Violent Way. This Oi! band from Buffalo had a major impact on the creation of our webzine, because they were one of the projects in recent years that pushed me to start writing about music again. When their first recordings appeared in 2021 in the form of a demo and later a split with Béton Armé, I kept spinning them over and over again. Since then, the band has firmly established itself on the scene, releasing two full-length albums (Bow To None (2022) and Oi! This Is Violent Way (2024)) as well as a 12″ EP (This Is For Us (2023)). They have toured Europe and become one of the most visible faces of the current scene.
This year the band releases a new LP titled A Need For Something More, put out in cooperation with the band alongside Longshot Music in the USA and Contra Records in Europe. And I have no doubt that by the end of the year this record will rank among the ten best releases — its quality makes that clear.
The band recorded the album in a classic punk trio format, with the guitarist also handling vocal duties. At the same time, there’s a noticeable shift compared to their earlier recordings — moving from a rougher, more unpolished sound toward a more melodic approach. At the front stands a strong, gritty vocal delivery, supported by melodic guitar leads and driving drums locked tightly with the bass. Everything feels simple, effective, and powerful. I’d say this is the strongest and most cohesive material the band has released so far.
Some songs move at a faster pace, but many rely on strong singalong sections, while others are driven primarily by the vocal performance. One track where the vocal really pushes the song forward is the more melodic I’ll Ask You. The balance between vocals and singalongs works perfectly in Second Thought. That song also carries a more melancholic tone, which fits well with its not-so-cheerful lyrics about life’s losses and mistakes.
In total, the album contains nine tracks, one of which is instrumental — VWS II, which closes side A. In addition to the band itself, several guests appear on the record. Graham from Big Dog and Steel Bashers contributes backing vocals. Guest vocal appearances also come from Wattie of Lion’s Law and Rixe in the song They Said, and Greg from Bishops Green and First Attack in These Days I’ll Never Forget. They Said is another track that reflects the determination to fight through life and all the obstacles it throws your way.
The themes throughout the album come straight from real life — no political bullshit or attempts to tackle issues that can’t be changed anyway. The title track A Need For Something More perfectly captures the mentality I love about Oi!. Sometimes life is rough, but you still get up and fight through it. That’s exactly what this song is about, and the powerful singalongs push it forward even further.
A classic Oi! working-class theme appears in Working Class Rejects. At the same time, the band doesn’t shy away from personal topics either. One example is my favorite track My Dearest Friend, which is easily one of the highlights of the entire record. Another deeply personal moment appears in It’s No Longer You, where the theme of loss returns again. The album closes with These Days I’ll Never Forget, which is arguably the main anthem of the record. It ends on a determined note, full of pride in what the band has achieved and how far they’ve come — and they certainly have every reason to be proud.
Violent Way have created an Oi! record that proves the genre doesn’t have to be just a collection of clichés. It can also serve as a deeply personal statement without losing any of the strength that defines the style. This is a powerful and excellent record, and I highly recommend grabbing a copy before it disappears from distribution. Violent Way undoubtedly belongs among the key faces of today’s Oi! scene.
One more thing is worth mentioning. I’ve noticed that new projects are forming around this group, which is exactly what a healthy scene needs. Recently a demo from Steel Bashers appeared, and other projects connected to the band have started emerging as well — including Big Dog, Taker, Sweet Talker, and The United. It’s a perfect example of how one band made up of people who do what they love with passion and determination can attract other fanatics, energize the local scene, and bring in new people. And the band members also have their fingers in stylistically different projects such as the post-punk bands Deluxxe and Viewfinders.
A similar situation can be seen with Lion’s Law, who have built a strong scene around themselves in Paris — something clearly reflected in the compilation Paris On Oi!.
TOP TRACKS: My Dearest Friend, Second Thought, I’ll Ask You, These Days I’ll Never Forget
