Search - Anti-Flag :: People Or the Gun

Wow!

Nick Colosi | Chesterland, OH, USA | 06/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I realize, quite frankly, that the boys of Anti-Flag will be crucified for putting this out. We will have the people who come here and complain that they no longer sound like they did on "Die for the Government" We will have people who complain that they no longer sound like they did on "Underground Network" and now that last year they put out an experimental poppier mainstream major label record, there will be people who complain that it doesn't sound like that.



The people who really get to enjoy this are people like me who have enjoyed watching Anti-Flag change over the years and can listen to them, no matter what they do.



This album marks Anti-Flag's return to independent record companies, and it's back to basics for the Pittsburgh quartet. This album is a swift, fast and short, kick in the teeth that is meant to silence all the talk that they've sold out. Most of this record is like a more raw version of "For Blood and Empire" or "The Terror State" but it' a step above both of those in speed. This is, if nothing else, the fastest Anti-Flag record to date. Also, it's back to politics for these boys, no more soul searching or whatever they tried doing last year.



Right from the get go it will be obvious to listeners that "Bright Lights of America" was a fluke in the Anti-Flag playlist. This album kicks off with some low bass lines and then slaps you in the face with one really catchy guitar hook that is reminiscent of Anti-Flag around the turn of the century. From there it's a perfect combination of fast songs and slow songs, and by perfect combination I mean that there are only like two slow songs.



The slower songs like "The Gre(A)t Depression" and "This is the First Night" are a lot, and I mean A LOT more inspired than the generic rock tunes on this album's predecessor, and you can tell that these ones came naturally and didn't require all the fooling around that the last record did.



The faster songs are what make this album. Whether it be Justin's higher voice or Chris's brutal screaming, this CD has tons of energy. They even have a handful of songs here that sound like old school street punk (No, not "Die for the Government" old school), or something that the Unseen would put out, "No War Without Warriors" being the best of them.



Everyone who enjoyed any Anti-Flag album should give this a listen just to see. Personally I absolutely loved it and I believe that Anti-Flag made the right move going back to their roots and putting this out. Clocking in around the 30 minute mark, this could very well be one of those CDs that I use to get a quick fix of punk even ten years from now. The only people I would not recommend this to are the people who are still waiting for the second installment of "Die for the Government" To them I say, Andy Flag is still not in the band anymore, so you might as well pop that old CD back into your player and not even bother bashing this CD as well as all their others because you're no longer Anti-Flag fans, your "Anti-Flag's first CD" fans."

Return of the 'Real' Anti-Flag

Curt Umland | North Babylon, NY | 06/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the best 'pure' punk albums in a while by anyone. No throwaway songs or filler, just pure angst coupled with great hooks. I was prepared for another melodramatic 'Bright Lights' type album but was left in awe instead. If there is a weakness it might be the lack of a true sing along anthemic type of song but otherwise it is AF at their best.



A lot of good new veteran punk this summer, make sure to pick this one up with Rancid's Let the Dominoes Fall and NOFX's Coaster."