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THE REVIEW
Angry Samoans. 1982. Second album. Los Angeles. Hardcore punk. That's all that needed to be written for this record.
The stereotype of American punk music of the period can be described with "Back from Samoa." Hard and furious music, tracks that barely exceed a minute in length, simple and bold graphics, and an independent label (Triple X).
I consider Angry Samoans to be a somewhat underrated band, although they can't be considered just your common group of good unknowns. They received praise at the right times, but after their breakup, they were gradually forgotten. Most likely because, apart from this album, only "Inside My Brain" (their debut album) was a great work, after which all other records lacked great ideas and were a mess of stuff already heard.
"Back From Samoa" cannot be considered a work of genius or innovation; their music remained rather direct and concise, not excessively noisy but with arrangements that remain catchy in their genre. We know that at the time, bands like the Dead Kennedys were opening new paths with innovative and unusual variations, so I believe that many of the rightful rewards of the Angry Samoans were taken away due to the lack of a real musical personality.
As I’ve always thought, true bands are born only if they have a charismatic singer, something this band certainly doesn't lack. Mike Saunders is an excellent singer; he plays well with the vocal lines and has a pleasant voice with a distinctive tone. Instrumentally, there are no particular flaws to note. The guitars are set with raw distortions, occasionally attempting basic but sincere solos. Rhythmically, this is not the usual extremely fast punk album, you can listen to this record without becoming seriously dazed. All the tracks have their own reason, there aren't those filler pieces in the middle, and I must admit that all the tracks are distinct from one another, not making "Back From Samoa" one of those "heard one, heard them all" records.
My favorite tracks are "Gas Chamber," "Light Out", the very famous "Time has come Yoday" and the outrageous "They saved Hitler's cock".
In conclusion, I say that this album is one of the fundamental "works" of American punk, and I believe all enthusiasts of the genre should have it in their collection.Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
Angry Samoans' 1982 album 'Back From Samoa' is a raw and direct example of classic American hardcore punk. The album is praised for its concise tracks, catchy arrangements, and strong vocal performance by Mike Saunders. Although not innovative, it remains a fundamental piece in punk history. The review highlights favorite tracks and underscores the album's importance for punk enthusiasts.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans are an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1978 by “Metal Mike” Saunders and Gregg Turner. Part of California’s early hardcore wave, they’re known for provocative, satirical lyrics and breakneck, catchy songs. Key releases include the EP Inside My Brain (1980) and the album Back From Samoa (1982).03 Reviews
Other reviews
By Caspasian
Before rationalizing the vision of the cover, my soul had already decided that this is the greatest cover of all time.
Back To Samoa invigorates the jaw of the piranha within us in using our teeth not for tearing bites but for a gruesome carefree smile.
