Carla Harvey—founding vocalist for the metal band Butcher Babies, comic book author, artist, novelist and the holder of multiple degrees in mortuary science and thanatology—has shared “Sick Ones,” the first single from her new project, The Violent Hour (Megaforce Records).
“Sick Ones” was co-written by Harvey and Anthrax’s Charlie Benante, features guitarist John 5 and can be streamed here or below.
“’Sick Ones’ is a rock ‘n’ roll anthem about cutting the toxic people out of your life,” Harvey said. “It’s a call of freedom, a fist-to-the-face to anyone who has tried to hold you down, hold you back or dim your light. It was written at a vulnerable time in my life when I was forced to end relationships I thought would last forever.
“When choosing a theme for this son, I thought about a phrase I had scrawled across a journal from 1999: ‘Cut the Sick Ones Loose.’ Those words became my mantra over the last couple years and felt perfect to chant over Charlie’s guitar riffs. ‘Sick Ones‘ also features an absolutely shredding guitar solo by John 5 that brings this thrasher to a whole different level.“
“‘Sick Ones’ has a Modernized NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) vibe to it,” Benante said. “The riff is very catchy and stays with you like a good riff should. ‘Sick Ones’ is just the tip of the iceberg for this project. Many of the songs we crafted for The Violent Hour are unlike anything Carla has ever done as a vocalist, reflecting different moods and a new beginning. The music flowed out of me because I had this motivation, this drive … it was unstoppable.”
The Violent Hour’s first music video, directed by Vicente Cordero/Industrial Films, is due out April 25.
Harvey was a member of Butcher Babies from 2010 to 2024. During her time, the band released five full-length albums and two EPs. The split was announced in July 2024.
“Over the last 6 months You may have noticed my absence from BB posts,” Harvey said at the time. “After 15 years of dedication, I wanted to let you know that I will not be rejoining the band for any future endeavors. I am super proud of my work with Butcher Babies…2 EPS, 5 Full lengths albums and countless tours with our metal heroes! To all of our incredible BB friends and fans…you have provided me with some of the greatest experiences of my life! I have loved every second of writing and performing all over the world for you! I have loved meeting you. WOW. I still can’t believe this kid from Detroit got so lucky. I am not done making music and performing. I WILL see you soon.”
Butcher Babies also released a statement: “As you may have already guessed, it is confirmed that Carla Harvey and Butcher Babies have officially parted ways. Carla has been an integral part of our journey, bringing her unique talent, passion, and energy to the band. We are grateful for the incredible memories we’ve made together and the impact she has had on our music and our fans. We will miss her greatly and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
“We deeply appreciate your support over the past 15 years. We feel incredibly fortunate to keep making and playing music as our career, and we are excited for this new era of Butcher Babies!”
In addition to launching The Violent Hour, Harvey has joined long-running industrial/dance act Lords of Acid as its new singer. She was set to record vocals for the band’s new album last winter and embark on a 27-date tour with the band in June.
