Good Riddance
For God And Country

THE REVIEW

Debut album of the Good Riddance released back in the distant 1994 by "Fat" Mike's record label.

Pure and amazing hardcore which highlights its strengths through speed, angry vocals, and sharp riffs, although, as our band will later show us, they do not disdain more melodic pieces, and there are a few in here.

It starts right away with "Flies First Class" with its 'welcome' introduction and then kicks off because we have in front of us one of the band's best songs, with its not overly frantic rhythm, but a very personal structure with the solo at the beginning and with the intro accompanying us throughout the piece. "Better", on the other hand, raises the tempo even if the tones are not the angriest, classic melodic hardcore. Here we are at one of the angriest pieces "All Fall Down"... simply amazing. The energy pours out of every pore of the GR, truly an amazing piece with almost 'whispered' chorus only to shout at the top of your lungs "right, right, right". Simply legendary!!

"United Cigar" was included in a promotional compilation from Fat Wreck of the time (I only saw GR at various Independent Festivals, back when they were truly a punk showcase...) and it didn't impress me much, in fact, I didn't like it that much... I still hold the same opinion today. It never really grabs me... the only one on the album in question, to be honest... "Decoy" another great piece, with somewhat careless tones but of great quality. "Boys And Girls" a hybrid piece between more aggressive hardcore and the more melodic one.

Here comes another masterpiece of the album, "Mother Superior" song very melodic but very gritty; I remember the mosh it ignited (to which I participated, even if I didn't know them very well, because it really got me). "Twelve Years Circus" a dragging piece halfway between melodic/non-melodic... truly valid. "Man Of God" brings to mind the very first Bad Religion... very fast rhythm and very high aggression. Great piece. With "Lisa" the rhythms fluctuate throughout the song; at times it seems to want to slow down, while at others it gets extremely angry, like in the last part... "Wrong Again" is the most thought-out piece of the album with its finale that is very rock'n'roll. It concludes with "October" a very engaging, high-paced piece perfect for the conclusion.

Great debut for the band of Russ Rankin & Co., truly intense and gritty... sure, the best is yet to come, but as a start, it is truly excellent. Never predictable, "For God And Country" flows sharply delivering some of the best pieces of the GR repertoire published to date... aù.