Anti-Flag's latest, For Blood And Empire, had two strikes against it before I'd even listened to it. First, it's a self-proclaimed "political concept album," and second, this is the band's major label debut. I was worried that the "concept album" moniker may lead to something cliche, and I was even more worried that RCA Records may have forced this previously staunchly political band into a watered-down version of their previous releases.
Both worries were unfounded.
The Package Is Definitely Major Label
Not only does RCA appear to have given Anti-Flag free reign to create the album they want, it appears that RCA has allowed them to produce an album that is better than they could have produced on an indie.
First off, the packaging is really slick. The CD is in a cardboard sleeve intended to be used as a political stencil. The liner notes feature the lyrics of each song, accompanied by an essay explaining the facts behind the song. These essays are written by major activists and bestselling authors, and add weight to Anti-Flag's message.
The Message is Definitely Not Major Label
One could write off For Blood And Empire as a slickly-packaged liberal political package if the music weren't so good. It reminds you that the members of Anti-Flag may be politically active, but they are, first and foremost, punk musicians.
This album may be their angriest yet, but it's also the most musically diverse. Tracks like "The Press Corpse" and "Cities Burn" deliver straight-up punk anthems, while other tracks, most notably "This is the End (For You My Friend)" and "The W.T.O Kills Farmers," show how far the band has progressed musically by combining addictive riffs with their message, forcing you to nod along.
The most surprising track is "1 Trillion Dollars," a predominantly acoustic track that is simultaneously the least punk-sounding track on the album and the song most consistent with Anti-Flag's message. It's the song on the album that comes closest to a traditional '60s protest song, and it's also the song that really shows how far Anti-Flag has come, both musically and politically.
Anti-Flag's biggest downfall for years has been that they've been preaching to the choir. Perhaps their contract with RCA will be just the thing needed to bring both their message and their music to the masses.
