AGNOSTIC FRONT
THE AMERICAN DREAM
DIED
Nuclear Blast
AF are well and truly back again!
AF’s last release “My Life my Way” was heads down, business as usual, but it had an
upbeat feel to it. With this one their anger has bubbled back up to the surface
with a vengeance.
“Intro” is a great intro. Love the bit that goes “The cops
are supposed to protect us, but who is going to protect us from the cops?” It
segues into The American Dream Died
slap bang and we’re away, and then into Police
Violence. It’s all good, and side one finishes up with one of my favourites here, I can’t relate.
Side two opens with their ode to the sorry state of how they
see their home city of NYC, Old New York, and fittingly commences with a sample from Taxi
Driver. Other favourites for these ears on Side two are Attack, and the closer, Just
like yesterday.
It’s all over in just a tad more than half an hour.
As Stigma himself says about the album “It has a great pace to it. You got short, hardcore songs. You have a
regular-length song. A melodic song. It takes you really on a ride. Love this
album. This one will stand the test of time”.
Joining Stigma and Roger in AF’s ever evolving ranks this
time around is guitarist Craig Silverman
(Stars and Stripes, Blood for Blood, Slapshot) and his presence brings a sharper edge and new focus. Long standing bassplayer Mike Gallo with
drummer Pokey Mo provide a solid rythym section for Stigma and Craig to riff
off. It’s a throwback to multiple eras, and there’s elements of stuff off the best AF
records from over the years. Lyrically there’s all the elements of the stuff AF love to hate; The
cops, the fucked system, idiots, society. There’s also of course songs about
unity and the HC scene.
Good package. Vinyl is limited edition. Good production, everything’s
got a good clarity without being too slick. Inner sleeve with lyrics. There’s a
free download for Roger’s other band, The Alligators available with the record.
POISON IDEA
Confuse and Conquer
Southern Lord
Let’s be clear right from the start. “Confuse and Conquer” kicks arse.
Poison Idea have well and truly risen from the ashes with
this one. Before I’d listened to it, a
mate asked someone who’d heard it what Poison Idea record they thought it was
closest to and they replied “Feel the Darkness”. In a sense. No, it’s not “Feel
the Darkness #2”. But it’s absolutely got a relentless and powerful energy to
it, and retains and remains honest to the hardcore element of their earlier
releases.
Bog and Me + JD commence things in flat out
style. The piano intro to Psychic Wedlock
recalls the intro to Plastic Bomb off ”Feel the Darkness”, but then it has its own
heavy quality. Hypnotic has a garage
–rock feel to it that works well, and adds a different flavour. Trip Wire brings it back to basics.
Side Two peaks with third song The Rythyms of Insanity, a highlight. Then, the album is conquering
and confusing. Conquering in that the album does just that, confusing (almost)
with the inclusion of Dead Cowboy
where Jerry channels something like a spaghetti western Chris Isaak or some
shit, but y’know, he gets away with it. It’s back to basics again with Beautiful Disaster. Reprise brings
things to a close.
It helps that the sound is huge; the production affords the
band a fat and heavy sound. The solos play off the rythym . The whole band are
as tight as the proverbial. Jerry A is grooving out on the fact that this
line-up is going off. Good to see some
Eric “the Vegetable” Olson guitar
solos like he ripped out on “War all the Time”
LP and the “Ian Mackaye” 12”.
This is a nice package from Southern Lord; cover art is simple but effective with heavy
cardboard as is the inner sleeve. There are no lyrics. There’s a youtube link
on their facebook page where you see
Jerry burning the lyrics; he didn’t want ‘em included. Good art and pics though on the innersleeve. Likewise, the vinyl is
nice ’n heavy, and the sound is great.
As the cover sticker says “Complete Filth and Mayhem for a
new era”. Indeed. This is what classic
Poison Idea sounds like in 2015.
STRANGLEHOLD
Self Titled 10” EP
Contra/Longshot
Records
Female fronted razor-throated buzzsaw oi!/punk. Pretty
bloody good eh!
Melbourne, Australia’s Stranglehold have been at it a few
years now with their brand of cut-throat punk. Taking their cues and
inspiration from 70’s and 80’s oi! and punk,
they have a sound all their own, fusing those elements with both melody
and grit. Having put out a few 7”s and featured on the ”Oi! this is streetpunk!”
Compilations in recent years, this is their first proper full release.
The only real complaint from me is there’s only 6 songs!
(Including their own take on the UK Subs song that gave them their name).
However, it’ a rock solid “entry point”, a strong debut which makes its point quickly
and then fucks off, I suppose.
Neat package. Cover art is great, the quality of the cover and vinyl (grey coloured) is great, and
the production gives ‘em a hell of a punch,
and a full stereo sound.
FACE THE AGGRESSION
30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
LIMITED TO 500 COPIES
Rebellion Records
This has been reissued
quite a few times , but this was
one I didn’t have, so when I found out Rebellion Records had issued it again,
it was a no brainer.
Varying between flat out and plain ol’ heavy, “Face The
Aggression” has a different style to
their first release “Battle Scarred”.
Deluxe,
limited vinyl re-release to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of CONDEMNED 84.
Strictly limited to 500 copies. The most limited pressing ever for Condemned
84, so you know these won't be available forever...
The LP comes with a thick jacket, a printed innersleeve and 3
different colours of vinyl. This one is red and white splatter.
