Song Of The Week: 12/11/16

Song: "A.C.A.B."

Artist: 98 Mute

Album: "98 Mute"

Year: 1996

Place Of Origin: Hermosa Beach, California

Years Active: 1993 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"A.C.A.B." is a song that appears to be about how cops have lost the respect of the communities they're supposed to protect and serve. Too many cops abuse their authority, abuse minorities and their attitudes are more of a school yard bully rather than a protector of a community. Funny how this song came out in 1996 and here we are 20 years later and their is still so much distrust between citizens and law enforcement officers. This is an issue that has to be fixed so we can build back the trust in those who are supposed to protect us.

98 MUTE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1996 - 98 Mute (Theologian Records)
1998 - Class Of 98 (Theologian Records)
2000 - Slow Motion Riot (Epitaph Records)
2002 - After The Fall (Epitaph Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF 98 MUTE:

98 Mute got it's start as a band back in 1993, hailing from Hermosa Beach, California. Hmm.. Sound familiar? There is another major band in punk rock from that very same place, Pennywise. The connections don't stop there. Justin Thirsk, drummer of 98 Mute, is the younger brother of the late Pennywise bassist and founding member, Jason Matthew Thirsk. Like Pennywise, 98 Mute hooked up with Theologian Records for their first two albums. Theologian was Pennywise's first label. Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge would produce all of the band's albums. By 2000, 98 Mute would join the Epitaph Records line-up, following in the footsteps of.. you guessed it, Pennywise!! The band's debut on Epitaph, 2000's "Slow Motion Riot", was probably the most successful album of the band's career but they never quite got over the hump like Pennywise or Bad Religion. 98 Mute would pretty much always be an opening act. During their career they did go on some major tours opening up for bands like Offspring, Blink 182 and Pennywise. Shortly after the release of their 4th album, 2002's "After The Fall", 98 Mute called it quits as a band. Some members, including Justin Thirsk would join forces with Fletcher Dragge on a project called Chaos Delivery Machine. On March 11, 2016, 98 Mute reunited for a show at the Hollywood Palladium opening for Pennywise. It's not known if this was just a one off performance or if the band is in fact reunited and recharging the batteries to work on new material and tour again. That is still to be determined. 98 Mute is your typical mid 90's skate punk/hardcore punk band. Their contemporaries are bands like Deviates, 88 Fingers Louie, Pulley, Good Riddance and obviously, Pennywise. They're a good band but definitely not on the same level as Pennywise, Bad Religion or Good Riddance, all of whom are the standards that so many up and coming hardcore/skate punk bands aspire to.

TEN 98 MUTE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Slow Motion Riot
2. Another Boring Day
3. Breakdown
4. Bullet For You
5. A.C.A.B.
6. Watch Over Me
7. Hit You Back
8. Something In The Water
9. M.A.D.
10. Painkiller