Review: Strike Anywhere – “Nightmares of the West”

Pure Noise Records- July 17, 2020

Wake up, speak up and tear the oppressors down

We may have had to wait over a decade since Strike Anywhere released their last studio album the 2009 Iron Front, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t had a need for their brand of political punk since then. The quintet from Richmond, VA have always been known for their progressive politics and melodic punk sound. Nothing has changed on that front, even if the three arrows logo of the band has come more into the forefront today based on its origins in the anti-fascist movement of the early years of Nazi Germany.

Nightmares of the West is a full frontal assault on what lyricist Thomas Barnett clearly opposes, specifically the injustices we can see across the planet and the frustration sweeping American voters as voices are seemingly muzzled more and more without any efforts to conceal the rampant voter suppression. Barnett hasn’t given up on the country yet though, there is a clear theme of optimism echoing across the twenty minute EP.

“Documentary” opens up the album with five-piece coming in hot, calling out the United States’ history of colonizing and our irrational and hypocritical fear of refugees despite our self-congratulating pretenses of compassion for “huddled masses yearning to be free.” The five-piece here for just complaining without rallying though, regularly reminding us across the track that “We deserve to fight for everyone. For all that we’ve lost, for all that we are.” This is the unifying message we just may need today.

That message of not being divided echoes on “Dress the Wounds” as Strike Anywhere call out the absurdity of allowing our political affiliations to come between our personal morality. Barnett channels poet Dylan Thomas to remind us that if we get caught up in the us vs them mentality it is easier for us to “go gently into that good night.”

In 2020 its nearly impossible to record, master, and distribute a politically charged album and remain timely. Its a sad fact that the outrages we face change too fast for the music to keep up with, which is why “The Bells” is impressive in how it seems such a relevant soundtrack to the nightly news. Then again, maybe its less about the relevance and more about the sad state where we can still find monuments to the Confederacy. The fact that the poignancy is underscored by melodic riffs and a toe-tapping beat definitely doesn’t hurt the strength of the song.

“Frontier Glitch,” the single from the album, does something bordering on impossible. Not only does it manage to cram powerful lyrics about the false narrative of America as a global white knight into just over a minute and a half, but it somehow manages to squeeze a sweet guitar solo into the short burst of anger. The followup number, “Imperium of Waste” may be the most accessible of the band’s protest hymns. This is the kind of track that has the power to change minds because its simply too damn catchy to ignore. The oddly out-of-sequence “Opener” is a cover of the South London trio Blocko‘s opening track on 2003’s Edmondsun Avenue. When the album closes out with “We Make the Road by Walking,” there’s no question that Strike Anywhere still have it. The song starts fast and hard but slows to bring us all together on one final protest march together. These Nightmares of the West have to end, and Strike Anywhere is not going to let us sleep through our chance to make a change for each other.