Reviewed by:
Adam_Harrison9, on june 04, 2007
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: Well, I've liked Anti-Flag since I first heard punk. No matter what people say and bitch about them I'll stick with them (and I'd like to think you'd form your own opinions too). The guitar sounds more distorted on this album than any other and I love it. There's lots of catchy hooks/lead guitar in songs like What You Don't Know, That's Youth, Tearing Everyone Down and Captain Anarchy. It's almost got a skate punk feel to it and there's a few catchy basslines as well here and there. I'd like to give the vocals a special mention because they are the main reason this CD stands out above all the others. Justin Sane's voice is at it's highest on this album and I love it, the high pitched "ooohhhhhhh's" on for instance a new kind of army just make me wanna grab my balls and do the same thing. But, I can see why some people would find the vocals on this album annoying but my personal opinion, is that his voice is at it's best. It's the right kind of raw recording for an essential punk album. // 10
Lyrics and Singing: Politically, they lyrics improve from the 2 previous albums, showing more insight and covering different political aspects and also touching on offense and satire in songs like "outbreak" I.e "the president got caught getting head so soon some people will be dead, iraqi bodies scattered all around, as cluster bombs land on their barracks and their homes," talking about Clinton of course. There's a broader aspect of lyrical content as well, songs like Captain Anarchy poking fun at scenesters. That's Youth about everyday life as a kid, Free Nation? savagely attacking the America for their conservative/fascist leanings, peace, war and consumerism/capitalism. Plenty of nice bridges i.e Free Nation, Police Story, Tearing Everyone Down almost oi! style shoutouts. // 8
Impression: Overall, this album has a lot of catchy riffs and hooks, just what you'd expect from an Anti-Flag album. However, it's a lot more savage and confrontational than the latter albums. It's a more raw version of Underground Network but with a more skate punk feel. The whole albums has great songs and I mean that. There's a bonus track called "This Is Not A Crass Song! that pokes fun at Crass, the lyrics are funny as hell and no they don't hate crass, the song is just for fun. I love the vocals on the album and the great guitar hooks. I don't hate anything about it. This is a must for any punk whether you think Anti-Flag are "sellouts" or not. Get the original disc though, because there are 2 releases of this, one on A-F records and one on New Red Archives I think. // 10
/ my profile 
Was this review helpful to you? 