The Color of Violence
American experimental hardcore side project of From First to Last.
The Color of Violence is an American experimental hardcore band that operates as a side project of the post-hardcore group From First to Last. The lineup consists of drummer Derek Bloom and vocalist-guitarist Travis Richter.
The project began in 2002 as a full-time band called Skeleton Slaughter vs. Fetus Destroyer, aiming to create grindcore in the style of Discordance Axis. The original members were Travis Richter, Derek Bloom, Matt Good, Joey Antillion, and Chad Crews. After renaming themselves The Color of Violence, they released an EP and toured in early 2003. Soon after, all members except Crews shifted their focus to From First to Last (then called "First too Last"), leaving The Color of Violence largely inactive from 2003 through most of 2006.
In late 2006, Richter and Bloom revived the project as a two-piece. They sent a few songs to Brett Gurewitz, CEO of Epitaph Records and guitarist for Bad Religion. At the time, From First to Last was also signed to Epitaph (they later moved to Capitol Records).
In December 2007, the band posted a MySpace bulletin announcing plans to record in January 2008, describing the upcoming material with adjectives like "Brutal," "Far out," "Hip," "Gay," "Not gay," and "Really gay." They later uploaded a re-recorded version of "God Gave Me Deeze Nutzz" under the title "Youthanize Demos." In November 2008, From First to Last announced via MySpace that a Color of Violence album would arrive in 2009. The recording featured two guest drummers: Jon Syverson of Daughters and Joel Coan of The Felix Culpa. On December 31, 2008, From First to Last revealed a new single for the project, a cover of the Pixies' "Rock Music," which appeared on MySpace on February 12, 2009. The Color of Violence supported From First to Last on tour in October 2009. Later in 2009, Travis Richter left From First to Last and became the vocalist for progressive metal band The Human Abstract.
The band's Twitter account became active again around April 2017. On July 11, Richter tweeted, "pumped on the new @colorofviolence !! Jams are turning out exciting and refreshing." On February 9, 2018, they released the single "Dreadophile" after a series of teases and two official mixtapes. In late 2021, Richter began releasing songs under the separate project name Cholera Violins, described as "more moody" and distinct from The Color of Violence.
- formed
- 2002
- origin
- United States
- field
- Experimental hardcore, grindcore
- known_for
- Side project of From First to Last members; album Youthanize (2009); cover of Pixies' 'Rock Music'
Lore & Background
The Color of Violence formed in 2002 originally as a full-time band under the name Skeleton Slaughter vs. Fetus Destroyer, attempting to make music resembling grindcore, specifically the band Discordance Axis. It featured Travis Richter, Derek Bloom, Matt Good, Joey Antillion and Chad Crews. After changing the name to The Color of Violence, they recorded and released an EP and toured in early 2003, after which all members but Crews focused on From First to Last. The band saw little activity between 2003 and most of 2006.
By the end of 2006, Richter and Bloom decided to return to making music as a two-piece band. They sent songs to Brett Gurewitz of Epitaph Records. In 2007, they announced recording plans via MySpace. In 2008, From First to Last announced an album for The Color of Violence to be released in 2009 on Epitaph.
Reader's Guide
The Color of Violence represents a notable side project within the post-hardcore and experimental hardcore scenes, primarily driven by members of From First to Last. Their early work was rooted in grindcore, influenced by Discordance Axis, but evolved into a more experimental hardcore sound. The band's significance lies in its intermittent activity and its role as a creative outlet for Travis Richter and Derek Bloom outside of their main band. Their album Youthanize (2009) was released on Epitaph Records, and they gained attention for their cover of the Pixies' 'Rock Music'. The band's later shift to releasing material under the name Cholera Violins, exploring New Wave and Dark Wave styles, demonstrates their stylistic range. Though never a full-time project, The Color of Violence has maintained a cult following and periodically resurfaces with new music, illustrating the enduring collaborative relationship between Richter and Bloom.
Did You Know?
- The band originally formed in 2002 under the name Skeleton Slaughter vs. Fetus Destroyer.
- They sent songs to Brett Gurewitz, founder of Epitaph Records and guitarist for Bad Religion.
- Their 2009 album Youthanize featured drummers Jon Syverson (Daughters) and Joel Coan (The Felix Culpa).
- In late 2021, they began releasing singles under the name Cholera Violins, inspired by New Wave and atmospheric Dark Wave.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Color of Violence?
The Color of Violence is an American experimental hardcore and grindcore project that operates as a side vehicle for members of the post-hardcore band From First to Last. It lets those musicians explore a far heavier, more abrasive sound than their primary group.
Who are the members of The Color of Violence?
The active lineup is a two-piece: Travis Richter handles vocals and guitar while Derek Bloom plays drums. The project originally featured Matt Good, Joey Antillion, and Chad Crews before the roster narrowed down.
What genre does The Color of Violence play?
They sit at the intersection of experimental hardcore and grindcore, with early material explicitly modeled on the chaotic, technical style of Discordance Axis. Their output is noticeably more extreme than the post-hardcore associated with From First to Last.
What has The Color of Violence released?
The group put out an EP in early 2003 after rebranding from Skeleton Slaughter vs. Fetus Destroyer. Their full-length album Youthanize came out in 2009, and they are also recognized for a cover of the Pixies' "Rock Music."
How did The Color of Violence get its name?
The project launched in 2002 under the name Skeleton Slaughter vs. Fetus Destroyer with a five-member lineup. After recording an EP and touring, the group rebranded to The Color of Violence before the original roster began to disband.
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