Queer black and brown North Carolina punk band The Muslims are preparing to release abrasively-titled album Fuck These Fuckin Fascists.
Formed in 2017 – the year after Trump won the US election – they’re a politically-motivated three-piece whose very raison d’etre could be to upset the alt-right.
Taking inspiration from classic punk and afropunk roots, they mix hardcore, rock-rap fusion, political satire and shared experiences as multi-racial Muslims into a powerful cocktail.
Calling out racism
They have released three albums – The Muslims (2018), Mayo Supreme (2019), Gentrified Chicken (2020), and one EP, Inshallah: Tomorrow We Inherit the Earth (2020).
Lyrically, they unapologetically use their music to call out racism, the American political landscape, and white supremacy.
The band’s leader, Sheikh QADR, draws inspiration from trailblazing black artists like Bobby Hackney Sr. (Death), Nina Simone, Jimi Hendrix, and Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex).
Drummer Ba7Ba7 and bassist Abu Shea blend their diverse musical backgrounds to drive a noisy-melodic truck into your face.
The band’s fourth album, their debut for leading indie label Epitaph Records, is out digitally on September 24 and on CD and vinyl on November 5.
After releasing title track Fuck These Fuckin Fascists in July, they have now followed it with second single Unity.
It’s a song dedicated to activists who are fighting to make change and call out the hypocrisies in government policy.
Vocalist QADR said: “As a person who fits the description of a so-called ‘black identity extremist,’ I find it funny that our music and message, calling out racist violence, makes people more uncomfortable than actual racist violence.”
“Artists are the truth-tellers throughout history, and we’re just speaking our truth.
“Fascism was never wiped out, it just got more polite and calls itself a Richard Spencer now, whatever that is.
“We’re going to speak truth to power and have a damn good time doing it.”
