Album review: VIOLENT SOHO – Everything is A-OK

I Oh You Records [Release date: 03.04.20]

Accomplished indie/alt rock from Brisbane. I assume the title is not meant to be ironic. The album surfaced in the Spring and the recording/packaging would have been created long before the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to smile wryly at the ‘Everything is A-OK’ title which offers the same level of comfort and resonance now as it did in April.

It is the 5^th offering from the band who flirted with wider recognition with a big record deal back in 2010 and still carry serious influence back home. This album hit top spot in the Australian charts.

There’s plenty to like across a 34-minute collection that sits somewhere between a less-angsty Smashing Pumpkins and a mellower Blink-182. ‘Sleep Year’ is a great way to kick off the album, balancing melody with harder, wiry edges. Blustery, riff-packed tracks like ‘Pick It Up Again‘, ‘Easy’ and ‘Pity Jar’ see the four-piece bouncing off each other with energy to create punchy distractions. ‘Lying On the Floor’ peps up like Nirvana’s ‘…Teen Spirit’ for a brief moment and is shot through with 90’s grunge.

Elsewhere, ‘Slow Down Sonic’ is a calm, chilled offering and tracks like ‘A-OK’ introduce fragility and vulnerability both in musical tone and lyrical subjects. Frontman Luke Boerdam gives the vocals a nasal, sardonic twist throughout. You can almost see his curled lip as he channels Billy Corgan.

‘Vacation Forever’ is possibly the most complete track on view, grandstanding a great vocal with punchy guitar lines interspersed with mellower passages. The band seem pretty sharp and tight to me. Alongside Boerdam on vocals and rhythm guitar, the band comprises James Tidswell’s sharp lead guitar lines, and the thumping rhythm unit of drummer Michael Richards and bassman Luke Henery.

Good stuff, if a little derivative. ***½

Review by Dave Atkinson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out radio stream repeat on Tuesday 8th (16:00 GMT) and Thursday 10th April (21:00 GMT)
Next Session: Sunday 4 May

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 2 March 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 4 March 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 7 April 2025

SEVEN BLOOD To The Unknown (indie)
FROM FALL TO SPRING Incomplete (Arising Empire)
POP EVIL Side Effects (MNRK Heavy)
ERJA LYYTINEN Abyss (Tuohi Records)
SKY VALLEY MISTRESS Too Many Ghosts (New Heavy Sounds)
RED GIANT Free Me (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 7 April 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.