Review Summary: This record does nothing to break the mold but it does a good job reminding us that it's okay to be angry.
If there's one word to describe Anti-Flag, it's consistency. For over 20 years they have been known in the punk community for their signature sound; angry gang vocals, sing-along choruses, catchy guitar riffs, and a ska-influenced song from time to time. In a world that feels so unpredictable and chaotic at times, is Anti-Flag here to channel the disturbing and unsafe reality of this world into their music? Well, not really. Anti-Flag are back, and the record is angry, but also very safe and predictable. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with that, just ask any AC/DC fan, but songs like "A Nation Sleeps" left me wanting more of that fast, "not-so radio friendly" sound. Instead, we get a catchy, but overall generic and sometimes cheesy record that sprinkles some sensitive topics here and there.
The record starts off well with a speech from Trump before blasting into one of their better opening tracks "Hate Conquers All", and then shortly after, tackles some dark subject matter in an upbeat way with their far-right protest song "Christian Nationalist". From a songwriting perspective, it's on par with what they've released in the last decade, and like those records, it leaves a lot to be desired. The production is sleek and the guitars have bounce, but it's nothing you haven't heard before from these guys.
If there's one thing though that Anti-Flag does right, it's creating songs that seem relevant at the time, but are fairly generic protest songs that anyone can relate too. This record is no different. If you're already an Anti-Flag fan, you've heard this all before. If you're new to punk music, then it's a fun, listenable record that hopefully gets you deeper into the scene.
The world is definitely a better place with a band like Anti-Flag, and as staples in the punk genre, this is probably as angry as they'll get, and that's okay.
