For Family And Flag Volume 2
Pirates Press Records, 2023
REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 05/24/2024
The Pirates Press label has reached the rare milestone of 400 releases now, and to celebrate the occasion they've treated us to these 16 tracks (five are previously unreleased) from the stars of their roster, many of which just happen to be some of the best of the best in the modern day hardcore/punk scene.
The Inciters start the party with their soulful brand of thumping Motown flavor across “Bring Back The Weekend,” and The Slackers continue that mood with the highly rhythmic dub, rocksteady and ska influences that populate “New York Berlin.”
The pace and volume then picks up thanks to the bouncy bass lines and driving guitars of the charged “Hello Outsider,” from Territories, before the raw and gritty folk-rock of Billy Liar’s “Hogmanay.”
Further into the first half, the head bobbin’, toe tappin’ “The City” shows us just how infectious Hunting Lions can be, and the always excellent Teenage Bottlerocket finishes off Side A with their swirling pop-punk fun.
Leading off the backside is the dense and furious hardcore of Flores Y Fuego, whose “Soy Tu Voz” is hard hitting and bristling. “Sister,” a previously unreleased track, then illustrates Starving Wolves’ gruff yet melodic ways.
More unreleased selections land near the end, and include the throbbing bass and wild drumming of Noi¡se’s “What We've Gained.” as well as Sweat’s yelping and jarring “Pure Display.” The record exits with some good old-fashioned working-class punk thanks to Stomper 98's “Alex-Schatten De Nacht.”
Whether your interests lie towards Oi!, reggae, ska, soul or straight forward rock’n’roll, there’s something for everyone here. If the label’s catalog is unfamiliar to you, consider this a sampling of some future records you’ll certainly own and play often.