REVIEW: AUTONOMADS - All Quiet on the Western Front...

AUTONOMADS describe themselves as anarcho-dub- punk from Manchester. All three of those elements are evident from the opening moments of their fourth release, All Quiet on the Western Front... – with the opening track shouting out Greater Manchester town, Hulme.

Four years after their last release, Autonomads are re-invigorated and angrier than ever. Since 2014, the divide in the nation has only gotten deeper; Donald Trump, Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen have led to an increase in nationalism worldwide and the #MeToo movement has highlighted, more than, ever the struggles that women still face. Alongside this, Grenfell, Brexit and ever-increasing homeless epidemic are each symptomatic of the Tory government – each these things are the fire in Autonomads' lyrical belly.

The dub and ska elements of their sound give the record a bouncy, high energy sound - despite it’s serious subject matter, this EP is built to be played in the sun. There’s elements of Rancid, Sonic Boom Six and Capdown, but Autonomads’ are gritter, more political and more honest than any of them.

Female/male vocal interplay, combined with some incredibly funky basslines and tragically truthful lyrics (I got unwanted male attention when I was twelve years old / I still have my keys between my fingers when I’m walking home) make the track Run Like a Girl a true standout on a EP where each of the four tracks is worth your time.

With upcoming dates in Lancaster and Ireland, it’s well worth catching these anarchists live – when they’re this fun on record, you can only imagine what a riot they’ll be live.

To check out their anarchic album in full force, listen here on Bandcamp.

#music #punk #autonomads