The single drops serve as a bit of a primer for the new direction. ‘Cat Guy’, moves slowly with panther-like grace and a strong animal rights message, unflinching in it’s candour. “Which one of God’s pitiful creatures would you condemn?” Chris Hannah asks, “It’s time to come to terms with mankind’s default mode.” Compared to the quick fire attacks of an older hit like ‘Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes’, it’s incredibly slow. Title track ‘At Peace’ starts with a whispered warning and solos like barbed wire before we get into the blackest of punk humour and reflection, but most importantly it sums up the change in Propagandhi. “I am at peace, give or take a fit of blinding rage,” explains Hannah. They aren’t just flailing against the machine any more, they’re tougher and picking their battles. 

The autobiographical, and explanatory, quality makes this record a love letter to their fans. ‘No Longer Young’, the band’s reasoning why we shouldn’t waste time to change the world, feels open and polished. Propagandhi shouldn’t feel the need to explain why they haven’t started the revolution yet, but they still do and we love them for that reassurance as well as the razor sharp guitar work. One of their more conventional songs, ‘Prismatic Spray (The Tinder Date)’, skips them towards the metal end of their punk sound (and has to be one of the better songs about playing Dungeons and Dragons) without compromising on their DIY, bootstraps energy, but it’s their throwaway, conversational lines like ‘It wasn’t so bad as Tinder dates go’ that makes it such an appealing song. 

The older, wiser take on politics fuels a more nuanced, guitar, driven sound. ‘Benito’s Earlier Work’, taking on our reactions to Mussolini, sounds like a song created by Bad Religion’s even-more-left-wing cousins and it’s a glorious, bass filled warning to fascist sympathisers. Even songs like ‘Vampires Are Real’, with it’s deceptively lightweight title, blister with punk energy and loaded metaphorical messages. ‘Fire Season’ scorches with killer drumbeats and dark menace, showing no restraint in the face of disaster, and the way they their hard-won skills shine to create stark landscapes on ‘Day By Day’ is as glorious as the message it shares is urgent. 

Much like Batman coming to defend Gotham when its citizens need him the most, Propagandhi have re-emerged just as the news cycle grows bleaker. If they’ve shown us anything over the years, its that they can change with the times, whether it’s shifting deliberately away from a scene they felt was bigoted in the nineties or putting their money where their mouth in for activism. Now, they’ve returned, a necessary outsider voice to spread their truth. Politically charged and just as bold as the rest of their back catalogue, ‘At Peace’ is the next essential chapter in Propagandhi’s manifesto.

KATE ALLVEY

The dates will be in support of their third album ‘You Can’t Stay Here’, which was released last year on SideOneDummy Records.

You can check out the details for these dates as well as their previously announced other UK appearances below.

APRIL
17 BRIGHTON The Haunt
19 LEEDS Brudenell Social Club w/ Spoilers
20 GLASGOW Saint Luke’s* w/ Petrol Girls + Bratakus
21 MANCHESTER Manchester Punk Festival*
22 BRISTOL SWX* w/ Jesus & His Judgemental Father
23 LONDON The Lexington w/ Mobina Galore

* w/ Propagandhi

It is the title track from their second album, which was released last year on Specialist Subject Records.

The band will also be playing the following UK shows.

JANUARY
18 LEEDS Wharf Chambers* w/ Eat Defeat
19 LIVERPOOL Craft Tap Room* w/ Good Grief + Snakes Everywhere
20 GLASGOW The Flying Duck* w/ Marble Gods + Anna Secret Poet
21 BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds* + Haq123
FEBRUARY
10 NOTTINGHAM No More Valentines, Chameleon Arts Centre
APRIL
01 SHEFFIELD Broomhall Community Centre w/ Kinky
22 BRISTOL SWX w/ Propagandhi + Iron Chic
JUNE
08 BRADFORD The 1 in 12 Club w/ Fear Insight, Luddite Collective + Bogans

* w/ Schande

The Copyrights, The Restarts, The Spook School, The Baby Seals, Revenge of the Psychotronic Man, Holiday, Hoof, Start at Zero, No Matter, Speedozer, Ducking Punches, Casual Nausea, Tellison, Lucinda Livingstone and Millie Manders will join the likes of Propagandhi, Iron Chic, Lightyear, and more at the Manchester based festival from the 19th to the 21st April 2018. More acts shall be added soon.

The event will take place across various Manchester venues including Gorilla, Rebellion, The Bread Shed, Zombie Shack, Underdog, Font and The Thirsty Scholar. Advance tickets cost £40 and can be purchased here. Keep a tab on their Facebook for future updates.

