The Violent—An Explosive and Edgy New Rock Band

Meet the assertive offshoot of imaginative rock band Red Sun Rising—a new band by the people and for the people in these post-pandemic times.

It was the summer of 2020. Just months before I commenced official adulthood, a new song aired on the hard rock radio: "Fly On the Wall." Instantly hooked on the opening drums and guitars, I grooved to the track's lilting, tenebrous feel... and promptly foiled the band's attempt at identity concealment. Several years of hard rock immersion and impassioned appreciation of this now-defunct group didn't mislead me; the voice I was hearing was Mike Protich of Red Sun Rising.

Red Sun Rising Roots

Red Sun Rising places in my "Top Three" artists realm, trailing just behind Shinedown, my eternal #1 spot-holder. Indeed, they rank among my favorite musical groups beyond the constraints of the rock genre. Unlike other favorites—Avenged Sevenfold, Starset, Evanescence, 5FDP, etc.—Red Sun Rising, like Shinedown, is an "anytime, every time" kind of band. I don't need a hard rock hankering to tumble into their dynamic, colorful sound.

Red Sun Rising

Debut album Polyester Zeal (2015) seized me in its entrancing grasp after it was released; I couldn't play enough of "Unnatural," "Emotionless," "Worlds Away," etc. Every offering hit; Red Sun Rising didn't know what it meant to miss. They furthered this winning streak with Thread (2018), crowned by the delicious (literally, if you watch the video) "Deathwish" and "Veins." But their lesser-known offerings slam-dunked, too, from "Evil Like You," an enticing, sinister piece, to the stunning tear-jerker "Stealing Life."

Polyester Zeal (2015)

The Razor & Tie label debut

You can imagine my disappointment when Red Sun Rising announced their indefinite hiatus. How could this talented, creative, and distinct band—fronted by such a unique-sounding and distinguishable vocalist—receive the kiss of implied death?

While Red Sun Rising may regroup one day, Mike Protich isn't expecting it anytime soon, likening the split to a divorce. "That happens in real relationships," he shared, "And a band is no different. Especially when you get a lot of creative minds together, those creative minds start to wander and explore other things. And when they want those other things and the other person doesn't, then you have to be like, 'Well, we're kind of at a standstill here.'"

But the standstill was more mobile than listeners anticipated. Protich, together with former Red Sun Rising drummer Patrick Gerasia and guitarist David McGarry, assembled a new project called The Violent. The band touts itself as "an aggressive new rock band that preaches a dark ascetic with edgy undertones." When more of these "dark" and "edgy" tracks started dropping in 2021, you could consider this dark fiction author very much intrigued!

The Violent lineup—David McGarry (guitarist), Mike Protich (vocalist), and Patrick (Pat) Gerasia (drummer)

The Birth of The Violent—Album #1

The Violent's alt-rock offerings drip satirical sentiments and warnings aimed at a politically hostile, free-falling American culture. "Think for Yourself," one of their self-titled debut album's singles, slashes at hive-minded, hate-filled consumers and leaders who are "guided by evil" and "block the opinions of those who don't see."

The song mocks disingenuous open-mindedness while suggesting—from my interpretation—that it is not the pandemic that was diseased so much as we as a society. "You are the virus, and you're the disease," Protich whispers before "Think For Yourself" launches into a guitar solo. The song urges listeners not to be "controlled by the powers to be." In other words, don't succumb to the whims and cultishness of America's revolving door of political leaders and fads.

“Why don’t you think for yourself?”

"Smile Like a Hostage" sees the Violent jab at politicians (none in particular) and other self-serving authority figures. The opening lyrics, "You'd better make amends with your loyal believers," followed later by "Be careful of the ones who are unsure," affirm that charismatic evil doesn't swindle everyone. Could these "unsure" souls be society's independent thinkers, unfettered from the toxic bipartisan system?

Mike Protich includes a gritty cover of The Doors' classic "People Are Strange" on The Violent, sharing how it is "poignant" in this "new world we are living in; a world of parameters that we feel pressured to live within." The band emphasizes feelings of isolation and anguish in their version over Jim Morrison's more playful original, complete with a grim and dazzling music video. Protich and The Violent expertly transformed their source material into something dark, vibrant, and fresh. Regarding covers, "People Are Strange" is one of the best and most transcendent in the recent rock arena.

A must-listen!

The Violent (2022), the band's debut collection, marks a decisive and incisive entrance onto the music scene. Though Protich's second passion project has yet to rightly take off, its faithful are slowly gathering to delve into tales of awareness, counter-deception, and freedom from mental imprisonment in this music. There's a challenge in the Violent's content. As it rears against conformity, it aspires to convict both the listener and their corrupt cultural and governmental overlords. A government alone does not squelch a society's soul; we are all complicit in this gravest of deaths.

Album #2: 002.TV

2023 saw the emergence of The Violent's second EP, 002.TV. The 2022 single, "Counting Sheep," swiftly claimed space among my YouTube Music's top songs. I liked its air of regret and mischief, a reckless "Oh, well" sense of whimsy aloft lyrics like, "Maybe now it's all in my head," and "Killed all the sheep in my dreams."

002.TV

002.TV opens with a foreboding, cinematic instrumental teaser before sliding into "I'll Be Waiting," which continues The Violent's edginess and electronic elements. Its video bolsters the distortion, shrouded in VHS filters and images of shriveling plants. "Wrap Your Head Around" sees the band toying with direction changes when the song switches from dark to poppy; it's unexpected and energetic. Dialing back the anti-(corrupt)authority sentiments is the Shinedown/Breaking Benjamin-esque "Follow Me." The early 2000s tone is strong with this one.

"Virtue" sounds very Three Days Grace-ish—or like any other mainstream hard rock group—making for a straightforward and underwhelming track. "Bitter End" continues the staleness as it suggests a transformative chorus, section, guitar solo—something—but fails to deliver. Still, it bears some intriguing moments, like the very "In the Air Tonight" drum break about a minute from closing. The underlying guitars thump out powerfully but don't rescue the song from its repetitive, anticlimactic structure.

002.TV amounts to a lesser collection than The Violent's self-titled starter album, but the three front-loaded tracks that keep it afloat ("I'll Be Waiting," "Counting Sheep," and "Wrap Your Head Around") make it a decent enough sophomore entry into their discography. The Violent (2022) certainly deserves hard rock fans' attention, and in the future, Protich's new band will likely garner a plentiful and exuberant fan following.

Final Thoughts

The Violent combines the choicest pickings of popular rock music—critical, timely lyrics, a psychological revolution-style message, and some good old classic guitars and drums—and tops this off with Mike Protich's sweeter, higher-pitched vocals and creative, Red Sun Rising-reminiscent feel. Not to suggest The Violent is derivative of its predecessor band, as it's accomplishing its own purposes quite well. Still, one can tell The Violent has, indeed, spawned from the ashes of Red Sun Rising. And RSR fans will dig that.

Most importantly, The Violent asks a crucial question of its audience and the broader world: Will we disentangle ourselves from our dark affections, muddied minds, and hardened hearts of hate to reverse the damage we've done as a society? Time will tell, but The Violent is holding out for us all.

But Wait! There's More!

If you find yourself nodding along (or rocking out) to The Violent, your logical next step is venturing back in the artistic timeline to Red Sun Rising. Fear not; this passionate fan will supply some ice-breaker tracks below!

One of the best!

“Why are you surprised this is coming true?”

Creepy and vaguely psychedelic? It’s got my vote!