Civil Disobedience ‘In A Few Hours of Madness’ 7” review

Civil Disobedience ‘In A Few Hours of Madness’ 7” review


What a decorated yet checkered, unique yet familiar, and urban yet rural band. The history of Saginaw anarcho-punks Civil Disobedience is very dualistic; still, the music and the message behind it are very powerful and influential. The actions of some of the members has reportedly been checkered and hypocritical, and this is a mild damper on the band’s reputation, but that doesn’t dilute this Havoc Records band’s unique edge on anarcho punk that fucking rips, regardless of the band members’ actions as individuals.

The record starts off with a minute and a half introduction of audio snippets of social critiques and proceeds to the first song “Planet of the Fakes”. Within the song, the music rings of mid-paced anarcho thrash. Then, the vocals start to crawl in and the singer chimes in with his low-pitched, long-winded, rapid-fire snake venom that he makes flow, despite a lack of lyrical rhythm. In the midst of the song, there is a pause and a phrase that rings loud and true: “Your symbols of respect are primal icons of neglect.” There is no way to understand this statement by means of explanation, and the only way to fully comprehend the full impact of the message, is to contemplate it personally. Next is “Faith Not Sight”, an audible ripper without any clips or simplistic rhyming; yum, more subversive goodness. Flipping the record over, “Manufactured Citizens” comes on, brandishing the Michigan anarcho-punk sound as a unique yet universal sonic wave of distorted communication. Rounding out the Virtual side of the album, “The Unavoidable Process” is a social critique from a postmodern movie set in the future where mankind was lampooned as the illogical, nonsensical, perpetually warring creature that he is. The song ends with the line, “Isn’t it all a joke?” A joke humanity is indeed.

This record is an absolute for any anarcho-punk fan or any punk fan in general who’s willing to interpret a message with objectivity, i.e. at face value.

-Aunty Social