Anti-Flag “For Blood And Empire”

Album Reviews | Mar 21st, 2006

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Record Label: RCA Records
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Anti-Flag are sellouts, hypocrites, poseurs, etc etc. Yadda yadda yadda, you won’t be hearing any of that crap in this review. The band signed to a major label after being on Fat Wreck for awhile and more power to them! As long as they don’t change their sound and start appearing on lunch boxes, then I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Honestly though, yeah it’s a little weird having a political band on a major label. I just couldn’t see Dead Kennedys ever signing to a major label back in the day. The band told me in the interview that they are suppose to get creative freedom and do whatever they want, so we’ll see if that happens in the long run.

So what can I say after listening to this album a good 5 or 6 times now? I think it’s one of their best releases to date, filled with catchy songs that will sure to please fans. Or maybe not, depends on what people think of the band signing to a major now. I can think of two songs right off the bat that will become instant fan favorites at shows because the sing alongs are so awesome! Their single “The Press Corpse” and “Project For A New American Century.” I really think “The Press Corpse” is probably the catchiest song AF has ever written. As soon as I heard it, I was like, “whoa this sounds fuckin’ great!” Then you read the lyrics and it’s about how shitty the media has become. But at least there are other media outlets like certain websites & organizations that tell it like it is. The other song that I mentioned before is another tune that I love. I can just see it now, at one of their shows, seeing everyone doing the hand claps along with the band at the end. I bet that will be their next single. Along with the CD, came a pamphlet with the lyrics & essays and then underneath were some blurbs about the songs. So it was cool to figure out what they were singing about if someone like me, is less educated & doesn’t read the news & watch it. It’s weird, I hate politics & everything dealing with that, but I love political punk music where they sing about it nonstop.

The band has really found their sound that they perfected with “Terror State,” and this album exceeds that one as well. Each song sounds different, some have different tempos, some have “whoas” in them, some don’t. It took me awhile to like “Terror State” but this isn’t the case with this album. I think the first half of the album is stronger than the second half. I don’t know what other people will think of this album, and I don’t really give a crap…I thought this album was excellent and can’t wait to hear these songs live now.

Bottom Line: Major label or not, the band still rocks!
Notable Tracks: The Press Corpse, Project For A New American Century, Hymn For The Dead, One Trillion Dollars, The W.T.O. Kills Farmers
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