Relative latecomers in the Thrash explosion Bay Area's VIO-LENCE nevertheless managed to scramble onto a major deal offered by MCA Mechanic during 1988. The genesis of the San Francisco based band can be found in DEATH PENALTY, a 1985 founded unit consisting of guitarist Phil Demmel, drummer Perry Strickland, second guitarist Troy Fua, bassist Ed Billy and vocalist Jerry Burr. A rapid name change to VIO-LENCE took place but within months Billy had opted to pursue further education and in his stead came Dean Dell. The following year Birr departed the band filling the gap with Killian. The last member change found Fua being supplanted by Rob Flynn in early 1987.

The group's inaugural commercial offering would be the album 'Eternal Nightmare', recorded between February and April 1988 at Music Grinder and Alpha & Omega studios in Los Angeles and San Francisco with producer John Cuniberti. One track put down on tape but not included would be 'Torture Tactics', deemed too "lyrically controversial". Upon the debut's release VIO-LENCE undertook touring duties across North America on a billing that included TESTAMENT and SANCTUARY before closing the year on winter dates supporting VOIVOD. The 1990 'Oppressing The Masses' album would generate a stir with the band's record company Megaforce when various submitted tracks were deemed too offensive by the label. The band issued the songs anyway on the now scarce 'Torture Tactics' EP.

Flynn would later be replaced by Ray Vegas. Rob Flynn created MACHINE HEAD for a successful run of albums whilst Demmel, Vegas and Dell founded TORQUE for an eponymous 1996 album.

Guitarist Phil Demmel re-emerged in 2001 touting his new project TECHNOCRACY. Meantime, VIO-LENCE reunited for a 'one off' gig in August 2001 appearing at the 'Thrash Of The Titans' extravaganza in honour of TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy, recently diagnosed with cancer. However, VIO-LENCE's return to the stage set the ball rolling and would spur renewed record company interest and subsequent gigs. For their 16th December show at Slim's in San Francisco the band united original guitar player Troy Fua with new man Steve Schmidt of LAVABONE and F BOMB.

During May of 2002 Phil Demmel joined his former comrade Rob Flynn as stand in guitarist for MACHINE HEAD. The incestuous relationship between MACHINE HEAD and VIO-LENCE was cemented further at the 'Milwaukee Metalfest' event when MACHINE HEAD bassist Adam Duce filled in for a honeymooning Deen Dell during VIO-LENCE's five-song set. The band later put in a one off show in Las Vegas supporting HALFORD and a short burst of December dates packaged along with TESTAMENT and EXODUS.

Diehard fans would be rewarded by the issue of a limited edition 7" single containing three archive demo tracks that same month. Only 1000 copies would be pressed in a variety of coloured vinyls including red, white, blue, green and swirl mixture. In 2005 Megaforce Records announced an upgraded re-issue of the 'Eternal Nightmare' album, adding a live bonus disc recorded at Slim's in San Francisco on 14th December 2001. The VIO-LENCE campaign continued into 2006 with the DVD 'Blood And Dirt' hosting a 90 minute documentary, the band's entire set from the 2001 'Thrash of the Titans' benefit concert and other live tracks.