I’m surprised one of us hasn’t reviewed this earlier to be honest. But seeing as though we haven’t yet gushed about how good ‘Exit English’ is, I best do it on PT’s behalf. I am actually a late starter to the world of Strike Anywhere, only really checking them out this summer when they came over for Deconstruction. I downloaded a few MP3s, loved them, and that resulted in me downloading this album and blazing it out of my stereo for the rest of the year. It only seemed fitting when the exchange rate sent the dollar up towards the $2-£1 mark to import this disc in to ensure I had a ‘proper’ copy – trying before you buy really does work kids.
Strike Anywhere bridge the gap between melodic hardcore and really fast, slick skate punk in a similar way to bands such as Good Riddance and Kid Dynamite. A rather crude analogy I know, because ultimately Strike Anywhere sound like no-one else but themselves, but everyone loves genre classification don’t they? For me, ‘Exit English’ combines working-class social commentary lyrics with first-in-the-air anthems, all enriched in enough melody to have you singing along fairly easily. Vocalist Thomas has a really inimitable style that switches from a really throaty, gravelly roar to a more melodic tone, packing extra punch as the guitars drive and explode and the drums kick and snarl.
The opening salvo of ‘We Amplify’, ‘Blaze’ and ‘Infrared’ is as good as any I’ve heard this year – it’s a real sonic assault as drums crash and Thomas’ vocals really spit and snarl. His style really helps him hammer home the points he makes in his lyrics – passages such as “the world’s lies, the masses cry, children’s lives spent sewing up our cheap disquise” sound stunning. The number of records released nowadays that actually have real meaning are surely on the slide – it shouldn’t be refreshing to hear a band state the obvious, but for some reason it is. ‘Lights Go Out’ and ‘Modern Life’ are mini-classics too. Infact there isn’t really a bad song here.
I understand that this may be the most melodic record of Strike Anywhere‘s career, but having not yet heard any of their older stuff I cannot comment if the band have lost any of their power of projection. What I will say is that this album is anthemic, important and absolutely stunning. It’s a fist-in-the-air call to arms, featuring a band with plenty to say. ‘Change Is A Sound’ will be one of my next purchases…
www.strikeanywhere.org
Jade Tree
Paul