Land Of The Free

It can’t be an easy life being an anarchist in America, faced with a general political apathy at best and a rabid fear of anything vaguely left of centre at worst. Perhaps that’s why the Seattle World Trade Organisation riots are being held up as such a major event. They certainly form the backdrop to Pennywise’s umpteenth album, from the cover shot and opening crowd noises to the ‘W.T.O. Fight Song’. The Californians sound positively fired up by events, perhaps a little too much as the first two-thirds of Land Of The Free speeds by in a whirl of frantic drumming, manic riffing and garbled vocals.

Whilst they surely have something to say, you’d be hard pushed to pick out what the hell it is.

Sounding like Bad Religion isn’t enough to bring down the government, as many (including Bad Religion) have found out. Just when it’s all getting a little tiresome, a certain clarity and restraint descends and the melodies and the message rise to the surface. It’s not particularly deep or complicated but, if it catches you in the right mood (preferably pissed off) and at the right volume (very loud), Land Of The Free is an inspiring piece of punk work.

Anarchy for the USA? Maybe.