Violent Reaction were an English straight edge

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier p ...

band. Originally a solo-project of Tom Pimlott in

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...

, the band gained additional members after relocating to

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...

. In Straight Edge A Clear-Headed Hardcore Punk History, Mike Clark cited them as one of the most important modern straight edge bands. They were a part of the New Wave of British Hardcore.

History

Violent Reaction began as a solo-project of Tom Pimlott in

in 2011. Under the moniker, he released the ''Violent Reaction'' and ''Session One'' demos in 2011 on Mind Rot Records, ''Violent Reaction'' EP in 2012 through Quality Control HQ, 6131 Records and Mind Rot Records, and ''City Streets'' LP in 2013, through Painkiller Records. Soon after, Pimlott moved to

, where he recruited additional musicians to help perform the music live. In 2013, they toured the U.S. in support of Hounds of Hate. In 2014, they did a U.S. tour, with support from the Flex. In 2015, they took part in a co-headline tour of the U.S. with Arms Race. They released their sophomore album ''Marching On'' on 31 March 2015 through

Revelation Records Revelation Records is an independent record label focusing originally and primarily on hardcore punk. The label is known for releases by bands such as Youth of Today, Warzone, Sick of It All, Quicksand, Side By Side, Chain of Strength, Sh ...

, being the first non-American band to sign to the label. In June 2016, they announced that they would be breaking up at the end of the year, after a European tour with Arms Race.

Musical style

The band merges American–style

with elements of UK82 and

Oi! Oi! is a subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads, and other disaffected working-class youth. The movement was ...

. They have cited influences including

Poison Idea Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1980. History Formation, 1980s, and 1990s Poison Idea was formed in 1980 by vocalist Jerry A. (aka Jerry Lang). The initial lineup consisted of Jerry A., Chris Te ...

, Out Cold,

Negative Approach Negative Approach is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1981. The band is considered among the pioneers of hardcore punk, particularly in the Midwest region. Like most hardcore bands, Negative Approach was little known ...

State of Alert State of Alert (often abbreviated to S.O.A.) was an American hardcore punk group formed in Washington, D.C. in October 1980, and active till July 1981. S.O.A. was fronted by Henry Rollins, then using his original surname Garfield. History S.O. ...

Agnostic Front Agnostic Front is an American hardcore punk band from New York City. Founded in 1980, the band is considered an important influence on the New York hardcore scene, as well as a pioneer of the crossover thrash genre. History First era (1980–1 ...

Minor Threat Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C. by vocalist Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson. MacKaye and Nelson had played in several other bands together, and recruited bassist Brian Baker and guitar ...

, SSD, the

4 Skins The 4-Skins are an English working-class Oi! band from the East End of London, England. Originally composed of Gary Hodges (vocals), 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt (guitar), Steve 'H' Hamer (bass) and John Jacobs (drums), the group was formed in 1979 a ...

Blitz Blitz, German for "lightning", may refer to: Military uses *Blitzkrieg, blitz campaign, or blitz, a type of military campaign *The Blitz, the German aerial campaign against Britain in the Second World War *, an Imperial German Navy light cruiser b ...

, 86 Mentality and Straight Ahead. They are considered a hardcore punk band. Peter Freyer of Slug Magazine described them as "Part Negative Approach, part U.K. street punk with a healthy amount of NYHC".

Members

* Tom Pimlott – vocals (2011–2015) *Tom "Razor" Hardwick – guitar (2013–2015) *Charlie "Chubby Charles" Fresh – guitar, bass (2013–2015) * Jimmy "J–Town" Wizard – bass, guitar (2013–2014) *Callum Baird – bass (2014–2015) * Nick "Skins" Sarnella – drums (2013–2015)

Discography

;Albums *''City Streets'' (2013) *''Marching On'' (2015) ;EPs *''Violent Reaction'' (2012) *''Dead End'' (2014) ;Demos *''Violent Reaction'' (2011) *''Session One'' (2011)

References

{{reflist Musical groups established in 2011 Musical quintets Musical groups from Manchester Hardcore punk groups from Leeds Straight edge groups Musical groups disestablished in 2016 Underground punk scene in the United Kingdom 2011 establishments in England