Ultra Violence, one of the most enigmatic New York Hardcore bands of the 1980s, finally gets their due with the release of their long-lost LP sessions originally recorded circa 1984–85 for Big City Records. Students of NYHC have no doubt seen countless "Ultra Violence album coming soon!" mentions in fanzines and on flyers, but for reasons lost to the sands of time, this record never came to be.
Though starting in 1981, the band didn't fully hit their stride until late '82/early '83 when the core lineup of Tommy Kennedy (bass), Dave Manzullo (guitar) and Charlie "Rage" Sclafani (drums) brought on local artist/shirt printer Tony "T-Shirt" Meyers as lead vocalist and began playing frequent gigs in the tri-state area and recording comp tracks for Big City Records. Other members came and went over the years, but the band developed a unique brand of slow and pounding metal-tinged hardcore that stands out from their early contemporaries, setting the stage for the crunch of late 80s NYHC but still firmly rooted in the sounds of New York City punk. Astute listeners may even catch a few crossover riffs and lyrics from Lower East Side Crew-era WarZone, as the bands shared a songwriter in drummer Charlie Rage.
This LP collects 16 tracks from the unreleased LP sessions along with all five of their Big City Records compilation tracks and a few choice live cuts from the band members' archives. In typical Radio Raheem style, also included is a 28-page, 12"x12" full-color booklet crammed with photos, flyers, and other ephemera, with liner notes by Tommy Kennedy.
TRACK LISTING:
01. We Hate You
02. Toxic Waste
03. Cugine
04. Dumb Friends
05. Soldier In The Jungle
06. Quest For Herb
07. Popular
08. No Help (From Up Above)
09. New Brigade
10. Ku Klux Scene
11. I Wanna Kill You
12. I Threw It Away
13. Eat
14. I Don't Wanna Work (Big City Ain't Too Pretty)
15. No Help (From Up Above) (Big City Nice and Loud)
16. No One Rules (Big City Don't Want No Pity)
17. I Threw It Away (Big City One Big Crowd)
18. Toxic Waste (Big City One Big Crowd)
19. Misunderstood
20. I Don't Wanna Work
21. America United
22. I Want To Be Somebody (Live at CBGB)
23. Ku Klux Scene (Live at CBGB)
24. Riders Of The Riddle (Live at CBGB)