"Soul-crushingly magnificent. Sounds Like Violence, in actual fact, sound like pain. Searing pain. Think the hypnotic guitar patterns in Interpol combined with the erratic precision of The Walkmen, rounded off by a vocalist who sounds like he just ripped his own heart out just to see what it looked like. This Swedish quartet have such a fullness and intensity of sound that these tracks are positively compelling. KKKKK." - Kerrang

"Can anyone tell me what the Swedes have running through their veins that they are able to make such great rock music? Sounds Like Violence is Deep Elm's newest signing and these guys have a style on The Pistol which is unique to the bone. One could compare them to a band like Planes Mistaken For Stars; the music is so intense that you can feel it under your skin. The Pistol is an impressive debut from a young band which will definitely create a sensation." - Uncle Sally's

"Sometimes it's the small things that make a good record. In this case, it's the voice Andreas Soderlund that make The Pistol completely unique. Sounds Like Violence make unbelievably intense drama and The Pistol is tough and powerful guitar-pop that is always charming you with great hooks." - Ox

"Stripped down, yet fleshed out with such corrugated dynamism, The Pistol from Sounds Like Violence is a gritty blend of soaring melodies and cool, hip-jolting rhythms, where jagged guitars and adjunct pre-grunge posturing flows with a gripped and concerted ease. Drawing upon the brash pop sensibilities of The Posies and The Afghan Whigs, Sounds Like Violence subscribe to the notion that good pop hooks are made more affecting and personal when left unpolished. Just take Grow / Blow and Afasi, two songs that are brimming with passion, allowing SLV's true talent to shine through each heart-wrenching wail and gritted guitar jerk. You can keep your Saves The Days and your Thursdays, because we've got Sounds Like Violence, and true, soul-prickling emo has never felt more alive." - Drowned In Sound

"If you are sick of every emo band following the same basic formula, or if you just need to put some heart back into your new music rotation, The Pistol is your salvation. It literally blows me away every time I listen. Sounds Like Violence sounds like an amped up and stripped down (The) International Noise Conspiracy. Andreas Soderlund's vocals are pure, infectious energy wrapped up into crushing, angst-filled hooks. Brash and uninhibited walls of sound capture the spirit of the lyrics while providing a gigantic helping of energy that never diminishes. When The Pistol starts spinning in your CD player you won't want to take it out. It's addictive from the very first listen. Don't miss out." - Verbicide

"Sounds Like Violence combine an almost emo quality with an indie-punk inspired rawness to dramatic effect. They have that irresistible Scandinavian rock spirit, making The Pistol messy, brash and energetic as hell. the vocals are as brilliant as they are unusual; the loud, passionate and slightly unhinged emanations from singer Andreas Soderlund are constantly teetering on the edge of desperation. You Give Me Heartattacks gets the record off to a flying start, showing the band's mix of angsty rock interspersed with beautiful moments. Progressive tendencies start to creep in on the last few tracks showcasing the their more adventurous and technical sides, and giving me even more reasons to heap praise upon them. I can't recommend Sounds Like Violence enough." - Kill The Noise

"Angry Swedish punk rock with energizer-like energy, Sounds Like Violence is insane, all over the place and loud as hell. You Give Me Heart Attacks opens with honest, raw emotion blended with violent hardcore. I can guarantee someone has had a heart attack while listening to this tune. They remind me of Planes Mistaken For Stars with a much more straightforward drive. Deep Elm was onto something when they picked up Sounds Like Violence, and you have not heard the last from them!" - Soundcheck

"On The Pistol, songs like You Give Me Heartattacks and Perfect are able to convey a lot of angst without being overly dramatic or cheesy while still being arsty, catchy and powerful. Sounds Like Violence does its job well with skillfully melodic, yet unpolished musicianship that borders on post-punk and indie rock, but Andreas Soderlund's unique vocals are the backbone and what will separate them from the pack. All in all, not a dull moment, not a poor song to be found. The Pistol is only a hint of what Sounds Like Violence is capable of creating, and if their full length can stand up to these six songs, I wish Deep Elm good luck in holding on to them." - Silent Uproar

