ALBUM REVIEW: LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN – Anti-Flag

ANTI-FLAG have been standard bearers for political leaning punk rock ever since they first exploded into consciousness more than 30 years ago. They have remained an incendiary force ever since, always fighting the good fight with their music and their message, and this is something they do with aplomb on their new album. The Pittsburgh punk heroes return with this, their thirteenth full-length which is entitled LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN and it sees the band tackle their first ever concept album, which they deliver with predictably fiery results as they rally against the ills of the world.

The concept of the album is about the issues and the state of the world we live in today with the problems that we have faced and continue to face; this obviously includes subjects like universal healthcare and the state of the environment. These are subjects that are completely relatable for the listener and perfect folly for a punk band, especially one of the calibre of ANTI-FLAG, and they tackle them head on with the same fire that we have come to expect from a band like this.

On LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN, the band show that they are not on their own and are joined by a whole host of artists and friends who add their own edge to the songs they appear on and the energy levels throughout the record are constantly high. From instantly recognisable punk legends like MINOR THREAT/BAD RELIGION guitarist Brian Baker, RISE AGAINST‘s Tim McIlrath and Germany’s finest DIE TOTEN HOSEN‘s Campino, to brilliant newer artists like Amrita Kumar from PINKSHIFT and Stacy Dee from BAD COP/BAD COP and the perhaps surprising inclusion of the eclectic likes of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE‘s Jesse Leach and Shane Told from SILVERSTEIN (who both work extremely well with their contributions), they all add their own identity and meaning to the songs they appear on, further adding to the power of the album.

Songs like the full throttle THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES, the catchy and fiery IMPERIALISM, the brilliantly anthemic call to arms VICTORY OR DEATH (WE GAVE ‘EM HELL) and the infectious NVREVER are all standouts and rousing calls to arms. Of course, the record is utterly stacked with songs like these, and the whole album sounds like a manifesto for survival in the modern world.

Ultimately, LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN is an urgent and supremely well-executed collection of rousing anthems that perfectly encapsulates the rage at the problems that we as a world have faced in recent times. The defiant nature of the tracks on this album definitely prove to be a much needed positive soundtrack to these dark days, and the hopeful way in which they are delivered seems to allow it to be a bit easier to get through and show a light at the end of a dark tunnel, one you can without doubt imagine this collection of songs blaring out of as you do.

Rating: 8/10

LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN is set for release on January 6th via Spinefarm Records.

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