Forth to War!

On this edition of Condemned to Combat we’re marching into battle with some shitkicking American Oi!

Our first wave of assault is delivered by Sweet Fuck All out of Philidelphia. This tank on the album cover is crushing your skull right from the first riff on the first track. And that’s the title track Mission Accomplished – a standard issue tune about getting hammered. Tracks 2 through 5 turn up the intensity even more. Next up is the instant 21st Century anthem American Skinhead Pride. These boys are playing pure US Oi! and pulling no punches. This track rips – hard! While you’re still shell shocked from that banger, Sweet F.A. charges on with more pummeling warfare on Forth to War (my personal favorite), Cold War, and Paths to Glory. This album is relentless. After track 5 they get into some more personal territory, but they never let up with the brickwall onslaught. These guys are mad about a lot of shit and great at telling you all about it. They close the album out with Dark Ages, showing a bit of their philosphical side with a historical track. And when the album’s over you’re a double amputee with PTSD. Sweet Fuck All fucking kills it.

First Strike is the next battalion on the front line with their debut S/T E.P. I can’t get enough of this band’s sound. I’m sure a lot of people think they’re awful. But as a die-hard Oi!ster they deliver that acquired taste in working class stompers thats makes my blood pump. The lo-fi, DIY recording quality and the monotone vocals are impeccable Oi! gold in my earholes. They fire it off with Let the Rich Go To War, a true working man’s ballad. After that they smash some commies with Counter Revolution and then close it out with a Reject’s cover. Oi! Oi! Fuckin’ Oi! That about sums it up. These unrecognized titans just put out another record this year, so hopefully I’ll get my hands on that soon. This is a good introduction to an outstanding and underrated band. Get on this and matriculate toward true Oi! enlightenment. Strictly not for posers.

Bringing up the rear guard is Battle Ruins – another American Oi! band but one that delivers it’s own take on Oi! for the third millenium. It’s Oi!, it’s hardcore (but not crazy fast), it’s heavy metal. And it crushes. Performing Blood Eagles, Stomping Out Traitors and raining devastation on all that oppose them. This band pounds hard and gets you charging forth under their war banner and singing their war hymns on the first spin. This S/T E.P. is a perfect introduction for anyone still unfamiliar with these up-and-coming rock ‘n’ roll barbarians. Cover them in glory.