Straw Man Army – Earthworks :: Ondarock reviews

Despite the choice to spread their works by focusing on Promotion Carbonara, Word of word of mouth and zero use of social media, Owen Deutsch and Sean Fentes, the two New York anarcho-punk owners of the social reason Straw Man Army, reach the finish line of the fourth chapter of their career. What could be perceived as a project destined to shipwreck prematurely, survives – and continues to gain visibility – thanks also to the choice to smooth out some roughness, both in the marketing strategies and in the focus of the sound mix. The music of the Straw Man Army is now present on Spotify (but after the choice to take sides in favor of the Republicans this option probably has the hours counted …) and on other streaming platforms, while their post-hardcore becomes less and less extreme, indeed, indeed, We must recognize that a trace like “Turn the Wheel” in a perfect world could work very well in radio networks rock oriented.

What does not change are the Fugazi (and most of the world dischord/touch & go) as the main stylistic reference, and the socio-political commitment that exudes from the texts, in perfect style “Ninette Social Center”, this time forgetting i Themes related to ecology (hence the title of the album), war, anti -capitalism, crisis (but they would say in the end) of American imperialism. After two chapters dedicated to the past and present, with “Earthworks”, the duo launches premonitions on the future, through instantaners of a terrifying world from which three instrumental interludes arise (among which “Be Gone” stands out) and ten songs in which the Sonic assaults and the sudden rhythmic explosions intertwine with melodic situations.

The tension remains perpetually high, even in the most controlled passages, incorporating post-punk, post-rock, kraut, jazz and even American influences, as is perceived unequivocally in “downstream”, the final track. More four years of presidency Trump will only give us a nice pile of wonderful “against” records, just like this.

29/01/2025