In October the band released their third album ‘You Can’t Stay Here’ via SideOneDummy Records.

As for Propagandhi, their latest album is their seventh ‘Victory Lap’, which was released in September via Epitaph Records.

APRIL 2018
20 GLASGOW Saint Luke’s w/ Petrol Girls + Bratakus
21 MANCHESTER Manchester Punk Festival
22 BRISTOL SWX w/ Jesus & His Judgemental Father

Iron Chic, Lightyear, Waterweed, Dead Neck, Captain Trips, Brassick, Apologies, I Have None, Bobby Funk, Wadeye, Crumbs, Eat Defeat, Hot Mass, Goodbye Blue Monday, The Raging Nathans, Enda McCallan, Carl Moorcraft, and Tim Loud will join the likes of Propagandhi, Wonk Unit, The Bennies and more at the Manchester based festival from the 19th to the 21st April 2018. More acts shall be added soon.

The event will take place across various Manchester venues including Gorilla, Rebellion, The Bread Shed, Zombie Shack, Underdog, Font and The Thirsty Scholar. Advance tickets cost £40 and can be purchased here. Keep a tab on their Facebook for future updates.

Culture Shock, Random Hand, Beat the Red Light, The Tuts, Counterpunch, Rougheck Riot, Sam Russo (full band), Atterkop, Chewing On Tinfoil, PMX, Rebuke, Happy Accidents, Sounds of Swami, In Evil Hour, Freddy Fudd Pucker, Tom Aylott, and Dead Drummer will join the likes of Propagandhi, Wonk Unit, The Bennies and more at the Manchester based festival from the 19th to the 21st April 2018. More acts shall be added soon.

The event will take place across various Manchester venues including Gorilla, Rebellion, The Bread Shed, Zombie Shack, Underdog, Font and The Thirsty Scholar. Advance tickets cost £40 and can be purchased here. Keep a tab on their Facebook for future updates.

The Flatliners – Indoors

The Flatliners head to the UK this week in support of their new album ‘Inviting Light’ – out now on Rise Records. Still proving that they are one of punk rock’s finest.

Iron Chic – My Best Friend (Is A Nihilist)

Iron Chic are gearing up for the release of their new album ‘You Can’t Stay Here’ through Side One Dummy. Yet more infectiously catchy melodic punk rock from the Long Islanders.

Can’t Swim – God Awful

New Jersey’s Cant Swim released this standalone single through Pure Noise Records at the end of September,  following on from the release of ‘Fail You Again’ earlier this year. Huge, anthemic rock music. Catch them on tour in the UK with Creeper in December.

Racquet Club – Head Full Of Bees

This new Los Angeles quartet feature members of Knapsack, The Jealous Sound and Samiam. Their debut self-titled album is out now through Rise Records. I’m hooked, big time.

River Jumpers – Thick Blood

Brighton-based River Jumpers released their new single ‘Thick Blood’ last week. Another dose of hook-laden, upbeat punk rock. They’re the cream of the crop when it comes to UK pop punk.

The Xcerts – Daydream

Once again, The Xcerts have blown everyone out of the water. ‘Daydream’, the new single from the Aberdeen-via-Brighton trio follows their trademark brand of emotional rock music with soaring choruses and impeccable musicianship. It’s criminal that The Xcerts aren’t the biggest band in the UK.

Blackout Problems – Follow Me

Taken from 2016’s ‘Holy’, ‘Follow Me’ has been my most listened to track of the past 12 months. Blackout Problems, who hail from Munich, are currently packing out shows all over the continent. Hopefully, it’s not too long before they grace the UK with their flawless melodic post-hardcore noise.

Frank Grimes And The Distasters – Turn Off Your Radio

You don’t hear of many punk rock bands from Barnsley, but, Frank Grimes And The Disasters are certainly the best. If you miss that old Alkaline Trio sound, I guarantee you will love these guys. Catch them opening the Fireball Fuelling The Fire Tour in Sheffield later this month.

Propagandhi – Victory Lap

Having just released their new album ‘Victory Lap’ through Epitaph, these absolute legends will be back in the UK in April including an appearance at Manchester Punk Festival. I can’t wait!

Converge – ‘Reptilian’

‘Reptilian’ is the third single, taken from the upcoming new album ‘The Dusk In Us’. Keeping with tradition, Converge provide us with another punishing slice of metal-tinged hardcore.

Last week the band released their seventh album ‘Victory Lap’ via Epitaph Records.

APRIL 2018
20 GLASGOW Saint Luke’s
21 MANCHESTER Manchester Punk Festival
22 BRISTOL SWX