What makes Oppressing the Masses by Vio-lence notable?

The album received critical acclaim for its raw energy and lyrical depth, often addressing themes of societal issues and personal struggles. It helped solidify Vio-lence's reputation within the thrash metal genre and contributed to the broader underground metal movement of the late '80s and early '90s. Released in January 1990, Oppressing the Masses marked Vio-lence's third studio album, following their previous effort, Eternal Nightmare. At this point, the band was establishing themselves as a prominent force in the Bay Area thrash scene, pushing the boundaries of speed and aggression in metal.

How many songs are on Oppressing the Masses?

Oppressing the Masses has 8 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes.

Oppressing the Masses

Vio-lence · 1990

41 min · 8 tracks · thrash metal

Furious thrash riffs collide with intense vocals, creating a relentless soundtrack for societal discontent and personal strife.

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Top tracks — play these first

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I Profit — Opening with a blistering tempo, this track sets the tone for the album by exploring themes of greed and corruption with relentless riffs.
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Officer Nice — This song critiques authority figures through aggressive instrumentation and sharp lyrics, exemplifying Vio-lence's signature approach to social commentary.
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Engulfed by Flames — With its explosive energy and vivid imagery, this track captures the intensity of the album while showcasing the band's technical prowess.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

61 /100

Treeline

Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong thrash elements with intense vocals and socially charged lyrics, solidifying its place in the genre.

What we noticed

The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a relentless tempo, maintaining high energy through the first four songs.
Vocals are delivered in a harsh, aggressive style that complements the chaotic instrumentation throughout.
Lyrically, the songs tackle themes of societal issues and personal struggles, with verses that often repeat key phrases for emphasis.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 I Profit 7:04
2 Officer Nice 5:23
3 Subterfuge 4:38
4 Engulfed by Flames 3:54
5 World in a World 4:11
6 Mentally Afflicted 5:49
7 Liquid Courage 5:27
8 Oppressing the Masses 4:57

What to play next

Listen next

Nothing to Gain

1993

Go back to

Eternal Nightmare

1988

Full Vio-lence discography Artists like Vio-lence

thrash metal

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