As its name suggests, Anti-Flag is notorious for its leftist brand of political punk. And, perhaps because of a recent trend of distaste with the government and capitalist institutions, the band has found friendly ears for its latest album, The General Strike. While by no means for everyone, the LP is a must-hear for those who find themselves identifying with people who spent some part of the past six months camping out in parks.
Right from the beginning, lead singer Justin Sane comes out full force against the American legal system’s mistreatment of the poor and marginalized. “The Neoliberal Anthem” packs a catchy hook that backs up the lamenting lyrics about the major powers’ absence as the world devolves into turmoil. The band then ramps up the energy with “1915,” delivering more thought-provoking lyricism: “Who is wrong and who is righteous? / Will never be our own decision.”
Framing the album around the First Red Scare, Anti-Flag suggests that this same vilification of leftists may occur again. With a direct shout-out to the Occupy movement, “Nothing Recedes like Progress” records the popular mic-check technique used at many of the movement’s General Assemblies. “Broken Bones” proves the album’s most authentic highlight, giving the listener a shout-filled punk rock anthem to scream along with. Anti-Flag does a lot of what it’s good at in this album, and it does it well.
Though The General Strike serves up a non-stop flurry of passionate punk rock, it does so at the expense of some emotional depth to the album. The LP has no rise or fall—just a constant climax which, at some points, feels overwhelming. It may not be Anti-Flag’s intent to create music that may potentially alienate listeners, but the lack of accessibility to the album does not help get its rebellious message through to an audience outside of its usual fans.
At a brisk 22 minutes, The General Strike pulls no punches. Staying true to its socio-politically conscious roots, Anti-Flag creates an album that serves as an anthem for the revolutionary spirit both in America and around the world. Unfortunately, the LP’s lack of depth makes it inaccessible to those who do not share the same views as Anti-Flag. In that respect, The General Strike ends up being a rally cry shouted at deaf ears.
Voice’s Choices: “1915,” “Broken Bones”
