Tuesday, 21 April 2015

NEW VINYL FROM AGNOSTIC FRONT, POISON IDEA, STRANGELHOLD, AND CONDEMNED 84

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.



CONDEMNED 84

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.

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