"The Pistol from Sounds Like Violence is charged with a real sense of urgency with jarring guitars countered neatly by some good melodies and harmonies. They sound like they are really giving their all, as if their lives depend on this performance. The real strength of The Pistol is that it captures the spirit of a live show. Sounds Like Violence are doing their own thing. No one band or style can really sum up their influences or approach. The guitar sound is sometimes in the ferocious hardcore punk camp, but can also be melodic. At times you feel you could be listening to Bluetip or maybe Far, but at other times it could be the blues rock of Kyuss or the messy sound of early 90's grunge. This is fine by me, and Sounds Like Violence sound like they have a good future ahead of them." - Pennyblack Music

"Sweden's finest four piece Sounds Like Violence's debut The Pistol is something to be proud of. The hot guitar riffs make for great listening that will make you want to dance your pants off. In particular, the first song You Give Me Heartattacks, along with Cry, Oh Cry! will get your feet tapping and your head nodding. Sounds Like Violence's messy melodies drag their inspiration from the likes of the Afghan Whigs and Kyuss, but I can even hear a less poppy version Hot Hot Heat." - Luckypill

"Sounds Like Violence have made a masterpiece in The Pistol that encompasses the entire world in six songs. Extraordinarily proficient with their instruments in the traditional sense, the band has no interest in conforming to a traditional sound. In fact, they've perfect their own sound and are changing music with innovative and forward-looking attitudes. With each member submitting their most soulful and intense playing on The Pistol, SLV has created something very magical. Ultimately transcendent of genre or time period, if they were creating this same style of music back in the eighties, they would be lauded in the same breath as The Minutemen or The Replacements. Form equals function for these Swedes, and each drum beat, each bass line, each guitar riff strikes the listener deep in their heart." - Neufutur

"The Pistol is honestly one of the most energetic and exciting records I've heard in a long time. Sounds Like Violence recalls the glory days of early-90s indie rock, sounding like Archers Of Loaf spiked with nervous tension and wild abandon. The record starts off with the powerful You Give Me Heartattacks and doesn't let up until the last note. Much of Sounds Like Violence's power comes from Andreas Soderlund's manic vocals. His voice transforms the music into a living, breathing, feeling entity, twitching at the conclusion of each song with his gasps for air. There is so much passion and intensity infused into the music. Sounds Like Violence has given us one of the best records of the year, subsequently showing us what amazing potential the band has. I send heartfelt kudos to Deep Elm for bringing these Swedish lads to us in a year of so few great releases." - Delusions Of Adequacy

"Sounds Like Violence hail from Sweden, so comparisons to the forefathers of Scandinavian progressive hardcore are inevitable, even though there's nothing on The Pistol that purposefully echoes Refused. Instead, Sounds Like Violence come across as a blend of abrasive JR Ewing riffs and Jimmy Eat World spit 'n' polish. There's a charm to The Pistol that's lacking in many similar offerings, where posing and faux-angst is the order of the day. Deep Elm kick-started Planes Mistaken For Stars' ascension to punk rock royalty way back when, so what's to say they won't do it again?" - Logo

"Sounds Like Violence is easily the best thing going in indie rock these days, and if you haven't jumped aboard yet then you're missing the boat in a big way. Yet another work of genius from a label who really can do no wrong these days." - Flex Your Head

"The Pistol from Sounds Like Violence is charged with a real sense of urgency with jarring guitars countered neatly by some good melodies and harmonies. They sound like they are really giving their all, as if their lives depend on this performance. The real strength of The Pistol is that it captures the spirit of a live show. Sounds Like Violence are doing their own thing. No one band or style can really sum up their influences or approach. The guitar sound is sometimes in the ferocious hardcore punk camp, but can also be melodic. At times you feel you could be listening to Bluetip or maybe Far, but at other times it could be the blues rock of Kyuss or the messy sound of early 90's grunge. This is fine by me, and Sounds Like Violence sound like they have a good future ahead of them." - Pennyblack Music

