Poison Planet- Boycott Everything 12' review

Poison Planet- Boycott Everything 12” review

Though this EP was previously released on a 7”, it has been re-released on a much cooler format- the 12” EP.  One side is screen-printed with a “We Can Fight, We Can Win” quote atop some cool imagery, the quote being from the chorus of the band’s signature song “Boycott Everything”.  The 12” also comes with a lyric sheet and an extensive explanation of the band’s philosophy, which after reading made me stop and consider sobriety and vegetarian/ veganism (still in the process of making that decision).  For the visually oriented, there is also a 24x36 poster of the band playing- killer.  On the music side of the 12” are five pointed, speed driven anarcho hardcore punk attacks on the contemporary capitalist system.

“Liquor Flesh Trade” is about the liquor industry, how it links into establishments that serve it, and how these bars/ taverns/ pubs are creating a breeding ground for predator/ prey battlefields within (with ladies nights and men on their never ending quest to get some tang and whatnot).  “Boycott Everything” is a push pit masterpiece, being anthemic, fast, concise, and poetic, all at the same time.  It’s the band’s signature song, and it’s the center of their philosophy, that being to understand the power a consumer has, which lies in their pocketbook/ checking account, and to object to the abhorrent actions of companies by refusing to pay for the products they offer.  A thought for any knowledgeable consumer to pose to oneself.  “I Hope You Choke” is a very quick song about the power words can have, even whilst joking, and how it can apply to insulting those already under the scope of oppression.  “Border Fences” is another anthemic tune, this time about the border fences in the United States, and how they must be torn down.  The first half of the song is the usual fast verse/chorus/verse stuff, then the tempo shifts, slowing just a bit to break it down, so to speak, and the singer goes on about how “We build these walls… and we must tear them down.”  He makes an interesting point in the explanations on the lyric sheet, and his point in those few words- definitely thoughts worth considering.  The last song “Tidal Leveling” is a short song with half of it being a build-up (the song is already only around fifty seconds long to begin with).  It’s a song about how natural disasters tend to hit hardest n the poorest areas of the world, and how such areas are often the last to be taken care of in these cases.

Overall, the instrumentation is pretty much high speed 80 hardcore, but the singer is a rare blend of snot, righteous anger, and bulldog hardcore that really sets the band apart from the other bands who sport the vegan straight edge.  I may not be in 100% agreement with what the band says, but I absolutely believe they have a philosophy that everyone should consider.  A very righteous, radical, ripping album.

-Aunty Social