Album Review: Propagandhi - Failed States

Canadian political punk rockers Propagandhi are back with their first new material in three years – a relatively quick turnaround for the band – and sonically it sits somewhere between the full-throttle punk-rock of 2001's Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes and the technical metal-tinged sound the band forged on Potemkin City Limits(2005) and Supporting Caste. (2009).

The sprawling, cinematic Note To Self is a curious choice to open the album, but lyrically it's exactly what we've come to expect from the band – a scathing critique of capitalism that takes aim at the mass media and wraps up its almost six minutes by advising the listener “The answer's there right before your eyes: rise”.  The band traverses more familiar terrain on the title track, an aggressive dose of unadulterated punk rock reminiscent of Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes-era Propagandhi that blasts by in less than two minutes and simultaneously laments the futility of war and questions mankind's priorities. 

Bassist Todd Kowalski takes over lead vocals for the breakneck Rattan Cane and Hadron Collision, before Hannah returns for the equally punchy, riff-heavy Status Update, with  Kowalski returning to lead vocals for Cognitive Suicide, which targets “cowards” who commit bigotry against the LGBT minority.  Other highlights include the comparatively light-hearted Things I Like, earnest Unscripted Moment and epic closing track Duplicate Keys Icaro (An Interim Report).

Failed States might not contain the same instant hooks that existed on some of the band's earlier releases, but – as was the case with its predecessor Supporting Caste – after a few repeat spins it all begins to sink in.