"Sounds Like Violence are deep, discordant and rock like Desaparacidos or even The Cure. If you're into the self loathing thing, these guys are pretty damn good, and On The Pistol they're 100% committed to pouring themselves into the music. All credit to them, it's not often bands like this come around, and they are a welcome diversion." - Play Dead

"The Pistol from Sounds Like Violence is edgy and gritty music that, despite wearing angst on its sleeve, leaves a certain sense of mystery behind spiraling, intertwining guitars and anxious vocals. There's the commanding urgency of the title track, with intelligent vocals revealing the pleas of a desperate and dangerous man backed with a wash of driving bass and tightly controlled guitars which could go off at any moment, while opener You Give Me Heartattacks locks onto a bittersweet groove. Giving vehemence a new voice, Sounds Like Violence are vital." - Rock Sound

"Sounds Like Violence is just incredible, playing really angsty rock with a unique vocal style that sounds like front man Andreas Soderlund tore his heart from his chest and watched its last few beats. Highlights from The Pistol are opener You Give Me Heartattacks and Afasi. I hope that Sounds Like Violence gets the credit they deserve." - Gamefoe

"The Pistol from Sounds Like Violence is a grizzled, balls to the wall work of turbo-charged power-pop, and while Andreas Soderlund's hoarse, breakneck wailing might recall certain legends of DC past, his bandmates will be damned before they let you box them in so easily. Beside trouncing your preconceived notions, Sounds Like Violence also write ridiculous songs. The vocals are so careening, the drums are so hundred-and-ten-percent, the lyrics are so straight-shooting and the choruses are so persistent that you'll be hard-pressed not to shout along or keep time on the air drums. You Give Me Heart Attacks and Cry! Oh Cry! are two of the ballsiest pop songs I've heard in quite awhile, and you're likely to fall in love with them. Will these songs stand the test of time? My gut tells me that they will...they possess that spark, they go that extra mile. Visceral pop like this is hard to come by, so I'll definitely be keeping The Pistol close." - Splendid

"On The Pistol, Angelhom natives Sounds Like Violence deliver a deviant strut onto a dance floor where distorted squall, pitch-black grooves and frothy crooning will leave you swaggering into the wee hours. With songs like You Give Me Heartattacks, the band doesn't so much establish their footing as they deliver a swift kick right to the junk. A jarring guitar line that touches on the same ground once treaded by Joy Division or Mission of Burma is roughed up by vocalist Andreas Soderlund's unhinged wail. Background vocal harmonies beautifully contrast this salty-sweet heart-stopper. Longtime Afghan Whigs and Dinosaur Jr. fans have been waiting for a track like Cry, Oh Cry! to bring self-destruction back en vogue. Soderlund continues to conjure Greg Dulli, Ian Curtis, J. Mascis and Iggy Pop simultaneously throughout the record (especially on standouts Grow/Blow and Afasi), while the band delivers disconnected cuts that are carefully serrated with the right amount rhythmic bombast. If they can deliver showmanship that matches even half of the untamed energy and naked skill I am hearing here, Sounds Like Violence just might be the raw and enigmatic tour de force to reclaim the alternative rock throne that bands like Nirvana claimed in the early-nineties." - Bettawreckonize

"It will take a lot to convince me there's a better band than Sounds Like Violence on Deep Elm Records, and as long as You Give Me Heart Attacks is on my speakers, there's no use even arguing about it. The Pistol is a jaw-dropping debut that rocks hard like emo used to. I think of Rites Of Spring when I listen to songs like Afasi, partly because the anxious and frustrated tone of their music, not to mention their deeply personal lyrics and the emphatic disregard for polishing and tweaking the finish product, which leaves it soaked with spit and sweat like it came straight out of the basement. I'm tempted to nod also towards the screamo of contemporary times, but that's more because fans of those bands are among the people who need to hear Sounds Like Violence the most. When SLV comes forward with their first full-length, I do believe it will be the most celebrated recording in the history of Deep Elm Records. Don't miss it, and definitely don't miss The Pistol." - Punk International

