ward) started a similarly themed festival in 2003, called Super Sabado Gigante.

While powerviolence is closely related to thrashcore (often referred to simply as "thrash"), it is markedly different from thrash metal in both sound and approach.

Style

While the term powerviolence originally included a number of stylistically diverse bands, it typically refers to bands who focus on speed, brevity, breakdowns, and constant tempo changes. Powerviolence songs are often very short, with some lasting less than twenty seconds. Groups such as Man Is the Bastard, Plutocracy, Azucares, and No Le$$ took influence from progressive rock and jazz fusion. [5]

Powerviolence groups tend to be very raw and under-produced. This is true of both their sound and packaging. Some groups (e.g. Man Is the Bastard and Dystopia) took influence from anarcho-punk and crust punk, emphasizing animal rights and anti-militarism. Groups such as Despise You and Lack of Interest wrote lyrics about misanthropy, drugs, and inner-city issues. Groups such as Spazz and Charles Bronson, on the other hand, wrote lyrics mocking points of interest for hardcore and metal fans. Their lyrics often consisted of inside jokes that referenced specific people, many of whom were unfamiliar to those outside the band.

Other groups associated with powerviolence included The Locust, Dropdead, Black Army Jacket, Hellnation, and Rorschach. [6] The doom metal group Burning Witch (who released music on the Slap-A-Ham label) often played shows with powerviolence groups. [7]

Legacy and influence

Powerviolence groups had a strong influence on later grindcore acts, such as Agoraphobic Nosebleed. Mark McCoy of Charles Bronson went on to form Das Oath, a popular thrashcore group. Members of Man Is the Bastard formed Bastard Noise.

A handful of bands from the powerviolence scene of the 1990s have continued to record and perform decades later, including Bastard Noise, Capitalist Casualties, Despise You, Lack of Interest, Infest, Slight Slappers, Stapled Shut, etc. Weekend Nachos, Nails, Magrudergrind, early Ceremony, Hatred Surge, Mind Eraser and Full of Hell are considered contemporary powerviolence acts. [8] [9] [10] When Eric Wood from Man Is The Bastard was asked in 2021 about the new Powerviolence bands he answered:

I'm not at all interested in something that doesn't exist any longer. Power Violence took its last breath the day Shawn Elliott of Capitalist Casualties passed away, period. These silly fuckers who will remain nameless that "claim" Power Violence need to look in the mirror and start their own sub-genre... [11]

Emoviolence

Emoviolence is a fusion genre that combines elements of powerviolence and screamo. Common characteristics shared by emoviolence bands include screamed vocals, blast beats, extensive use of amplifier feedback, and small elements of melody. The term "emoviolence" was jokingly created by the band In/Humanity, [12] [13] and bands commonly associated with the term include Orchid, [14] Usurp Synapse, [15] Jeromes Dream, [16] and Pg. 99. [17]

Related Research Articles

Grindcore is an extreme fusion genre of heavy metal and hardcore punk that originated in the mid-1980s, drawing inspiration from abrasive-sounding musical styles, such as thrashcore, crust punk, hardcore punk, extreme metal, and industrial. Grindcore is considered a more noise-filled style of hardcore punk while using hardcore's trademark characteristics such as heavily distorted, down-tuned guitars, grinding overdriven bass, high-speed tempo, blast beats, and vocals which consist of growls, shouts and high-pitched shrieks. Early groups like Napalm Death are credited with laying the groundwork for the style. It is most prevalent today in North America and Europe, with popular contributors such as Brutal Truth and Nasum. Lyrical themes range from a primary focus on social and political concerns, to gory subject matter and black humor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Screamo</span> Aggressive subgenre of emo

