There’s no shortage of bands who put creativity and a hard-working ethos above all thoughts of anything resembling fame and wealth. They are just happy making a racket, playing the toilet circuit and capturing some attention over their short time on stage. If they are lucky they may get to release their wares strictly on their own DIY terms too. Ipswich based quintet AWAP are the epitome of this and have been gaining a steady reputation playing those dingy, decrepit watering holes we all love, as well as to date knocking out a couple of EP’s for good measure.
Following up from their debut ‘Bigger Society’ EP of a couple of years ago ‘Mongrels’ now comes snapping on its heels like a distempered half-breed dog humping the leg of the unsuspecting. With roots firmly embedded in the punk and hardcore scenes these six tracks may not be lengthy but for all that, this 15-minute or so release certainly grabs the balls of anyone caring to give it a listen.
It’s the punk side of things that gets my attention, no surprise as it’s pretty much what I grew up on. The title track is first up and I got thrown down a tunnel straight away due to the bouncy chug-laden melody and singer Matt’s somewhat sneary, gobby (don’t spit at him on stage) vocals. It suddenly dawns that best comparison here is Rob The Baron Miller and this has all the trimmings of the mighty Amebix, without the dodgy conspiracy theories, about it. There is political intent and messages here and they are all firmly aligned with the Anarcho punk bands of yore. Crust and gnarly disgust runs down the walls like discharged sweat and beer as these Icons of the quite Filthy slam into one of a couple of short and savage 39 second blasters ‘(Dis)parity.’ Over in a blink it might be but the message of inequality in the world and discontent is evident. ‘Multi-Purpose Pit Song’ may suggest forgetting it all and going haywire in a circle pit but lyrically it’s spot on with its diatribe against right-wing boot-boys, The line “Fascists! Bullies! You’ll cower in our wake! But rather than beat you We’ll bake you a cake” did make me laugh at its politeness but then again if the recipe comes from the Anarchist cookbook don’t go expecting a Victoria sponge.
’30 Second Finger Blast’ takes a five finger discount from the corporate supermarket chain and there’s a gutter-punk snot to the stuck up tree-protesting ‘Arboreally Yours.’ Complete with a pogo bounce and roughshod melody it hurls conkers at those high-visibility jacket wearing de-constructors below. If you had been attempting to work the band name letters into words, well they are provided for you with last track ‘Ant Walking Alligator People.’ If that’s as clear as mud it derives from the gruesome “name given by survivors of Hiroshima to people horrifically disfigured by the atomic blast.” Anyone remember the 1985 compilation album ‘We Don’t Want Your Fucking War?” Well this one would have fitted right on alongside the likes of Broken Bones, Subhumans, Varukers, UK Subs and Anthrax UK. Nuff said, tune in at the following links…
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
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