Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Conflict - Against All Odds (1989)


Easily the most musically adventurous record from these anarchopunk legends. Of the record's six tracks, only two -- "Slaughter of Innocence" and "A Message to Who" -- could be considered standard fare for the band, and they're arguably the two best songs they ever recorded. Elsewhere, there's the epic, multi-suite, 14-minute title track, something resembling a ballad ("Assured Mutual Destruction") and a skit-like track parodying the commercialization of punk ("The Greatest Show on Earth") that never quite takes off. And then there's "A State of Mind", an experimental, electronic dance track that features a pitch-shifted voice moaning "Ecstasy!" over and over again, and is unlike anything else they ever recorded.

Track listing:
1. Against All Odds
2. Slaughter of Innocence
3. Assured Mutual Destruction
4. The Greatest Show on Earth
5. A Message to Who
6. A State of Mind

Eyes glare, beast and master, animals both, crazed and weary
There can only be one real winner here, the results are now seen clearly
Teeth marks bare where fur once protected, flesh hangs dangling in shreds
Their faces grimace, rejected strips of meat exposed, selected
Bloodstains and saliva splatter the fuel of precious life
Master and servant segregate the ritual sacrifice
Driven mad and into frenzy, limbs torn, skin is shorn
Like sex perverts at a peep show, this is the ultimate in porn


More like this:
Lost Cherrees -
All Part of Growing Up (1984)
Toxic Waste -
Belfast (1987)

3 comments:

  1. Conflict never really excited me as Icons Of Filth. I think that the first was a good band, but Icons were better in the delivery. more urgent fury than fucking long ramblings on achieving nothing through anarchy

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    1. The way Conflict injected emotion into their political diatribes had a more profound impact on me in my formative punk years, and they brought the riffs harder imo. Both great bands tho

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    2. As a 13 year old punk Slaughter of Innocence was the most epic track I had ever heard. Unfortunately it's impact has been lost over time but still a great song

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