ALBUM REVIEW: Noi!se – Fate Of The Union (Pirates Press Records)
NOi!se are a street-punk band from Tacoma, Washington, who have been making music since 2010, but not nearly enough of it.
That’s because founding frontman Matt Henson was, until recently, a serving member of the US military, and the band ranked below his job and his family in his pririties.
Now retired from the army, he’s got the bit back between his teeth, with a new, revitalised line-up of NOi!se, and this is their first album of all-new material in 10 years.
Last December’s compilation On And On, consisting of singles, EPs and compilation appearances, drew a line under the previous line-up, and good as it was, the new material finds NOi!se revitalised.
That’s perhaps down to the return of guitarists Justin Miller and Kenny Dirkes, who played on some of their earlier releases, as well as the new rhythm section of bassist Aaron Williams and drummer Mike Parker, with Henson the only continuing member.
The result is 10 slices of songs of hard-hitting, incisive punk rock of the kind which made audiences fall in love with NOi!se in the first place.
It kicks off with lead single Vast Contrast, which has a simple but powerful message about how those in power have manipulated the working classes to turn against each other.
It’s an instant NOi!se classic, and it’s not alone. You Versus You is more personal, and this switching between personal and political topics is one which runs through the whole album.
Pummeling drums, juddering basslines, big riffs and the occasional squalling solo provide a perfect backdrop for Henson’s distinctive rasping vocals.
Highlights include the galloping Ever Afraid, the chugging This Isn’t Home and the swaggering Media Alchemy, but truthfully there’s not a dull moment.
Closing things out is a new recording of Idle Action, the band’s signature song, which has somehow never previously featured on a full-length studio album. It’s a great end to a fine ‘comeback’ album. Hopefully they won’t leave the next one so long. 8.5/10
- Fate Of The Union by NOi!SE is available on three different vinyl variations from Pirates Press Records in the US and on exclusive gold nugget vinyl in in Europe from Coretex Records.