"One reason why The Pistol from Sounds Like Violence is so gripping is because it never dilutes. Andreas Soderlund's strained vocals seem to fight their way through perpetual sobs; when he screams 'You give me heart attacks' at the record's opening, it's impossible not to feel like the object of his ire, the cause of his pain...and it's addicting. Likewise, Sounds Like Violence doesn't limit itself to the codes of its principal genre. The higher-pitched supporting vocal and sustained dissent of guitar in Heartattacks recalls My Bloody Valentine, while the ringing main section of Afasi and the title track's mix of lurching verse and uplifting chorus break are healthy reminders of indie rock's early-'90s heyday (think Archers Of Loaf). Uniting it all is Soderlund's singing, which wavers on the cusp of dour and drastic even when he's not at desperate top volume. Deep Elm has definitely found something special in Sounds Like Violence." - All Music

"The Pistol from Sounds Like Violence is by far one of the best releases of the year. It's brilliant. The band conveys every spectrum of emotion possible and they leave the listener wanting more. When the first tune hits your ears, the vocals grab your head and shakes you. Andreas Soderlund's voice is truly has one of the most raging I've ever heard. It sounds like it's the only way to release his pain...like a verbal shotgun blast to the chest. The Pistol is more than just heart. It's mind, body, soul and most importantly, balls. The Pistol is the soundtrack to life at its worse times. The best way to describe Sounds Like Violence would be well-crafted, frantic, beautiful indie rock combined with urgent, broken vocals. No one has ever tried to sound like this, and even if you wanted to, you couldn't. The Pistol is just a rush from the first note to the last...explosive, original and simply mind-blowing. Get this now." - Absolute Punk

"The Pistol from Sounds Like Violence had me hooked the first time I listened to it...something in the simplicity and honesty of the music that drew me to it immediately. It's rough around the edges and at times painfully sincere, but they never stray into pretentious territory. The lyrics are direct and don't try to hide behind poetry. Sounds Like Violence rely on melodies and song writing ability to get the message out to the listener and will appeal to punkers and emo kids alike. It all adds up to a brilliant and diverse album and I can't wait to see them live." - Big Cheese

"Sounds Like Violence heap on gobs of sizzling swagger and sterling melodies on The Pistol. Andreas Soderlund has a very unique pitch to his voice that tends to lash out in tones of bitterness. Driving dual guitars propel the twenty-seven minutes of music on here to feel like a fairly brisk outing, and The Pistol is undoubtedly enhanced by the fantastic drumming of Daniel Petersson, whose fills are intense and varied. Nothing on The Pistol will leave you bored, and even though contemptuous behavior is no stranger to indie rock, Sounds Like Violence bring it on with none of the usual accompanying vulnerabilities ." - Pastepunk

"Sounds Like Violence is one of the coolest bands I've heard this year. You Give Me Heartattacks kicks off The Pistol, and it's a song that demands rare usage of the repeat button. Don't wear it out though because the other five tracks offer equally rewarding sounds. A mixture of emo and indie rock, Sounds Like Violence play like every note could be its last. Like the first time I heard Planes Mistaken For Stars and went, 'holy sh_t!' except this band has more staying power and an audible production sound. Shades of indie rock staples like Archer Of Loaf and Sebadoh work excellently alongside the pained vocals and loose guitar sound that might just become SLV's trademark. The Pistol is something special, so don't be surprised if you start hearing about Sounds Like Violence very soon. Doesn't matter if you like indie, emo, hardcore or rock, Sounds Like Violence should be at the top of your play list. Bring on the full-length!" - Flex Your Head

"Sounds Like Violence had me hooked from the very beginning of The Pistol. Try thinking of early 90s rock with a much bigger punk-hardcore vibe and indie attitude. Vocally, this is kind of like The Cure's Robert Smith having a nervous breakdown. The first song, You Give Me Heartattacks, is a mix of emotional rock and Weezer-like, sing-a-longs...a strange mix that works so well. The title track brought to mind an angrier Dinosaur Jr with a more hardcore flare. As for Perfect, what an appropriate song title to end the disc. It's a hooky rock number which ebbs and flows from quiet to blasting and made me wish this was a full length. The Pistol is a nice piece of work from every angle imaginable." - Feast Of Hate And Fear