The Casualties - Under Attack

This New York-based band formed in 1990, with the hopes of returning to the heyday of punk. Although their early line-up was as unstable as a trailer-park romance, the band managed to gain a respectable following, and released their first full-length album in '97, which lead to a spot on the mainstage of The Vans Warped Tour. The Casualties' new album, Under Attack has all the raw energy and angst one would expect from a punk band of this caliber. The title track is a full force assault of anthemic guitars, pounding drums, and screamed/growled vocals. The power is persevered through the tracks "Without Warning" and the sing-a-long track “System Failed Us... Again” which no doubt will get fists pumping. The group chorus that kicks off “Enemies of Society” proclaims “We are the enemies, of this society,” which leads into more hefty guitar and sing-a-long vocals. As the album progresses the lyrics become more and more intelligible, and the album evens out the power, settling into driving, anxious, solid punk. The song “On City Streets” is a break from the heavy punk, and marked by a slower tempo, prominent bass line, and one of the main tenants of punk: “United we are strong, we will carry on.” A good, solid, strong album. Punk aesthetic. Punk Revival. Punk sound. Punk. Punk. Punk. [www.thecasualties.net]