Sometimes when your world is askew all it takes is some great music to resolve your problems or at least offer some ease. Personally that just happened as my favourite punksters Beforeskin from Östersund, Sweden, released their second album, 'Call To Arms'. They pick up right where the debut 'Digging In My Backyard' left off, the only difference this time is that Beforeskin are faster and heavier, as if that was possible. Regardless, the arrival of this recording has pretty much restored balance in my life so I am more than pleased!
The trio offer 12 songs on their sophomore album and it's pure brilliance from the word go. There's not a single wasted moment on here; every note, every riff, every word fills an important purpose which is why 'Call To Arms' is such an enjoyment. A trio of songs, 'Urge To Kill', 'Come On' and 'Apocalypse' where one leads into the other, unleashes such fury and intensity. They back each other up and picks up where the other left off. Short, sharp and to the point, they are no holds barred. Pure heavy-ass punk anthems if there ever were any.
Other songs that speak so well to me are 'We Don't Care', an intense creation which truly show that punk is not dead; 'Kicking Our Feet' which goes super heavy on the riffs with a crushing rhythm section. To me this is a purge and cleanse song, let all the crap out while thrashing madly. You feel so much better afterwards. Let's not forget the title track, 'Call To Arms'. This is what a rebellious punk anthem should sound like. No holds barred, in-yer-face and relentless, it definitely lives up to it's name. Let's not forget Beforeskin's cover of GG Allin's 'Bite It You Scum'. The guys capture that man's essence pretty damned well and play a great version of his song.
'Call To Arms' is such a welcome apparition in a troubled world. Not only because it's shows how well the band handles the dreaded second-album syndrome but also, and equally importantly, the pressure relief Beforeskin offers. This album always release tension and frustration for me despite the furious music and pretty bleak lyrical topics. But that's just it. By going at it this way it pulls out all kinds of crap within me and subsequently making life easier. Thank you for this and thank you, guys, for making a great damned album!
-Swedebeast
