Carla Harvey, since leaving her previous band of 15 years, Butcher Babies, in July 2024, hits the unsuspecting listener with a 5-track bombastic EP of epic proportions. Her new band is The Violent Hour, and cutting straight to the chase, opener “Sick Ones” tears out of the speakers at epic speed.

Catching the breath in The Violent Hour
And before one can gather their breath, “Hell Or Hollywood” follows that, with Zakk Wylde playing lead guitar on this track. Indeed, what a blisteringly way to kick off this EP. “Portland Oregon”, together with its slide guitar, has a kinda 60s vibe to it, and Carla is joined on this track by Crobots frontman Brandon Yeagley.
Carla’s versatile vocal style
“Sex and Cigarettes”, my favourite one, has that somewhat catchy Modern Rock feel; I can hear Halestorm influences in this particular cut. The closer and the title track start acoustically, almost dreamy like vocals. Before it builds into a crescendo of a tune, illustrating Carla‘s versatile vocal style.
The Violent Hour: “This is a genre-busting EP”
This is a genre-busting EP, showcasing what both Carla and her partner in crime, Charlie Benante (Charlie is currently the drummer for both Anthrax and Pantera), can do when flirting with a musical style outside of their known comfort zones. Buy!
Tracklist
- Sick Ones
- Hell Or Hollywood
- Portland Oregon
- Sex and Cigarettes
- The Violent Hour
Line Up
- Carla Harvey – Vocals
- Charlie Benante – Guitars, Drums, and Bass
- John 5 – Guitar
- Zakk Wylde – Guitar
- Brandon Yeagley – Vocals on “Portland Oregon”