Album: Feel The Darkness
Year: 1990
Genre: Hardcore Punk
The documentary “American Hardcore” does an admirable job capturing the history and spirit of hardcore's birth and how significant and electrifying this style of music was in the early 80s. As you continue watching, the tide turns. We begin to witness some of the most innovative artists start talking about how the scene changed; how bands would change their music, how people turned their backs on what they created and how hardcore was “dead” and “over.” Well, I couldn’t disagree more with some of my heroes, as bands such as Cro-Mags, Verbal Assault, Gorilla Biscuits, Leeway and Poison Idea were putting out records that could easily complete with hardcore’s initial onslaught. In fact, if you put a gun to my head, I just might choose Start Today over Out Of Step, or Age Of Quarrel over Damaged, or Trial over Rock For Light. Blasphemy? Maybe. (and I’m glad no one is making me do that) Hardcore was alive and well even when its founding fathers didn’t know what to do with it any more. At a time when hardcore was proverbially “in the grave,” Poison Idea pounded out an album that marked their summit.
Feel The Darkness is appropriately titled. The cover sets the stage as a willing hand shoves a gun in a beastly man’s face…while smiling. This is not a feel good record. This is not a happy record. This is not a record that lets you take a moment to compose yourself and shake off the filth. Simply classifying the music as hardcore punk is unjust. The forceful and relentless nature of the sound and performances take the songs to a threatening level other bands wish they could achieve. The musicians in this stage of Poison Idea's existence were very capable at their instruments, but play with menace and passion. Simplistic and brute lyrics are spewed forth with virulence and venom, touching upon realistic social issues, personal experiences and a fun night out of lawlessness. Singer Jerry A. was quoted in an interview from Moshable #9 as saying, “All our songs are true stories.” Quit my job, told my boss to stand aside. Grabbed a gun, a fifth of booze, jumped in my ride. I got my girl, she's sixteen and she's really special. I can't slow down, I've got a date with the devil. Some people play punk rock; some people live it. This record is out of control and nihilistic. Exactly how it should be.
Listen to "Just To Get Away" here.
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