Arson Anthem - Insecurity Notoriety
Rating
RIYL
Negative ApproachDischarge
Minor Threat
Release Date
10/12/2010
Label
Housecore RecordsTracklist
1. Naught2. Foul Pride
3. Isolation Militia
4. More Than One War
5. Insecurity Notoriety
6. Pretty Like That
7. Initial Prick
8. Crippled Life
9. Polite Society Blacklist
10. If You Heard This (You Would Hit Me)
11. Hands Off Approach
12. Has Been/Had Been
13. Primate Envy
14. Death of an Idiot
15. Codependent and Busted
16. Kleptomania
17. Teach the Gun (To Love the Bullet)
Users Rating |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Recent Ratings |
|
|
|
Arson Anthem is a super group of sorts, most notably featuring Phil Anselmo from Pantera on guitar and Mike Williams of Eyehategod on vocals, accompanied by Hank Williams III and Colin Yeo on drums and bass respectively. These longtime friends have come together to pay homage to the hardcore punk and thrash bands of the 1980s with their gritty and lo-fi approach to writing music. Insecurity Notoriety is the first full length from the Louisiana quartet, and Anselmo’s own Housecore Records released the record, a common occurrence for his numerous side projects.
One of the first aspects of Insecurity Notoriety that jumps out immediately is the album’s production. Arson Anthem sounds as if they were teleported here from the 1980s because everything from the music to the vocals is authentic and you’ll want to get the vinyl release for the true nostalgic experience, since using an iPod goes against the band’s goal of bringing back the 80s. Moreover, although most of the songs are barely two minutes long, the seventeen tracks on here will last you thirty minutes, which is a pretty hearty full length for this style of music.
However, the major issue with Insecurity Notoriety is that it becomes repetitive after the first few songs so sticking around for the duration of the album can be cumbersome. Music involving predominately fast tempos lends itself to repetition and it would have been nice to see some slower tunes to balance out the speedier ones. “Teach the Gun” is a great example of Arson Anthem successfully executing a slower paced song, but it’s the last track on the album so it’s too little too late at that point. Each song on its own is solid, though, and there aren’t any bad tracks on here, it’s just the song progression or lack thereof that will have people listening to Insecurity Notoriety in pieces, even if it’s only a half hour long.
It’s easy to tell that Arson Anthem is composed of veterans from the underground heavy music scene. Musically and vocally each track is executed with precision, but the lack of variety keeps Insecurity Notoriety from being the gem that it could have been. On the plus side, Arson Anthem successfully achieved their goal of bringing back a style of music that helped propel underground hardcore and punk into what they are today, and any future releases from them should be welcomed with open arms.
--Nicholas Fritz
Comments
Minnesota
I really couldn't get into this at all. Too same-y and it also isn't exactly my style of music to listen to either. I love Phil and will give anything he does a chance, but this didn't quite work for me.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Coopersburg, PA
I don't really like this style of music either so I was trying to take it at face value and be unbiased. Plus, I don't want Phil Anselmo to beat my ass for bashing his band so I was more forgiving than usual, haha.
Minnesota
Wuss.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