Screamo is an aggressive subgenre of emo that emerged in the early 1990s and emphasizes "willfully experimental dissonance and dynamics". San Diego-based bands Heroin and Antioch Arrow pioneered the genre in the early 1990s, and it was developed in the late 1990s mainly by bands from the East Coast of the United States such as Pg. 99, Orchid, Saetia, and I Hate Myself. Screamo is strongly influenced by hardcore punk and characterized by the use of screamed vocals. Lyrical themes usually include emotional pain, death, romance, and human rights. The term "screamo" has frequently been mistaken as referring to any music with screaming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crust punk</span> Music genre

Crust punk is a subgenre of punk rock influenced by the English punk scene as well as extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the early 1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on political and social ills. The term "crust" was coined by Hellbastard on their 1986 Ripper Crust demo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege (band)</span> American hardcore punk band

Siege was an American hardcore punk band from Weymouth, Massachusetts. Formed in 1981, they were active in the Boston hardcore scene from 1984 to 1985, and reunited briefly in 1991. Drummer Rob Williams and guitarist Kurt Habelt led a live ensemble of reunion performances between 2016 and 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrashcore</span> Fast-tempo subgenre of hardcore punk

Thrashcore is a fast-tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore, adopting a slightly more extreme style by means of its vocals, dissonance, and occasional use of blast beats. Songs are usually very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less dissonant, minimally metallic forerunner of grindcore. The genre is sometimes associated with the skateboarder subculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D-beat</span> Genre of hardcore punk

D-beat is a style of hardcore punk, developed in the early 1980s by imitators of Discharge, after whom the genre is named, as well as a drum beat characteristic of this subgenre. D-beat is known for its "grinding, distorted and brutally political" sound. Discharge may have themselves inherited the beat from Motörhead and the Buzzcocks. D-beat is closely associated with crust punk, which is a heavier, more complex variation. The style was particularly popular in Sweden, and developed there by groups such as Crude SS, Anti Cimex, Mob 47, and Driller Killer. Other D-beat groups include Doom and the Varukers from the UK; Disclose from Japan; Crucifix and Final Conflict from the U.S.; Ratos de Porão from Brazil; and MG15 from Spain. While the style initially developed in the early 1980s, a number of new groups working within the subgenre emerged in the mid-1990s. These include the Swedish groups Wolfbrigade, Totalitär, Avskum, Skitsystem, and Disfear.

Hellnation was a hardcore punk band from Covington, Kentucky. The band was active from 1988 to 2010.

Man Is the Bastard was an American hardcore punk band based in Claremont, California. The band existed from 1990 to 1997, releasing mostly vinyl splits, extended plays, and albums on obscure labels from around the world. By 1997, the group ended and members all went on to do other projects, such as the noise group Bastard Noise, which originally started out as a Man Is the Bastard side project. They are typically seen as part of the 1990s powerviolence movement.

Sore Throat were a British crust punk band formed in Huddersfield in 1987. They are known for being one of the earliest exponents of the grindcore subgenre known as "noisecore", as well as for launching the careers of several prominent members of the British heavy metal community.

Crossed Out was a powerviolence band from Encinitas, California. The band was active from early 1990 until late 1993. The group is considered to be a very important band that helped define powerviolence with a style that incorporated political lyrics, blast beats, and quick tempos. They have been named as the "dark lords of powerviolence" by Beau Beasley of Insect Warfare.

Spazz was an American powerviolence band active between 1992 and 2000. The trio released numerous records within this time, many of which are now highly collectible due to their relative rarity. The band's releases often showcased their unusual sense of humour: absurdly long and nonsensical song titles, audio samples from B movies and kung fu films between songs and the occasional use of hip hop beats as well as saxophones, banjos and other instruments rarely associated with hardcore punk. All three of the members shared vocal duties, usually changing in sequence from line to line. The group would typically play at all ages venues. 2015 saw the release of a tribute LP to Spazz by Scottish record label Mind Ripper Collective titled "Spazzin' To The Oldies - A Tribute To Spazz". In 2016, it was announced that Tankcrimes will reissue the out-of-print Spazz albums Sweatin' To The Oldies and Sweatin' 3: Skatin', Satan & Katon.

