Anti-Flag – American Fall – Review

It’s really exciting for me to talk about Anti Flag, one of my favorite bands, one of those you fall in love with at first listening. Their shows are a mixture of sweat and energy and when you see them you will not forget them anymore. Who in the middle of a concert takes the drums, with microphones and cables, and begins to play in the middle of the moshpit creating an amazing frenzy, one with the audience? Masters of modesty, of punkrock and aptitude, Clash’s godchildren have just released their twelfth studio album, AMERICAN FALL, in my humble opinion a truly outstanding album. I must say that there are two tracks in particular that make me want to sing, dance and jump, the first ones I heard as singles before the official release on November 3rd, I keep listening to them without getting tired. One is THE CRIMINALS, a punkrock track full of anger and energy, a critique of modern society, governed by money and deceit, where we are all considered only numbers not names. The second, and perhaps my favorite track of the album, because of my great passion for upbeat music, is WHEN THE WALL FALLS, the third track of the album; it sounds very 80s, from the second wave of ska or from a Clash album, the same aptitude, a powerful bass, and a song to sing along with. Then TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME, giving me shivers at first listening with its beautiful choirs, LIAR, a fast, powerful track, and RACIST, a beautiful song against racism, against those who say “I’m not a racist, but…” you know, against ignorance that creates the fear for the other, against sexism and fascism, in short, very good lyrics, but never trivial and very relevant. In short, you should listen to this album very loud in your car, listen to it again and again and sing along. Great Anti Flags, they honor punkrock in the world, the real punk, protesting but always with their non-violence, their intelligence, because words weigh more than batons.

Tracklist with ratings:
1. American Attraction – 8
2.The Criminals – 9.5
3.When The Wall Falls – 9.5
4.Trouble Follws me – 8.5
5.Finish What We Started – 7.5
6. Liar – 8.5
7. Digital Blackout – 7
8. I Came. I Saw. I Believed. – 7.5
9. Racists – 9
10. Throw It Away – 7.5
11.Casualty – 7.5

Album Rating: 8,5

Key Sentence: “Reject the criminality That monetizes our humanity Construct a new reality Where you’re not just a number, you’re a name We’ll never have our dignity Till all you fascists are 6 feet deep” – The Criminals

Reviewed by G.M.
Translated by E.C.