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Rating: On an imaginary scale, that goes from pop to punk, on the hundred steps that rise from the bottom to the top, after much wandering we would find, if not at the end but almost, the Casualties. This surreal scenario to give the idea of the type of sound (perhaps more than sound, it would be appropriate to use the term loud!) that characterizes the productions of the aforementioned band. If on the first steps we would find Green Day and company, to get to the top it takes a bit of effort and it is not certain that once reaching the goal, one can handle the height from the ground. Which also rhymes!
Well yes, ladies and gentlemen, because the style of the New York band is certainly not within the reach of any kind of human ears. Complicated sound proposal? Not quite, the recipe is as strong and genuine as a strawberry cake made by mom, but in the long run, it risks staying on the stomach for those who are not lovers of the basic sound ingredients.
Now, however, some clues about the group just to give a more precise idea. The Casualties are one of the most well-known hardcore/punk - street punk bands, formed in New York (also the city of Sick Of It All) in 1990. Their style is inspired by the English hardcore and punk scene, offering a sound similar to bands like Exploited, GBH, Blitz, Partisans, etc. A sound that makes the speed of the rhythm section its battle horse all seasoned by Contreras' vocal performance that mostly uses raw screaming, completed by the frequent choruses in pure Oi! style in which the combo engages.
From the original lineup, only the singer Jorge Contreras remains, now supported by Jake Pass Kleatis on guitar, Rick Beer on bass, and Meggers Eggers on drums. The Casualties are recognized as the inventors of the motto "spikey-haired" and the slogans "up the punx" and "punx unite" (also the title of one of their songs).
This "Die Hards" is the fourth studio album of the band, following "Stay Out Of Order" from the previous year.
About the individual songs, thirteen for those who love numbers, what to say? There's little to describe as the tracks are all very similar. It's a pity because some variation wouldn't have ruined the overall painting and the group preferred to use the few available colors instead of the many present on the palette to finish the artwork. But punk would have been outraged if the four Americans had opted for the second choice.
The initial pair "Nightmare" and "City council" is a punch in the stomach, from which it is difficult to recover, capable of transforming even the mildest person after listening. In the second track, particularly, Jorge Contreras seems to literally tear his vocal cords. Among the best episodes, "Die hards" which opens with some choruses and "Made in NYC", in which the singer screams less than usual and the guitars create more pleasant chords in which a good dose of aggression still remains. One of the few songs, perhaps the only one, where new school influences can be found. "Can't stop us" (with a prolonged drum intro not bad) and "This is your life" where finally a nice solo pops out, are to be noted in the notebook.
Surprisingly enough, for being sung in Spanish, "Mierda mundial".
What to say if you want to buy it or more probably download it from the mule (I don't think it can be won at the church charity raffle..) I want to give you some more tips.
In particular, two aspects: vocal performance and melodies. As already mentioned, bear in mind the screams and raw singing for those who are used to a completely different type of groups. And let's clarify that the screams here are not exactly those coming from today's precise and perfect emo-core groups, here the screams are rancid, violent, nihilistic, smelling of beer, as much out of tune and hoarse. Point two, if you are looking for melody and tranquility change orb completely here there is only room for genuine chaos and nothing more. Finally, personal consideration, this album could also appeal to thrash metal lovers (even though all in all compared Metallica and Megadeth seem almost easy listening).
In conclusion, a decent CD particularly recommended to old school hardcore lovers, which certainly pays for the lack of any musical and/or thematic contamination or variation and that obeys exclusively to punk tradition.
For all those who hate the cheerful punk of NOFX, Lagwagon, and company and want something more intense and without etiquette lessons included as a bonus.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Nightmare (03:00)
This is thee sound of an army in rage
The kids are taking over the streets again
The sound of broken bottles in the night, intense fright
Look out the punx are back, the crew is out tonight
Attack, Attack the crew is out again
It's a nightmare
No more preaching for the kids of today
The youth are unemployed and full of hate
Drinking fucking beer until daylight breaks
You can see the anger in their fucking faces
Angry fucking kids, urban youth of today
The system fucked them up, in their eyes you see hate
Sound of broken bottles in the night intense fright
Look out the punx are back, the crew is out tonight
Attack, Attack the crew is out again
It's a nightmare
This is the sound of an army enraged
The kids are taking over the streets again
Another rebel youth is on the make
Your not street smart, you'll never understand
Chaos is the rule for the youth of today
Drinking 40 ounces in the dark alley ways
Sound of broken bottles in the night intense fright
Look out the punx are back, the crew is out tonight
02 City Council (02:07)
City officials lie on and on again
Down in my city, the rent has gone up again
Hide benind fakse words no more
What the fuck d you take us for
Council- you bastards control the waterfront
Don't let them tear you down
Tried to protest, it seems all invain
This rent increase I can't afford to pay
The place I live is hip today
In comes the rich the poor has t g away
Down at city hall I state my case
The city council has all been paid
They stand for the people, so they say
You filthy liars I hope you rot in hell
Council-You bastards control the waterfront
Don't let them tear you down
Rent control petitionsand off to court we go
The judge takes our side, our voice has been heard
The city knows of the council's illegal way's.
