Propagandhi - Supporting Caste

G7 Welcoming Committee/Smallman Records
(2009)

Stagnation often comes across as a necessary and accepted component of modern punk rock. When the Ramones played songs consisting of no more than three chords, it was in reaction to the superficial excess of egoist instrumental wankery that plagued music at the time. It must have been fresh. But at this point you have to ask yourself - do I really need the new NOFX album? Classics will remain classics, but in 2009 the style is stale like two day old shits. If only there were a way to make punk rock interesting again.

Actually, the self-proclaimed "prairie skids" in Propagandhi have been proving that the genre can cultivate forward thinking for some time now. Beginning with their third album - Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes - the band established itself as an indomitable wrecking crew; songs were downright vicious, at times bordering on thrash metal, while still anchored with strong melodies. In 2005 they released Potemkin City Limits, trading some of the ferocity for a more expansive approach, complete with unorthodox chord progressions as well as few somber passages that just do not exist on a Pennywise album.

Supporting Caste strikes a fine balance between both the aggression and progression of its predecessors. "Night Letters" breaks out of the gate with a superior technical prowess of acrobatic fretwork and impeccable turn-on-the-dime tempo shifts. The following title track displays the band's clear understanding of dynamics, utilizing a hushed refrain in the bridge before once again exploding into blitzkrieg. A hearkening back to their melodic punk roots is evident on "Potemkin City Limits," which has a catchy chorus reminiscent of their work on Less Talk, More Rock. But even the more "traditional" songs are arranged with enough structural variance as to avoid becoming 90 second afterthoughts. The only thing really missing from Supporting Caste is the rollicking closer that was present on the previous two albums. ("Purina Hall of Fame" rips so fucking hard.)

Lyrical content runs the gamut of leftist politics, social injustice and animal rights. Not new territory by any means, but there is a certain eloquence to Propagandhi lyrics which transcend the expected profanity-laden one liners.

"The human impulse to explain hijacked: a controlled flight into terrain to ensure no passenger ever makes any connection between the proscription of mystery and their malaise. Tidy pairings of inverse binaries."

Sometimes there's stark imagery.

"She said she just turned six. She's got some good jokes for a kid. She's working hard to avoid a woman bleeding from her teeth. Her life goes on despite the fact her mom sleeps fucked-up on the cement."

Sometimes it's pretty simple.

"You're not really mad at Iran or Afghanistan. You're mad at the fact your wife can't stand you anymore."

Thankfully, all is not gloomy and cynical. "The Banger's Embrace" is a jovial ode to the Propagandhi's favorite metal band, Sacrifice, exuding a spirit so ripe with endearment that you cannot help but smile in remembrance of those initial bands that first induced the raising of a fist.

Supporting Caste shows Propagandhi adding another milestone to their catalogue. Taking relatively long breaks between releases has proven not to be a hindrance, but rather the time necessary to craft both a sonically and lyrically engaging punk rock record. In a sea of bands who release pedestrian records every other year merely to justify another touring cycle, let us hope that Propagandhi will return in a few years.

(A liner note highlight in the form of a borrowed quote: "You're supposed to be fed up by now. Let's turn the system upside down. Get up!" ~The Coup with Dead Prez)

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