Album Review: Propagandhi - Failed States

Propagandhi make no bones of their left-leaning politics. With a band moniker shrewdly referencing the weight of media manipulation and the egalitarianism of an Indian freedom fighter, Failed States continues the themes firmly established during their '86 formation. Conceived when vocalist Chris Hannah postered Winnipeg record stores with advertisements touting, “progressive thrash band looking for bassist”, 26 years on, they've not only filled the position, but achieved the radical sound proclaimed.

Over the course of its 37-minute duration, their sixth album, aptly lifting its title from a Noam Chomsky narrative, evocatively explores ecocide, imperialist wars and consumerism. Politics is one thing the band does, and does well. It is, however, not the only thing, shifting seamlessly between the serious and the sarcastic. “Perfect world we seek, Perfect world, fantasy,” belt the gang vocals of the title track with brazen diatribe. “I try not to live in fear and I'm truly grateful for every moment here,” sings Hannah on Unscripted Moments, a heartfelt dedication to his family, while in Things I Like – the album's least serious moment – he itemises his interests, listing Kurt Russell, planetariums, Cinderella stories and doom amongst other hobbies.

Musically, Propaghandi's merger of metal and punk borrows the best from both genres and their associated subsets. The complexities of their guitar riffs have increased considerably on each release, particularly since adding a second guitarist in 2006. At times though such intricacies detract from their lyricism, with the words too fast to digest or taking a back seat to lead instrumentation; a temporary causality in their wrath of fury. Joint vocalists add another voice to the band, in more than the literal, with album highlight Dark Matters seeing bassist Todd Kowalski demand the microphone in what is truly a collaborative and commanding album.