Anti-Flag, 2020 Vision - album review
American punk rock anarchists Anti-Flag are kicking off the new year with another swipe at everything that is wrong in modern society.
The new record - 2020 Vision - is the first since 2017's American Fall and sees the quartet of Justin Sane, Chris Head, Chris #2 and Pat Thetic full of the usual vitriol and anger in a call to arms for anyone who wishes to protest.
In the firing line this time around are US President Donald Trump, those who destroy the planet and "white neo Christian nationalists". And it's done with the usual level of gritty guitar, hard-hitting riffs and enough bounce to get pits frothing at any of the Pittsburgh natives' shows.
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"History is full of wealthy and powerful people using religion and cultism to justify policies of oppression and inequality," frontman and lead guitarist Sane says of Christian Nationalist - arguably the album's best track. A church organ opening gives way to that Dropkick Murphys-esque vocal delivery they love to give, until Thetic's percussion explodes into being and the song takes off. It's hard-hitting throughout - an attack on, among other things, politicians who take cash from the NRA in the States. And it is a masterpiece of fists-in-the-air fighting back against corruption.
Trump is such a giant on the current political scene of course he is going to feature heavily. The album cover with a distorted image of his face crossed out is an indication of this. And his big moment comes in opening track and pre-released single Hate Conquers All, which features snippets of some of his less kind speeches.
"The policies of Donald Trump and his administration are not just hateful," says vocalist and bassist Chris #2. "They’re racist, Islamaphobic, homophobic, transphobic, and bigoted."
This acidic track features another huge chorus aimed to create fireworks of rebellion at their shows and this shouldn't prove a problem given the revving guitars and Thetic's goading through his drumsticks.
Elsewhere, You Make Me Sick is equally emotive through its more melodic chorus that carries the vocals well, and the poppier nature of the title track works well too with its gritty, understated verses building up to a huge wall of sound.
Rating: 7/10
Anti-Flag will bring their rebellious live show to Birmingham's The Mill on February 6
