SUPERSTATE are a reasonably new band from Kent who have actually been around a for a year or so creating a set of songs from scratch and recording them for release before ever having done a gig.
By not sticking to the drum, bass, guitar, vocal style of punk rock that we have been accustomed too and allowing the occaisional sample to add to the mix, Superstate have got a rather different sound for a Kent band which might not translate very well live but we have been informed that live gigs will be happening later in the year
Their first release is a 4 track download containing 4 tracks Six Fifty, Superhate, Pig Society and a dub / dance sort of remix of Six Fifty which they have charmingly named The Bunch Of Cunts mix.
The download for all for tracks is available at Bandcamp or Mediafire
Some of you may recognise the video below as it was first used with a different version of this track by Warcrime who released that as a video and one other track on a Rudimentary Peni tribute album ( available here ) before changing their name to SUPERSTATE.
I have been waiting for this album patiently since the Red Lion gig in Gravesend last year where a couple of new tracks were aired on the night and fitted in quite nicely next to the old familiar songs.
So here I was expecting an old school style Anthrax album and didnt get it.
When the plain envelope dropped thru the door i ripped it open and headed for the CD player only to be confronted by another envelope printed with a black and white image of the album cover and a neat anarchy A "grow your own" vegetable logo, nice, as was the lyric booklet and poster and the gatefold CD packaging inside the envelope - all very nice but would the noise on the CD stand up to the packaging.
"Sleeping Dogs" woke me up with a bite, then sneaked quite neatly into a semi skank with the guitars working together better than they ever have, adding somehing new to the old Anthrax groove.
A superb opening track, swiftly followed by "Monochrome Dreams" and still the guitars work beautifully together with the rhythm section providing a solid and sometimes funky backing that weave their way through the songs, this is shaping up to be a good album.
Then it's "One Last Drop" which almost gets very pop punk in places as do "Happy" and "Grin", both of which start off really poppy and drift quite nicely into the familiar onslaught and drift back again, held together superbly by Oskars voice which is given space to take control for a change and does quite nicely.
"What Does It Matter" hammers its way out of the speakers and assaults the ears old school style and wont dissapoint old school fans.
"Running On Empty" almost steps on Oi territory and pulls it off very well with its chant along chorus and almost Business like vocals in places.
And the rest of the album?
Go and get yourselves a copy because this deserves to be heard rather than written about. Whatever i can say wont do this album justice.
Anthrax have obviously worked on these songs and it shows, this is certainly no one dimensional album as many are these days and this is not a band trying to be like the band they were. Anthrax are being the band they want to be and this album oozes with that. Anyone expecting old school Anthrax from start to finish will be disappointed, this is something new and refreshing from an old school anarcho band.
Anthrax have certainly matured with age without losing their sound or their integrity.
Best thing they have ever done......quite possibly.
"Dance You Bastards Dance, You May Never Get Another Chance"
Welcome from the previously mentioned Red lion gig.
The Cd and Vinyl will be available from Anthrax on 27th August
We should be getting some for our store when it is released.
Surgery Without Research - Woman Beater - Video made by Urban Fallout with images borrowed from the internet.
Stop Violence Against Women - An important message in a brutal song - Contains images and words that some may find upsetting or disturbing. You have been warned.
This track is available on the Factory Life 6 track CD -contact the band or Deathstill Records to obtain one dirt cheap
Recorded live at The Red Lion, Gravesend on 29th January 2011.
Video and still taken by The Welsh Tart & put together by Urban Fallout.
All other images come from Anthrax MySpace
Welcome is the second track on One Last Drop CD single
This was the welcome return home to The Red Lion in Gravesend for Kent Anarcho band Anthrax after a triumphant night at The Winter Of Discontent.
This gig was also the last gig of reformed Sheerness band - The Commited who had played thier last gig before they originally split with Anthrax at this venue in 84/85 - see "Dictated Life " video for the first song they ever wrote played at the last show.
All Flags Burn - Heart Of A Riot
AFB from Sheppey featuring members and ex members of The Commited, Filthy Stay Puft Marshmallow Men, Betty Swollox and others.
We made this video for All Flags Burn because there was nothing even halfway reasonable on the web, apart from a live video shot by Librasnake.
Enjoy
Cheers to everyone over the last week or so that this blog has been up and running, in this incarnation, that has reposted, facebooked or tweeted post from here. Cheers.
In 2011 we will be launching the website (Feb hopefully) selling T-shirts, CDs, Vinyl and badges among other things as well as doing merch deals for people in the Kent area. This does not mean that we will be ignoring the rest of the UK, it just means we will be concentrating our efforts in Kent.We will also be turning up to gigs with a distro if anyone is interested in having their merch sold for them.
Thats just the begining - More things to come including a special - Fuck The Royal Wedding Gig - more details on this later - e-mail us if interested in playing.
This blog has lots of excusives coming in 2011 including interviews, videos, mp3s and a lot more from bands such as Jesus Fix, All Flags Burn, Surgery Without Research, The Commited, Aurora, The Starfighters, The Warriors, Crimewave, These Murders and Haisley Snook among others.
So lets say goodbye to 2010 with these. (not all from 2010.)
From Sheerness
All Flags Burn - Fast Lane (a cover of The Commited)
Unfortunately this video has been removed
From Thanet
Crimewave - I Wont Vote (Recorded especially for the general election)
Formed in 1980, Anthrax were an anarcho punk band from Gravesend. After appearing on the infamous Crass Label's "Bullshit Detector vol 1" in 82 they released their first single "Capitalism Is Cannibalism" on the Crass Label later that year and followed it in 83 with "They've Got It All Wrong" on Small Wonder. After a few more compilation and tape releases, Anthrax split in 84. Click Here for full discography Members went on to Gillingham band X-Cretas and Antisect
Having just reformed Anthrax will be playing The Winter Of Discontent festival at the Gaff Club in London 0n 21st-23rd January Details Here
