Sounds Like Violence - The Pistol

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 12 / 4 / 2004

Label: Deep Elm
Format: CD

intro

Passionate, electic guitar rock from latest Deep Elm signing, Sounds Like Violence, whose music is as uncompromising as their name

Very rarely does a band’s name accurately convey what they sound like. But if you’re going to start your band name with the words 'Sounds Like', I suppose you may as well have a go at describing yourselves accurately. This CD, if not exactly gruesomely violent, is at the least charged with a real sense of urgency. 'The Pistol' is, however, not simply horrific, unappealing noise. The jarring guitars are at times countered neatly by some good melodies and harmonies. If this band has a slight fault, then it would probably be that the lyrics are not especially outstanding. Having said that though, frontman Andreas Soderland puts so much passion into his vocal performance that it doesn’t really make a great deal of difference. The band claim to be one that will happily tour anywhere and everywhere, and on this CD it shows. They sound like they are really giving their all, as if their lives depend on this performance. The real strength of 'The Pistol' is that it captures the spirit of a live show. Sweden’s music scene is often labelled by music writers as ubercool, but Sounds Like Violence have avoided that trap and sound like they are doing their own thing. No one band or style can really sum up their influences or approach. Soderland's vocals remind me of something I’ve heard before, but I can’t quite lay my fingers on what it is. The guitar sound is sometimes in the ferocious hardcore punk camp, but can also be melodic. At times you feel you could be listening to Bluetip, or maybe Far, but at other times it could be the blues rock of Kyuss or the messy sound of early 90's grunge. This uncertainty is fine by me, and Sounds Like Violence sound like they have a good future ahead of them.

Track Listing:-