Opposition Rising- Get Off Your Ass Get Off Your Knees 10” EP review

Opposition Rising- Get Off Your Ass Get Off Your Knees 10” EP review

Unlike the LP and the sound started by the preceding band Mouth Sewn Shut, the first three songs are strictly hard-hitting, heavy, misanthropic hardcore punk.  “Guilty” is about the distrust in one’s fellow man and inverse to the principles of the judicial system (the only realistic approach for a cynic or a pessimist).  “No Way Out” is a discussion of how those involved in the scene, much as they try to get out and live a “normal” life, don’t seem to be able to, and should instead accept one’s existence as a cog in a countercultural machine.  The ‘lifers’ of this social scene, the ones who have really stuck around for an extensive period of time, really ARE in it for life, whether they have the absolute desire to be or not.  “I’m an Infidel”, even though it sounds like an advertisement for a particular type of wine (zinfandel, for those who are wondering), is the angriest, hardest song on the record.  Rather than criticizing one religion, it points the finger at the evangelical/Abrahamic religions, who condemn nonbelievers as so-called ‘infidels’ who must face conversion or destruction.  A very memorable tune.  The B-side is completely different than the A-side; the first song “Get Off Your Ass, Get Off Your Knees” is in the tune of the Mouth Sewn Shut/first album, in that it has the upbeat ska/reggae tone mixed with the anarcho punk undertones in the lyrics and vocals.  It is very danceable and catchy, for all those who enjoy the bubblegum sensation of catchy, danceable song.  The last song is a remix of songs on the first LP into a slower version; a medley, so to speak.  Nothing new, but it’s easier to understand the lyrics, which is good in a way.  Packaging on the record is nice, though I think it could have fit on a 7”.  Nice work.

-Aunty Social

Opposition Rising- Aftermathematics CD/ LP review

Opposition Rising- Aftermathematics CD/ LP review

This record picked up right where Mouth Sewn Shut left off; still sporting the crusty reggae/ ska feel with all the fury of a hardcore punk record, these are ten punishing tracks that show the 99% can hate and groove.  The record begins with the intro song “Rising”, an allusion to the beginning of a war, perceived or actual.  It allows a nice transition into the real bones of the record, the “chapters”, one might say.  Some of the better songs on this record are some of my personal favorite songs in general.

“F.T.W.” has been making its rounds on compilation albums, namely the 4-way split 7” with In Defence, Hellmouth, and Embrace the Kill, the Crash Assailant compilation CD, and the Riotska digital compilation, deservedly so- it is the new anthem of the nihilist of today.  “Pink Slip Murder Suicide” is the new “going postal” theme song (on an unrelated note, the massacre that made the term ‘going postal’ famous took place in Royal Oak, at the same place I get my mail from), and its pulsating rhythmic beat thumps like a gun going off, raising hate in the brain and blood pressure in the veins.  “Tell Them Nothing” is the radio-friendly, all-encompassing version of “Stop Snitchin”, and one that resonates a lot more deeply with the majority.  It serves as a reminder that speaking to the so-called authorities is not in one’s best interests, under any circumstances.
For a positive lyrical turn, “Brick By Brick” speaks about those who might try to destroy the community we (as punks) have all worked to build by copping out or conforming, as the song terms.  However, it is also possible to look at the song title in a reverse way, as rebuilding this community we have built, brick by brick.  Even in nihilism, there is hopefulness.  “Debt Sentence” is about the new phenomenon of people being economically enslaved by the money they owe to lenders.  With the relatively recent crisis in the housing market and in the lax oversight on lending, people have suddenly become anchored down and enslaved by their debts.  “Destination Apocalypse” is the final “chapter” of the album/ story, and its conclusion is a world in ruin, all the money rendered useless and the obsession with belongings, monetary or tactile things, rendering the 1% (my words, not theirs) pragmatically impotent.

Though these are not the only songs on the record, these are the best and most worthy of discussion; the other songs are also stellar, so this indeed is a complete work.  Bill Damon (lead singer) is a crust punk genius, an inventive S.O.B. with a ton of passion.  Anyone who liked Mouth Sewn Shut and/or Toxic Narcotic will love this, and it will resonate well with the rest of the crusties, punks, and rudeboys too.  Buy this, now!

-Aunty Social

Embrace the Kill/ Hellmouth/ In Defence/ Opposition Rising 4 way split 7" review

Embrace the Kill/ Hellmouth/ In Defence/ Opposition Rising 4-way split 7” review

I want to like this record; I really, really do.  Four stellar bands on the same piece of wax and some artwork by Alex Awn is a recipe that sounds like it will churn out a tasty recipe of a record.  However, the result, while not bad, by any means, is a bit underwhelming. It starts off well enough, with Embrace the Kill’s track “Blacklisted” pushing its way along, delivering a heavy, hard, hopeless and bleak black metal-influenced crust tune.  The song rules, and Embrace the Kill further solidifies itself as a killer west coast crust band (among who include Tragedy, From Ashes Rise, Asymmetric Warfare, Short Changed, and loads more).  Next is Hellmouth’s “Amen Assholes”, a favorite song by a notably popular Detroit group that most in the area familiar with.  However, this song was apparently an earlier tracking of the song, and with it is a lesser level of quality.  Nothing is wrong with the song, but the levels, the mix, the sound quality… something is just not right.
Following this is the In Defence track “United Farces”, again earlier tracking of a song that would later be renamed and slightly reworked to “Corporate Bailout”.  This one suffers from the same problems as the Hellmouth track, although I liked this track of Ben Crew’s vocals better than the one used on “Corporate Bailout”.  The saving grace of this record would come in the Opposition Rising track “F.T.W.”, an oft-used acronym for a feeling that resonates in many of us.  Before deviating this into another populist misanthropic rant, I’ll return to the record:  Opposition Rising puts out probably the best track of theirs on this split (best compared to the rest of the songs on their Aftermathematics LP, which too rules).  Formed from the intact remains of Mouth Sewn Shut, the band is essentially the next chapter in the Toxic Narcotic saga.  While Mouth Sewn Shut (and Opposition Rising as well, for that matter) is known mostly for their blends of crust, hardcore, and reggae, this track is more of a hardcore track, but still retains the traditional M.S.S./ O.R. aura.

Even though I was not wowed by the two earlier tracking of these later-to-be excellent songs, there were okay, and the stellar tracks by Embrace the Kill and Opposition Rising makes this album worthwhile.

-Aunty Social