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Archived Reviews
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It might have seemed that the protest/anti war song was consigned to the annals of history but this third album from the Leeds-based quartet of Joel, Phil, John & Spider is proof that any band with any sort of political agenda will never go short of inspiration. The re-emergence of Russia under Putin & the ongoing mess in Iraq & Afghanistan means that this band still have plenty to say & put their message across in an angry yet controlled & considered manner; this is an intelligent band who know their own minds. The music is heavily influenced by such punk bands as New Model Army (with Joel's vocals bearing more than a passing resemblance to Justin Sullivan); for sure, the last time I heard guitar riffs like those that grace "Room 101" was in the late 70s while "There Is No Going Back" has everything you could ever wish for in a punk anthem, a rousing chorus, angry vocals & hard guitars. The initially intriguing "England", likewise, soon builds from its mesh of media voice samples into a real scorcher that resembles The Stranglers No More Heroes. But even though these influences contribute a lot to the band's sound they're savvy enough not to totally play the nostalgia trip with additional electronic effects giving the album a more modern sheen (an approach the band themselves have labelled 'yob goth'!), most obviously with the synthetic analogue rhythms that form the basis of "For Your Protection" not sounding even slightly out of place or weak, even when placed against the scorching guitar riffs that provide such a sharp contrast while the opening "Strike First Strike Hard" builds into a darkly rousing piece & even if the air raid sirens are a well-used staple they're certainly appropriate here & still sound effective anyway. They're also not afraid to take a few chances, as proven by the slower pace & mysterious guitar chords that give the start of "Sufferation" an almost gothic feel before the main guitar work takes on a touch of ska while the almost mellow chorus provides a further unexpected twist. Another plus point is that they only revert to the over-used Dubya sample on one track, the furious "US/UK" which leaves one in no doubt where they stand on the Iraq crisis & which gives way to the short but sharp call to action that is "Social Democrat" before the almost mournful mood that predominates during preceeding single "60 Million Guns" could almost be describing the aftermath of this current madness; even the pounding drums can't totally drown out the doom-laden piano that sets the initial mood. Thus the final chapter of this excellent, if not overly long, album provides the listener with something else to think about. |
