HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Vengeance – New Model Army
Four years after their formation, NEW MODEL ARMY released Vengeance, their debut album. Forty years on, the Bradford based band are still going, with singer, songwriter and founder Justin Sullivan being the only original member remaining. They still play songs from Vengeance live, which are arguably just as relevant now as when they were written. While it’s undoubtedly a politically charged album, inspired by Sullivan’s anger at the state of Britain at the time, it also has many beautiful and vulnerable moments, which could explain why it resonated so deeply with so many.
Britain in the 1980s was bleak and frustrating, with Thatcherism and capitalism leaving the countries working class and disenfranchised youth in desperate need of hope for the future. At this point, punk was in full swing, a result of a generation’s anger towards the government and establishment, but NEW MODEL ARMY were immediately set apart, due to the intricate lyricism and careful consideration within each song, while sharing many of the same values as punk. Sullivan is a writer who is acutely aware of the gravity of his words, even in the band’s earliest works, and this is clear throughout Vengeance. NEW MODEL ARMY has always been a platform to express a passion in a way that makes a difference, and to connect with others who feel the same. By this point, they were steadily growing a following, and when Vengeance was released, they were reaching further than ever.
Vengeance opens with Christian Militia, which begins with the band’s signature driving basslines and raw guitars. While it doesn’t ease you in gently by any means, Christian Militia is a perfect example of a band that is unafraid to say exactly where they stand, even if it might be controversial or unnerving. While every lyric is powerful, the bridge may be the most impactful, with “everybody loves a righteous cause, everything forgotten in holy wars”, being a statement that still rings true forty years on. Notice Me is jarring and unforgettable, with lyrics that stay with you after just one listen. Smalltown England is a song that speaks directly to their following, observing a community from the lens of someone that doesn’t belong and questioning that there must be more. The lyrics demonstrate Sullivan’s unique ability to tell a story, setting the scene from a firsthand perspective.
The title track is a powerful and angry statement directed towards injustice. The first verse references the Nazi officials who escaped justice by fleeing to South America after WW2. In their documentary, The NEW MODEL ARMY Story, Sullivan explains that having watched an interview with the ‘Butcher of Lyon’ Klaus Barbie, he was outraged at the journalist’s respectful and polite attitude. Sullivan states, “You don’t go and say ‘excuse me Mr Barbie’, you go and put a fucking gun in his head.” The song became an anthem for the following and those who shared the sentiment, to the point it remains as powerful today as when it was written. Part of the reason why Vengeance is such an impactful, inspiring album is its vulnerability with Running In The Rain demonstrating Sullivan’s ability to write on a very personal level. Spirit Of The Falklands closes the album, detailing Thatcher’s attempt to restore public opinion by entering into the ‘Falkland’s conflict’. Sullivan’s satirical but candid tone is heavily critical of what he refers to as a ‘farce’.
Commercially, Vengeance did incredibly well, and entered the UK indie charts at number 1, impressive for a debut album by any standards. While on a critical level, punk and alternative bands were not usually favoured by the music press at the time, Vengeance seemed to be an exception. Spin were particularly complimentary, stating, “NEW MODEL ARMY does not make musical wallpaper. One of the most powerful and searing albums of 1984.” While NEW MODEL ARMY have never been a band to concern themselves with what others had to say, it was undoubtedly reassuring that the support was there in the music press.
For NEW MODEL ARMY, Vengeance helped them find their audience. Because they are so unique, they couldn’t be pigeon-holed into any one genre, but could still appeal across the board. Vengeance does exactly what a debut album should, it is representative of everything they are as a band, and spoke to a community that has remained loyal and continued to grow for forty years. Later, NEW MODEL ARMY released Vengeance – The Whole Story 1980-84, for those who craved more, proving its impact and longevity.
Vengeance was originally released on April 4, 1984 via Abstract Records.
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