This week Rebel Sound unleash the 7” Split between Immoral Discipline and Dead On The Streets, two US bands raging with Oi punk voracity joining for one raw and enjoyable fury. Uniting a band born in the heyday of the genre with a new protagonist for an uncompromising rapacious front, the release makes a proposition which does not push boundaries or hold startling surprises but certainly brings forward another thoroughly satisfying and invigorating slab of street punk to stomp along with.
First of the antagonists Immoral Discipline is a quintet from Washington D.C. which formed in 1986.From their first days the band was making a strong imprint on the Oi punk scene with their presence and sound, one which has still lingered over the years since their break up in 1989. Their demo Boots and Braces, Stars and Stripes in 1987 set a marker for the band and following genre bred bands, which in the following year the EPs Battlefield and a self-titled successor replicated. Live the band also earned a formidable reputation as they played with the likes of Agnostic Front, Half Life, The Adolescents, Leeway, Biohazard, Forced Reality, Best Defense, Uniform Choice, Warzone, Black Market Baby, Youth of Today, The Exploited and many more. Several line-up changes occurred across the years before the band called it a day, that was until founding member Shawn Garard Leahy brought Immoral Discipline back in 2011 as attention and a potent buzz around the release of a retrospective CD continued to grow. With past members placed in different parts of the country, Leahy with their blessing recruited a new line-up going on to play festivals and shows with band such as Stormwatch, Steel Toe Solution, Broken Heroes, Hub City Stompers, Pharmacists, Unit Six, The Traditionals, Iron City Hooligans, Warrior Kids, and Offensive Weapon. Currently working on a new album, the band uncages a couple of new tracks for this release, two shots of caustic might which shows they have returned harder and fiercer than ever.
Riff RAF hits ears first, the bleating of sheep within a sonic swarm the key to a belligerent stride of snarling riffs and thumping rhythms. It is prime punk rock, the vocals of Leahy a raging protagonist which rile against thoughts whilst inciting great anthemic lures of group shouts. Production wise it could have been kinder to the frontman’s attack, it lacking the depth of bite expected, but it does not prevent his incitement hitting as hard as the irresistible hooks and the perfectly stirring basslines which course through the tempest. The song feeds expectations yet opens up a freshness and voracity in sound which makes their forthcoming album something to keenly anticipate, something the following Stay at Home Skinhead adds to. Once again the guitars surround ears with a sonic breeze before striking the flint to a stomping rampage of rabid beats and scarring riffs speared occasionally by searing melodic enterprise. It is a full-on punk anthem taking no prisoners as it ignites the passions. Listening to the two songs it is easy to understand that though they did not get the full recognition at the time how Immoral Discipline has inspired future Oi sounds and bands since, Dead On The Streets we would suggest one example.
Hailing out of Pittsburgh, Dead On The Streets emerged with their animosity last year, thus a band as fresh as newly baked bread and just as flavoursome. They also enrich their invention with the origins of the genre, creating honest and straightforward contagiously potent incitements. Early Grave is their first offering, a track which beats out a rhythmic coaxing before spreading out a bruising of coarse riffs aligned with catchy hooks. Walking with a more punk rock fuelled gait, the track merges old school simplicity and again raw snarling vocals to dirty rock ‘n’ roll revelry. It also is not a surprising encounter but a thrillingly magnetic one left in the shade a little by America Today. Stabbing riffs and a delicious almost psychobilly like bass bait opens up song and eager attention initially, before the song casts a masterful blaze of grazing persuasion and virulent hooks. The bass constantly seduces across the song, its charm and growl irresistible, but equally the guitars flirt and enthral ears with an adventurous flame of enterprise. Whereas its predecessor was pleasingly yet predictably sculpted the second of their songs is a thrilling intrigue and imaginative fired riot showing more of the diversity and strength of the band’s sound.
Dead on the Streets is a band to keep a close excited eye upon and Immoral Discipline an inspiration which has returned to more than likely set new seeds down for future emerging artists. Together they make for a highly enjoyable and enthralling encounter with their split, of which more of the same would be very welcome.
Immoral Discipline / Dead On The Streets Split EP is available now via http://www.rebelsoundrecords.com/ on 7” vinyl (300 Black vinyl, 100 Red vinyl, 100 Milky Clear vinyl with Blood Red Splatter) and digitally (including an extra track from each band).
https://www.facebook.com/ImmoralDiscipline
https://www.facebook.com/DeadOnTheStreetsOi
8.5/10
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