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Propagandhi

PROPAGANDHI
“Failed States”

Epitaph

Breaking News; I do not have my ear as close to ground as I used to, having failed to register that Canada’s Propagandhi recently released a new album, and it’s on Epitaph. So, having spotted this by chance in a high street music chain, whilst dodging a downpour, I duly stumped up the asking price.

I was a relatively late starter to Propagandhi, with their first 2 albums barely registering on my radar. I had them down as just-another production-line ‘Fat (Wreck)’ band. My conversion came with 3rd album “Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes” which hit me like a jet plane. The union of Thrash Metal, Hard Rock and banging Hardcore, played out to a seriously intelligent and impassioned radical-political agenda, won me over. Learned my lesson. Have been onboard ever since.

Like all great confrontational music, you do not stick on a Propagandhi album, and then get on with something else, whilst the ‘tunes’ idly hum in the background. No fucking way. You soak up the finely crafted (rampaging) music, and give your full attention to the lyrical scripture.

Failed States ruminates not just on basket case countries in faraway places, where punks have their heads shaved by religious intolerants, and lesbian footballers are raped by men to teach them a ‘lesson’, but also closer to home, in our own free and pleasant lands, where life is not always so peachy, and it’s important to take a stand. And all this to a riotously furious soundtrack of precision executed music that veers from tender layered moments, to balls-out jackhammer Thrash/Core ultra-heaviness.

For my money, possibly their strongest album to date. Dyna-fuckin’mite.

Words: Pete Craven

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Music News

SSS announce recording and title of 3rd album

UK Thrashcore fiends will be stoked to know that Liverpool skaters Short Sharp Shock (SSS) have announced that they are about to go back into the studio to record their new album titled PROBLEMS TO THE ANSWER.

Liverpool’s most famous thrash band are so famous now that even blonde bombshell Pamela Anderson is said to be dating singer Foxy and is in a line of female celebs that include Cheryl Cole who can’t wait to make hardcore badges and whisper Black Flag lyrics in his ear whilst he is covered head to toe in poster glue. Finding a minute to himself in a local internet cafe to avoid the local paparazzi he posted the following message online this week:

We’re back! Had to knock things on the head for a bit, but we’ve opened up shop again. Finishing the lyrics to the last few songs then next week we record some vocals with a special guest star! We finish recording the LP on March 1st/2nd, then mix for four days from the 4th March, then we’re DONE! Release date to be confirmed, but we’re looking at June/July. Looking forward to getting out again and touring. If you want us to play in your town, let us know.

PROBLEMS TO THE ANSWER is being recorded at Whitewood Studios in the band’s hometown of Liverpool and is being produced by ROB WHITELEY and SSS bassist MARK MAGILL. Get in.

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Music News

SSS singer breaks foot skating

Liverpool thrashers SSS returned from their european tour with vocalist Foxy sporting a broken foot from skating in Austria. Speaking on the wreckage he says “The Wreck and Annoy tour has had its share of ups and downs, the good and the bad and great, we have digested and relished. Tour is what it is, we love it.”

See SSS at the following live dates and watch this daft video of him on a mobility scooter at a Zoo:

Oct. 30 – Liverpool, UK – Night of the Living Dead 8
Nov. 06 – Leeds, UK – Damnation Festival