Isn’t it funny how punk labels can increasingly be viewed as brands? Sure, there are labels out there that release a whole spectrum of music, but many are content to stick with a specific genre. More often than not knowing what label a particular artist are on will give you a huge clue to their musical leanings. Take Hellcat, for example – 99% of their output is street punk/hardcore/ska. On the face of it the latest release on the label ticks all the Rancid-like boxes. This is The Unseen with their latest release ‘State of Discontent’.
Now, whilst The Unseen can undoubtedly be pigeonholed into the street-punk genre, they do have a lot more steel to them than most of their genre buddies. Their vocals are grittier and the music is a little faster and better structured. As expected The Unseen engage in much socio-political comment and they do it better than most. Their lyrics may be simplistic but they hit the mark more often than not.
The Unseen set their stall out from the very start of ‘State of Discontent’. The twin assault of ‘The Other Side’ and ‘Scream Out’ showcase exactly what this band is about. Strong guitar work and ferocious vocals are the order of the day here. The likes of the hook-filled ‘Force Fed’ and ‘Social Damage’ manage to take things to an even better level. It’s not all good though. There are moments, especially in the middle section, where the album does lose its way a little and both the tempo and the quality suffers. The band manage to turn it around though with the solid ‘Final Execution’ and the great closing cover of ‘Paint It Black.’
There are people who won’t give this band a chance because of the label they represent and the genre they play. However, for those of you that have a taste for socially aware street punk/hardcore, ‘State of Discontent’ by The Unseen is one of the better albums you will have the pleasure of hearing this year.
Mark