Iron Front Redux
Strike Anywhere is a smart group of people. Smart people who realize that a revolution can’t be fueled solely by the radical few that rail most vocally against oppression. Revolution is only successful when the masses become involved and help pour gasoline on the flames.
That must be why this record is so goddamn catchy. The Richmond, Virginia punks have been doing this for a long time and I think they realize that you can’t appeal to the masses with a barrage of atonal screaming and relentless riffing. They’re not afraid to throw a boatload of hooks at a listener in the hopes that they’ll dig for the deeper meaning.
The full-length Iron Front obviously doesn’t differ very much from the teaser EP I posted about a few weeks ago (especially considering two of the tracks appear on both releases). Contrary to their claims of making a harder and faster album this time around, my previous assessment of the EP holds true here: they’re not telling the whole truth.
Sure, it starts out with “Invisible Colony,” undoubtedly their hardest and fastest track yet. But the precedent the song sets is multi-faceted — while its quick as a bullet it also crams in a half-dozen rock-solid hooks and some of Thomas Barnett’s most infectious vocal melodies yet. Be forewarned: these tricks are going to be repeated a dozen more times in the next half hour.
“I’m Your Opposite Number” slows the pace down immediately after, comprising one of the group’s poppiest numbers since Exit English. Through the length of the album they vacillate back and forth between tunes that incorporate hardcore elements and those that utilize more thoughtful, sensitive, and melodic properties.
But there’s a fine line between a genuine rallying cry and and a platitude. I’m sure there will be zealots within the hardcore scene that will decry Barnett’s lamentations of U.S. xenophobia and border policy (”We are the ghosts of the fear of human rights/just beyond your security lights,” “This world is bigger than this/bigger than lies from our governments”) as little more than sloganeering. Who will dismiss “Hand of Glory” because of its soaring vocal melody, completely missing the indictment of first-world government’s economic priorities contained in the lyrics. Those who would argue that “Failed State”’s bleak view of societal evolution is misguided.
But try listening to the relentless pace and fury of “Spectacular,” the ceaseless insistence of “Omega Footprint,” the inherent wrongness of racial politics in “Summerpunks,” the powerful regret of lives lost due to failing war policies of “Western Scale.” Listen and then try not to feel spurred to action. Try not to feel your Western guilt. Try not to feel guilty for getting such a charge out of the music in spite of the bleak lyrical portrait.
If all that fails, cue it up to the final track. Listen as Barnett laments the history of colonialism and imperialism and the devastating impact its had on what were once sovereign nations. The dictatorships that enlist child soldiers to fight their wars. The empty promises made by the First World to make things better that never come to fruition. The reliance on near-slave labour to create prosperity in the mining sector of African nations.
That gets pretty heavy. But that’s just how Strike Anywhere rolls. Regardless of whether or not it spurs you to any kind of political action, there’s no denying that the songs on Iron Front are the most infectious this group has ever penned. Or, for that matter, some of the most infectious released anywhere by anyone in all of 2009.
Like I said, Strike Anywhere are smart folks. They likely know that some angry punk rock isn’t going to change the world. As a purely ideological exercise it obviously comes off a little one-sided; its the aural equivalent of watching a Michael Moore movie. Odds are good if you’re listening for the message its only going to reinforce your belief system. Perhaps that makes the band’s continued efforts to reach out to a wider audience all the more admirable. Either way its very inspiring to see young men that believe so strongly in their convictions.
Strike Anywhere - the Crossing: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Strike Anywhere - Postcards From Home: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadIron Front will kick your ass. Get it now from Buy the EP in vinyl or digital format from Bridge 9’s site. I’m sure they’d love it if you gave iTunes your money, but maybe try something more ideologically suitable like Download Punk.
