Coliseum begin their UK tour tomorrow and with (Black) Flag hitting up Groezrock this weekend, we caught up with Ryan from the band to go through his top 5 Black Flag songs as a preview to the ferocious week the band have ahead of them.
1. “I’ve Heard It Before” from Six Pack
Every song on the First Four Years compilation is essential. The Dez songs are so killer, his voice is perfect for the early Black Flag sound. They’re all timeless anti-authority anthems.
2. “Out Of This World” from In My Head
The later Flag records get a bad rap, but when you revisit them they are all pretty untouchable. This one combines the Ginn-isms with grooving rock in a really great way, with Rollins doing his thing on top. Makes me want to skateboard.
3. “Modern Man” from Loose Nut
You can not fuck with this intro. Second only to Sabbath in it’s sheer Sabbath-ness. Then it devolves/evolves into a ripping punk mantra. By the later albums Rollins had really hit his stride and the band was on fire.
4. “The Bars” from Slip It In
Slip It In may be the best Black Flag album… Hell, they all might be the best. Aside from some of the idiotic adolescent sexual content this record is pretty flawless. The ascending chugging chorus riff is awesome and Rollins is laying it all out here. Plus, Kira and Bill Stevenson! None better! That solo… Hot damn.
5. “My War” from Live ’84
The best pissed off us-against-them song ever made. This is an every day anthem any time some fucking regular citizen inevitably does something asinine to piss you off. The “Live ’84” version is better than the album version, more intense and better recorded. Rorschach did an incredible cover of this tune too.
Check them out on tour from tomorrow.
APRIL
27 ASHFORD Platform 5
28 TRURO Live Bar
29 BRIGHTON Green Door Store*
30 LEEDS Brudenell Social Club*
MAY
01 BRISTOL Exchange*
02 LONDON Xoyo*
* – with Narrows
The band release their absolutely brilliant album ‘Sister Faith’ on Monday through Holy Roar Records.