With the 2018 midterm elections around the corner, there's no better time to review the music that rallies against the establishment: punk music. More specifically, it’s time to look at the punk that has been released since the 2016 election, specifically, American Fall by Anti-Flag.
American Fall is Anti-Flag’s 10th studio album, released on Nov. 3, 2017. Anti-Flag has been releasing anti-establishment, anti-religion, anti-nationalist and anti-fascist music since its debut in the early 1990s. Since then, its following has grown exponentially, especially after the release of its album For Blood and Empire in 2006, which was critical of President George W. Bush’s administration and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Anti-Flag found a breakout hit with The Press Corpse, which went right at the throat of Fox News and its coverage of the war. The same energy that Anti-Flag brought with The Press Corpse can be felt in American Fall.
American Fall opens with the slow, steady strum of an electric guitar, giving you a moment to question if it's really the same Anti-Flag from years previous. The drums come in, and there is the quintessential, classical punk yell that erases any doubts you may have had. American Attraction” gets you right back into that punk sound. “American Attraction” is Anti-Flag’s 2nd most popular song on Spotify.
The third song of the album, “When The Wall Falls,” brings something new to Anti-Flag, a ska-like element. The trumpets and quick guitar riffs sound right at home on a Reel Big Fish album. “When the Wall Falls” hits a different note compared to most Anti-Flag songs, but that angsty punk message resonates all the same. “Racists” comes out swinging with its message. Calling out bigotry with every lyric, “Racists” nails the subtle, underlying actions of closet racists and calls them out for their actions in the way that only Punk can. Touching on Black Lives Matter, islamophobia and sexism, “Racists” hallmarks itself with a poignant message and original sound.
Although not as well-received as previous releases, American Fall is a solid reminder that Punk’s not dead. Anti-Flag brings a refined sound and message to the table with this album. The 2016 election contributed greatly to the release of American Fall, many of the topics touched on in the album have been especially poignant since the election of President Donald Trump. The increase in supremacist groups, and the rise of the alt-right were two things this album hit on the head. American Fall brings the same punk sound to a new presidency, but Anti-Flag brings a new message that hits upon the issues presented with a country divided.
Jason Rantanen is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Jason by emailing him at jr650317@ohio.edu.
