I first saw this band a few years ago at Sleazy on the trailer stage outside. Sound was awful, but they powered through the set anyway. Last saw ‘em at Mayhem at Micks where a few days later, Stef sadly lost his life with a heart attack. Tragic and untimely. This album was recorded during lockdown and was produced and mixed by BoBoNomad on behalf of Ubertroll Recordings. This is an excellent album written and performed by a top bunch, who are Clive Standish on drums, Julian Palmer Bass/vox and Clive Hale Guitar/Vox. The album can be streamed and downloaded via Bandcamp. Go on, give it a go, you will not be disappointed.
Project Fear:
A song of control and coercion. In modern day times we are sucked into the world technology. Believing it to be the real world. Slowly but surely, we are drawn into a mindset of control without actually realising it. The laptop, the mobile phone, punching in information and becoming a self-styled prisoner of the circuit board, a minion of “Big Brother”. A cracking tune, primarily drum driven with searing background guitar work, angry passionate vocals that force their way into your soul.
Take Control:
Following on from “project fear”, we are told to take back control of what we have become, or certainly becoming. Regain your self-worth and free ya’self from outside influence. Ignore the media and see for yourself what is real. Gut instinct is more often than not the right thing to listen to. Slight rockabilly guitar work intermixed with basic punk chords with a resounding back beat on drums and bass.
Like Me:
The joys of Facebook, I gotta say, I’m somewhat guilty of this. The often over used social networking users giving out their daily actions for all and sunder to see. I sense the moral of this track is not so much posting stuff, but having the need for others to react to it, and when the likes don’t come in, it becomes an issue. in a way this could outline problems some have with mental health issues, something we have seem a lot of lately whereby social media plays a massive part. Interesting song with many angles. Nice slidey guitar work, rock n rolly at times with melodic vocals.
5g Spy:
Simple message here, they’re watching you. Some crazy conspiracy shit out there over 5g etc etc. however, it has to be said that the more technically advanced we become, the more the “authorities” can see. You make your own mind up, all id suggest is be aware that everything you input can now bee seen and read, to further manipulate our lives. Easy analogy of this is the way social media can interrogate your info and show adverts that could attract you. Scary stuff. Another rocky tune with more slidey guitar work.
Angle Grinder:
A song that hits close to home for me. The utter contempt we should all have for organisations such as EDL and any other so called white supremacist group. Only 2 words to say to these creatures. “FUCK OFF”. Nice one. (Oh, and that goes for football hooligans and any other group that feeds on fear and violence)
No Soul:
This sounds like a very personal lyric, sommat the writer has been through and was dealt a massive blow to their outlook on life. The need we sometimes have for that little bit of help from those close to us. At times, we do need that help. Mental illnesses are not usually a visible thing, ya just never know what the person or friend next to you is going through. Cliches come and go, but to simply ask “are you ok mate” could potentially be a turning point in that person’s life. Slow start to this, raising in tempo along with perfectly formed vocals. Important song this, something to take on board. And do I sense of Leonard Cohen influence here?
99%:
Sometimes we need to stand up and be counted. “Lawful rebellion” to exact true justice to the masses, stop the greed of the few who control the poor and vulnerable. Passionate, angry intense track, that covers I would suggest, the power-hungry states around the planet. Oh, how we see it so many times where the populace is driven down by greedy corporations often controlled by government. Tiananmen Square always springs to mind when I read lyrics like this. It only takes one person to take the stand. Be that person.
Hedonic:
Aspects of human nature caught up in hedonistic nature, I did a bit of research on the subject, never really knew what hedonism was, turns out it’s a state of mind whereby human emotions are grouped to an experience. Some big words in the research so I’ll not bother as I don’t understand them. Anyway, Hedonic, the “treadmill” of life where everyone wants a “piece of you”. Never truer these days, we need to keep our feet on the ground and not be influenced overly by others. This is classic sounding old school punk track, ripping guitar, drums and rasping vocals, nice bit of echo thrown in.
Your Name Your Nation:
Touching on tech war again, overt and covert surveillance watching every move we make. The pressure to report on those close to us, using the “domestic terror” excuse to gain more control over us. A great line in this “there is no expression when you have no voice”, a powerful and emotive lyric that needs to be addressed in this day and age. This is quite a dark and slow tempo tune, which links in well with the subject matter. Killing Joke esque. Nice one.
Crisis:
Cracking guitar riff opens this strong and emotive track, a government using the pandemic to gain more control over us with financial manipulation. “Burn your freedoms on the pyres”. Quite a prophetic line considering the number of deaths we have seen over the last year or so. Who is to blame, not quite sure, but certain agencies need to take responsibility here? Again, something to think about.
Work the System:
The society in which we live have turned us into robots. Brought up to a large degree by brainwashing. Do what we are told, work hard to receive, follow the law, be good and obedient. Yet slowly being eroded by the “system”. “Fuel the fires with apathy ““yet in my mind I’ll always be free. Sooo true, whatever the world throws at us, we can still live our own live, at the very least in our own heads. However, “NEVER UNDERESTIMATE RESISTANCE”. Guitar riffs reminiscent of Bauhaus/Sisters of Mercy, an almost gothy rock feel, however, Clive assures me it’s not!!!
No Value:
Propaganda, fake news. Oh, the turmoil of what we are told, what we see, what we read. Who knows what is true these days? Being devalued by a society and by those that control it. Tow the line and all will be fine. I think. Time to stand up for what we believe in and be counted. Good earthy punk chords all the way thru with a heavy blended bass line
Utopia:
An ironic song title considering the topic. The speed of life, 100mph, no rest, work work work ’til you drop. This song instantly reminded of an image I saw of a firefighter, covered in dust, soot etc. having been to a job. Above it Til said” and you think its ok to work till you’re 70 for a pension. Greed isn’t just about money and material things, its about the quality of life, live to work, not work to live. The controllers literally taking our lives from us and letting us live it to its fullest. Quite a sad song really.
Words: Johnny, Pics: Band Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trisubversionofficialpage
Bandcamp: https://ubertrollrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/project-fear-2
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