Carla Harvey is back with a vengeance. Everyone’s favourite Butcher Baby has spread her wings and left the nest to form a new band, The Violent Hour. Featuring Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, who is also Harvey’s fiancé, they have collaborated to produce a 5-track EP called…..The Violent Hour.
The Violent Hour EP
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Steve Kenton
Now I know what you are thinking, the name of the band, an EP of the same name, it has got to be Butcher Babies 2.0.. Well, folks, you could not be more wrong. The Violent Hour is a rather glorious piece of musical artwork and a complete detachment from Carla Harvey’s previous exploits behind the mike stand.
“Writing this EP was a liberating experience,” Carla Harvey has said. “When I started, I felt lost. But by the time I sang the last note, I had found myself again. From the beginning, I wanted the music to come out organically. No agenda, just whatever needed to be released.
“I’ve been immersed in a world of guttural screaming for so long, but when I sat down to write my own material, what came out felt lighter, like I was reconnecting with parts of myself I hadn’t explored in years. It reminded me of why I fell in love with music in the first place.
Featuring the talents of John 5, Zakk Wylde and Brandon Yeagley, this offering is a slice of traditional Heavy Metal, smeared with a touch of indie and layered with a healthy sprinkling of good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll.
In fact, if Mr Kipling produced this sort of music instead of cakes, there is no doubt it would qualify as being exceedingly good. It should be noted that not only did Benante co-write the tracks, he also played drums, bass, guitars and even produced the EP.
Benante also conceived the EP’s cover art. “Carla was my Muse in all of this,” he said. “I was inspired and motivated by her to write the songs that fit her voice. Once we got started, it was that lightning-in-a-bottle feeling.”
Track one, Sick Ones, is a feisty little number featuring John 5 on shredding duties. The fast and furious feel to it is as close to Butcher Babies as Carla Harvey gets, ripping the lyrics from her mouth like a panther tearing up its prey.
Interestingly, prior to John 5’s solo, the song slows down before building up to a crescendo and then the Motley Crüe speed merchant lets rip, delivering a rather delightful piece of fretwork. As you would imagine, and expect, Carla’s voice is bang on point and sounds fantastic.
Track two, Hell Or Hollywood, takes you in a totally different direction. A 12-string kicks off the song with a hint of bluegrass before a ridiculously catchy riff kicks in. Carla’s vocals are on top form, and the song is such a departure from her previous ventures, it takes a little getting used to. It is a great track and you know it is going to be good if Zakk Wylde’s featuring on it.
Portland, Oregon is the third track on the EP, featuring some rather nifty slide guitar on the opening bars. This song is a good old slice of Americana. With Brandon Yeagley featuring on vocals, Harvey and the Crobot frontman complement each other beautifully. This song is not a Carla Harvey ‘norm’, yet she owns this like she has been singing this genre all her life.
It’s a great number and I love that slide guitar, which not only introduces the song but features all the way through. A real unexpected gem.
Sex And Cigarettes is a straight-up and down rocker featuring good, solid bass and drums, no frills guitar work and a ridiculously catchy chorus. The track does not really challenge Carla’s excellent voice, but it does not need to. This is a heads-down, horns-up, mosh-pit pleaser.
The final track is a bit of an oxymoron. The Violent Hour is anything but that. This acoustic-based ballad is a bit of a surprise, which bursts into life at around two minutes.
The song really does showcase Carla Harvey as more than just a Heavy Metal powerhouse. She has a great ability to switch over to a considered, gentle vocalist. This song highlights her range as a singer and is well worthy of being on the EP.
Carla Harvey has said that, for her, The Violent Hour EP has made writing fun again. “This EP reflects all sides of me. It’s made by the 16-year-old who loved everything from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Thrash Metal, the grit and riot girls of the ’90s, and the danger of Guns N’ Roses. It’s raw and it’s real.”
Overall, this EP highlights two major factors. The first is that Carla Harvey is right up there among some of the best vocalists around. She is a multi-faceted singer who is not scared to explore different genres.
The second is that Charlie Benante is an extremely accomplished musician who deserves to be given far more credit for his abilities across the board.
“Working with Charlie on these songs was a dream,” Carla said. “He is so talented, and he really inspired me to be better. I couldn’t have made this album without him.”
I really liked The Violent Hour EP, and Charlie Benante is right when he says that “If you’re 13, 33, or 63, I think you’re going to feel the power of it. I think that once the songs and the choruses hit you, it’s going to be unstoppable, it’s going to be infectious, and this just might become your favourite new band.”
Now, I am rather looking forward to a full album.
The Violent Hour EP is out now. For more details, visit orcd.co/theviolenthour. Carla is assembling her new band to take these songs on tour, so keep your eyes peeled.