06 This Is Your Life (02:27)
Working at a very young age,
trying to help my parents pay the rent
I grew up in the ghetto where we lived day by day
Blue collar worker, no increase in youe paycheck
Better not cal in sick ot your job will be at stake
We are trying to survive in this fucking world we live in
Working class youth, working hard to make it through
Working every day, low paying jobs we get
A beer just to forget
This is your life!
Some of us go to school, try to make it through
White collar fucking worker, like a robot goes to work
Two weeks vacation a year, you have it made in this world
You better keep up the payments of that car and house you bought
We are trying to survive in this fucking world we live
Working class youth working hard to make it through
My mothers sick in bed, doctor bill has to be paid
Another ticket for speeding and the judge won't hear my pleas
President's day, Valentines day, don't forget Christmas day
Another fucking holiday created by the buisness man
We're trying to survive in this fucking world we live
Working class youth working hard to make it through
08 No Turning Back (02:20)
We're heading off to Europe for another fucking tour
Jacko in Scottland, can't understand a fucking word
No money in our pockets playing for the English punx
Drinking at the pubs for the records that we sold
One week of shows cancelled, with no money in London
If you think were headed home, you got it all wrong
No turning back- no turning back
No turning back- no turning back
Take the fucking ferry to France, off we go
No Ecuasorians allowed, border control with machine guns
Hiding in the trunk, border line has to be crossed
Riot in Parris, gassing all the fucking punx
Broken down in the mountains, what else can go wrong
Playing the French Alps, chopping wood to keep us warm
Getting paid with wine and bread, freezing in the cold
If you think were heading home, you got it all fucking wrong
Down in Italy, pasta punx made us feel at home
Up in Belgium Dirk took care of us four drunk punx
Livng in the car, playing show after show
Driving through Switzerland, I made trouble for us all
No visa, through the woods, cross the border, hide the punx
5 a.m. show, drunk punx sung all night long
Getting paid with chocolate, freezing in the cold
If you think were headed home,you got it all wrong
Up in fucking Holland, hanging with Antidote
Smoking legal grass, Ellen got us all drunk
Shows in Germany, chaos punx are all drunk
Streetpunx all over, Oxymorons at the shows
Drinking fucking beers, more probles come along
Riot police outside arresting all the punx
Getting paid with beer and bread, freezing in the cold
If you think were headed home, you got it all wrong
Touring Europe D.I.Y. freezing in the cold
If you think were headed home, you got it fucking wrong!
10 Mierda Mundial (02:36)
"antes de las guerras podias regresar volver a sus casas volver a empezar una
vida nueva todo quedo atras una vida nueva todo quedo atras"
hijo de la gran puta..
El alcalde mentiroso
Da mentiras,se pone en el poder
El alcalde mentiroso
Usa escuelas,engañan al joven
El alcalde mentiroso
Rompe promesas,Usa al pobre
El alcalde mentiroso
Policia maldita,protejerlo a el
Mierda al alcalde,maldito es un infiel(x2)
Mierda al alcalde,un cambio hay que hacer
Los ricos son ladrones
usan al obrero,roban al pobre
Los ricos son ladrones
Somos sus esclavos, sudando para el
Los ricos son ladrones
Te enfermas,te botan, sin paga tu te vas
Los ricos son ladrones
Policia maldita,proterjerlo a el
Mierda al rico,maldito es un infiel
Mierda al rico,un cambio hay que hacer(x2)
La religion es porqueria
usan a dios,asustan al pobre
La religion es porqueria
Roban tu dinero,usando la biblia
La religion es porqueria
Son pecadores,engañan a fieles
La religion es porqueria
Mataron al inca,conquistadores infieles
Mierda religiosa,devuelve nuestra fe
Mierda religiosa,un cambio hay que hacer(x2)
Todo el mundo maldecido
El rico explota,tierra aire y mar
Todo el mundo maldecido
Solo por dinero,matan sin piedad
Mierda mundialista,un cambio hay que hacer.(x2)
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