Violent Soho released their newest album, ‘Everything is A-OK’

Aussie grunge-rock band, Violent Soho, now signed with Pure Noise Records, released their newest album, ‘Everything is A-OK’ on April 3, 2020. This release was a big one for the band, and much anticipated as their last album had gained them a No. 1 chart debut and headlining spots on sold-out tours. ‘WACO’, their previous album created some ‘personal upheaval’ for members of the band, which inspired the four year break prior to releasing the new, ‘Everything is A-OK’, record. 

‘Everything is A-OK’ calls out the shallow, brand-obsessed culture that we live in, challenging the overly-curated, content-driven normalcy of the world. The record is raw, honest, and full of lessons learned. Guitarist/vocalist Luke Boerdam says, “It’s honest. It doesn’t claim to be anything it’s not; it’s apolitical, cynical, and trying to connect with people over a shared experience in pointing out society’s failures and the personal shit that follows.” 

Violent Soho’s sound and style are perfectly crafted, and so naturally authentic. The sound of this specific album is inherently grunge with loud rock guitars, big ass drums, and out of this world vocals and lyricism. The heavy, cynicalistic styles of grunge are very prominent throughout the album, as they always have been with the band’s sound, but more-so in this new record. What really stood out in their newest releases was how much their sound and style has grown from ‘WACO’. The band really follows no ‘rule book’ when it comes to their style or writing, or who they are, but this album showcases the band’s strengths perfectly, it just really hits the right nerve. 

Violent Soho have released three singles from the new album. The single, Vacation Forever, is incredibly honest, almost shocking you a bit as you listen. Essentially, the older generation wants a “good life” that is a different idea of what the younger generations believe to be a good life and/or the “good life” is unattainable for the younger generations to achieve. People are tired and just want to live life without having to struggle so much. The lyrics are incredibly well-written and relatable. 

‘Why do they see right through me all the time, Cause they all want the good life, But I just want to breathe, Cause I packed my bags, and I drained my veins and I got my reasons seen, Cause I got no car, and I got no house but I kept the garden clean, There’s a baby boomer across the street and it won't stop staring at me, Vacation life, forever in strife, I'll leave the family, I just wanna be’ 

Watch the Vacation Forever Official Music Video 

‘Pick It Up Again’, another single off the album, is one for the live shows, for sure. This track is perfect for shows, with head bang-able rhythm, lyrics crafted for singing along, and a mosh-pit friendly energy. Get ready to rip up the pit, with this one. “And the chorus of the day, Being loose and extra frayed, And the crowds that caused a sway, Were crushed by all their weight, 'Cause I'll never be the same, I've forgotten who I am, It's gone again, Pick it up again, Pick it up” 

Watch the Pick It Up Again Official Music Video 

The final single, Lying On the Floor, is another great track of the new record. It has a really classic grunge feel to it; very 90’s-esque. The chorus, ‘Lying on the floor is all I wanna do,’ speaks to the exhaustion of trying to keep up with this branded version of yourself that is expected in the era of social media. The message of the lyrics talks about how uncomfortable it is to keep up with this constantly curated version of yourself, and how it would be nice to be able to break away from that. “I don’t wanna be fake, All these things that I say, Keep pulling my skin, Just let me out, I don’t wanna be cold, Getting older and older, Keep twisting my thoughts, Just let me out Like a cigarette break, I just need a complaint, Some trap you made, Just let me out, find my sin bin, just throw me in, Lying on the floor is all I wanna do, Lying on the floor is all I wanna do, Don't let me hit the ground” 

Watch the Lying on the Floor Official Music Video 

Through and through it’s a fantastic record that shows a relatable outlook on the current state of the world. The work put into each track shines through, as mentioned before, they’ve grown in sound and style since their last record. They did a great job at taking that last album and the success they had from it, keeping that same sound, and evolving and polishing it into something more cultured, defined, and solid. This could definitely be classified as an un-skippable record, as the message is so clear, engaging, and lyrically brilliant. 

As a final side note, the band just released a mini-documentary about the making of the ‘Everything is A-OK’ record, going into a bit more depth on the burn-out after the WACO album, and how they took the four years to perfect the songs for their new release, and really hone in on their sound and what they wanted this album to be. The documentary was incredibly insightful, giving an inside look at their recording processes, and gives you that personal touch to connect you even more to the band. Overall, every aspect of the record is a home run. 

Follow them on social media, links below. 
SOCIAL LINKS:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/violentsoho/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violentsoho4122/ T
witter: https://twitter.com/violentsoho
Website: https://www.violentsoho.com/ 
Mini Documentary about the making of Everything is A-OK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K360PzEuvHY 

​Review By: Maddisen V