Reviews

Ceremony’s mind blowing new thrash 12” has two sides: side Violence and side Violence.  Considering the average Ceremony song runs about 45 seconds filling two sides of an LP is no small feat, even at 45 rpm.  Naturally, the joke is on us: side A and side B have the same program, hence the name of the album: Violence Violence. (Also there are two interludes, both named Violence). And while I would have killed for more songs, there is always the hate filled Ruined EP - included on the CD version as bonus tracks.
 
Ceremony’s outlook is best expressed on the iconic track ‘Living Hell’ - “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. So here’s to fucked up youth.  Here’s to burning lies. Here’s to each fucking day that just passed me by. Fuck. ”  Holy shit are the boys in Northern California’s Ceremony angry - angry but not stupid.  Not by any stretch of the imagination.  Ceremony is pissed, fast, loud, dense, screaming, heavy and misanthropic, but with good reason.  And since the world is fucked and no one seems to notice, Ceremony gets to write massively violent songs like half speed ‘Walking Home’, which goes a little something like this: “I’m here to wrap my hands around society’s neck. Slowly slip away against a lifeless grip. A long painful death is what you deserve. Open your mouth.  Bite the fucking curb.”
 
Violence Violence is a roadmap to today’s disaffected youth.  A notice of war with no concessions.  Thirteen tracks (including one cover of classic Dischord band Red C’s ‘Pressure’s On’) of pure unadulterated hardcore, and nothing but hardcore. Play it fast and loud - and then destroy the world.