Ultraviolence is a British industrial/techno band, formed in London in 1991 and headed by 'the Quentin Tarantino of techno' Johnny Violent (b. Jonathan Casey). To date, they have released five studio albums, including a ten-year retrospective, and six EPs/singles. The group have produced a number of club classics which include the tracks "Hardcore Motherfucker" and "Psycho Drama" and have been recognised as being at the 'forefront of the UK Industrial-Cyber scene'. The Ultraviolence sound incorporates elements from various styles including hardcore techno/gabber, breakbeat hardcore, industrial techno, power noise, metal and rap.

A substantial body of the Ultraviolence releases received positive critical reception since the first album Life of Destructor gaining '5Ks' from Kerrang! magazine. In 2004 Ultraviolence released a retrospective two CD album titled Blown Away 1994-2004.

Violent has worked with several female vocal artists on different releases, but as of 2005, singer and angle grinding stage performer Mel Allezbleu has become a permanent member of the band.

History

Casey first experimented in making electronic music in his teens. After attending Goldsmiths College in London for a diploma in sound engineering and working in a record shop, he tried his hand at gigging locally with a college friend.

He got into production in a serious way in late 1990 and adopted the name Johnny Violent (aka Ultraviolence) in reference to the film A Clockwork Orange. He saved up money for some studio time and recorded and handful of tracks including "You'll Never Sleep Tonight" which was played by John Peel on BBC Radio 1 and gained the attention of London label Food Records, who signed Violent in 1992.

The relationship between Ultraviolence and the trendy, indie-orientated Food Records was never likely to be a happy one and soon dissolved. for his photograph of Kentwell Hall Moat

Discography

  • Life of Destructor (1994)
  • Psycho Drama (1996)
  • Killing God (1998)
  • Superpower (2001)
  • Blown Away 1994-2004 (2004)

References

  • Official website
  • Earache Records
  • Myspace Page