Album review: Antiseen – “Great Disasters” (Deluxe Edition)

TKO Records – 01 Aug 2023

Forty years in, and Antiseen are still delivering top-notch audio beatdowns.

Forty years is a long time for any band to exist. Especially one that has spent most of that time toiling in the punk underground. It shows an undeniable dedication and obstinance. Or at least a massive chip on the shoulder. Maybe that’s what keeps Antiseen hard-as-nails while most of their peers have either gone soft or packed it in. Four decades deep, and their us-against-the -world mentality is on full display. Great Disasters still sounds hungry and angry. Antiseen have never really quit recording and have a massive discography going back to 1985. This is the band’s 10th proper full length, but they have over 110 official releases. 

Antiseen throw down the gauntlet on the raging one minute Side A opener, “Wreck Everything”. It’s clear from the get-go that their goal is not to wallow in nostalgia. There are no gimmicks or novelty to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Instead, the Charlotte, NC quartet focus on delivering a killer new platter of Destructo Rock. The crucial musical element is front and center – founding singer Jeff Clayton’s raspy howl. 

“Wreck Everything” is followed by the equally fast and intense “Born to Win”. It turns the typical punk “born to lose” trope on its head. “Payday” lets the band settle into a groove and is all about how the working man chooses to spend his hard earned money. “Might Makes Right” slows things down even further with its rhythmic, almost chanted chorus. “Whatchoo See” speeds things back up and is a mantra to the band’s lack of pretension. 

For the first three decades of Antiseen, the other crucial musical element was founding guitarist Joe Young’s raunchy sound. It was as overdriven and distorted as anything you’re likely to hear. Since his passing in 2014, others have left the basic sound intact while adding more dynamics. The current version of the band is really a “classic” or “all star” lineup in its own right. Walt Wheat from Before I Hang plays guitar. (Wino from The Obsessed etc also contributes some lead guitar.) Sir Barry Hannibal, who was previously Antiseen’s bassist, plays drums and produces. Familiar name and longtime friend of the band Malcolm Tent plays bass. 

Side B opens with the record’s epic centerpiece, “The Mothman Will Bring Us Great Disasters”. “Stubborn as a Mule” could be the band’s theme song. (See the opening paragraph.) Antiseen have always done their fair share of covers. “Who Needs Ya” is a Steppenwolf song from 1970, and adds some female backing vocals. “Older & Wiser” seems like an appropriate way to end this platter. Antiseen’s sound and mission has changed very little over the last 40 years, but they’ve learned a thing or two along the way. Most importantly, they’re still making great records.

For vinyl fiends: This is another beauty from TKO. It’s a vibrantly colored gatefold with a heavy duty, full color inner sleeve and a Mothman sticker. There are 100 available in Mothman Larval Goo green, 200 in Radiation Sunburst, and an undetermined number of black.