One Track Mind

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The story of New York City’s Violens begins with songwriter and vocalist Jorge Elbrecht, whose previous work as a member of the now defunct music and art collective known as Lansing-Dreiden provides a good reference point for his new band’s sound.

Whereas Lansing-Dreiden made a show of cloaking themselves in anonymity, Violens aren’t being so modest about their band lineup; however, the musical touchstones for both bands are very similar. There is a shared penchant for stratospheric guitar parts, melodies and production techniques borrowed from the early-1980s, and a general air of gauziness throughout. Violens, whose name is a portmanteau of “violence” and “violins” (another appropriate indication of their sound if not taken too literally), will be releasing their debut LP on September 28th courtesy of Static Recital.

“Acid Reign” is the first track Violens is sharing from their premiere and is a striking listen. Its chunking, chiming guitars and slightly foreboding tone could be read as an homage to Simple Minds’ “Theme for Great Cities.” Elbrecht’s vocals have gentle curvers but a strong motor, much like the guitars, which are by turns delicate and revved into overdrive. Synthesizers help blur the tonal edges throughout, with deep washes augmented by the inorganic stabs of various keyboard presets; in keeping with the aforementioned production aesthetic, a wholly unbelievable “piano” keyboard setting wantonly dots the soundscape.

In the end, however, “Acid Reign” isn’t about pastiche or homage–there is something vital and original about Violens’ music. It has a verve all its own, frantic and fuzzy at times, hushed at others, but always operating within a singular personality.