‘Raise the Bullshit Flag’ is the first official UK release from one of Indiana’s most brutal bands. It’s worth noting before we go any further that this is not an album to be taken lightly. This isn’t an album your parents will appreciate you listening to, and it’s definitely not baby-making music. This is the definition of new age hardcore. It’s angry, it’s fast, and even just by looking over the song titles (‘I Guarantee you’re a piece of shit’, anyone?), you know it ain’t gonna be friendly.
Opening track ‘Raise the Bullshit Flag’ sets the tone for the rest of the album, and manages to sound like a well organised mess of searing vocals, aggressive guitar riffs and manic drum fills. Despite the initial impression that this is just pure noise, on repeated listens it becomes clear that there are definite structures to the songs, and the album shows a sense of progression as it draws to a close. The thrash metal influence is obvious throughout the album, and although at times it’s hard to distinguish the guitars from the rest of the music, in songs such as ‘I guarantee you’re a pile of shit’ and ‘If money is power’ you can see that Phoenix Bodies have been influenced by some of the older bands around like Slayer and even some of Metallica‘s crazier work. Despite this, you can’t help but think just how similar their sound is to The Locust‘s, and that a bit more originality may be required on their next release.
To be honest, if you’re prepared to go out and buy this album, you probably already know what you’re in for – songs struggling to reach two minutes in length, with very little tune and a lot of aggression. However, Phoenix Bodies ‘Raise the Bullshit Flag’ has a longer lasting appeal than most other acts in the grindcore/noisecore genre, and for that it’s commendable.
Andrew