Max Ward, occasionally playing under the moniker of Hirax Max, is an American power violence and thrashcore musician, playing for such bands as Spazz, Plutocracy, Capitalist Casualties, What Happens Next?, Bombs of Death, and Scholastic Deth. He is also known for his extreme support of the D.I.Y. scene, having released records and booked tours for hundreds of local, national, and international bands, while still living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the founder of 625 Thrashcore records

Cripple Bastards is a grindcore band from Asti, Italy. They were formed in 1988 in order to keep their area on the hardcore punk map as most of the other bands around them were breaking up.

Crossover thrash is a fusion genre of thrash metal and hardcore punk. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and hardcore punk. Other genres on the same continuum, such as metalcore and grindcore, may overlap with crossover thrash.

Benümb was an American grindcore band from Millbrae, California.

Charles Bronson was an American powerviolence band from DeKalb, Illinois, active from 1994 to 1997.

No Comment were an American powerviolence band from North Hollywood, California. The band was active from 1987 to 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitalist Casualties</span> American musical band

Capitalist Casualties were an American powerviolence / hardcore band. They formed in Rohnert Park, CA around 1986 and had their first concert in 1987 in Santa Rosa, California They have released multiple records, including many splits with other powerviolence / hardcore bands, and have toured nationally and internationally.

References

  1. ↑ Butler, Will. "Bastard Noise". Don't be Swindle. 1: 21.
  2. ↑ ROA, RAY. "Spit to release short, sweet, debut album alongside Shitstorm at Tampa boxing gym" . Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  3. ↑ Preira, Matt. "Six Reasons Why Infest Might Be The Most Hardcore Band Ever". Miami New Times. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  4. ↑ n/a (February 14, 2012). "An Oral History of Powerviolence". lioncitydiy.blogspot.com. Lion City DIY. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  5. ↑ Ivers (March 20, 2008), Brandon (March 20, 2008). "What Is It?: Powerviolence". xlr8r.com. XLR8R. Retrieved April 28, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Andrew Marcus, "Buzz Clip", SF Weekly, August 6, 2003. Archived October 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Access date: August 7, 2008.
  7. ↑ Slap-a-Ham Discography. Access date August 11, 2008.
  8. ↑ Preenson, Richard (March 2018). "What Even is "Thrashcore" Anyway?". Thrown into the Fire. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  9. ↑ MacRae, Meghan (December 21, 2016). "CVLT NATION'S TOP SEVEN POWERVIOLENCE / GRINDCORE RELEASES OF 2016" . Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  10. ↑ Lake, Daniel (May 23, 2017). "Full of Hell: Extended Interview" . Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  11. ↑ Jongh, Daniel de (March 7, 2021). "BASTARD NOISE Interview". Discipline Mag. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ n/a (October 15, 2012). "Interview with Chris Bickel, vocalist of In/Humanity". yellowgreenred.com. Yellow Green Red. Retrieved April 28, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Jason Thompson (June 15, 2008). "CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE is in the studio". PopMatters. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  14. ↑ Greg, Pratt (September 22, 2010). "Altered States, Grindcore Special part 2". Terrorizer . United Kingdom: Miranda Yardley (181): 43. Another interesting sub-subgenre was this strange crossover of first-generation emo and grind. Bands like Reversal of Man or Orchid may not have stood the test of time, but it was a pretty cool sound at the time and one that was pretty uniquely American
  15. ↑ Morris, Kurt. "Usurp Synapse – Disinformation Fix". AllMusic. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  16. ↑ n/a (February 8, 2014). "Noisy Sins Of Insect – Discography Review". diyconspiracy.net. DIY Conspiracy. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  17. ↑ Tiernan (July 15, 2015), Jack (July 15, 2015). "Starter Kit: Screamo/Emoviolence". heavyblogisheavy.com. Heavy Blog Is Heavy. Retrieved May 7, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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