PW's Song Of The Week: SONG OF THE WEEK: 9-4-22

SONG: "Break Something"

ARTIST: Anti-Flag

ALBUM: "American Spring"

YEAR: 2015

PLACE OF ORIGIN: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

YEARS ACTIVE: 1988 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Break Something" appears to be a song about how the corporate world uses up it's workforce so that the CEO's and bankers become wealthy 10 time over while the people on the bottom grind for the crumbs. It's frustrating when you work your ass off to make a company achieve success, but none of those profits seem to trickle down. Once they use you up, they'll seek your replacement. The cycle continues.

ANTI-FLAG DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1996 - Die For The Government (New Red Achives)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1998 - Their System Doesn't Work For You (A-F Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1999 - A New Kind Of Army (Go-Kart Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2001 - Underground Network (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2002 - Mobilize (A-F Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - The Terror State (Fat Wreck Chords)

* peaked at #91 on the Billboard 200 on 11-8-03

2006 - For Blood And Empire (RCA Records)

* peaked at #100 on the Billboard 200 on 4-8-06

2008 - The Bright Lights Of America (RCA Records)

* peaked at #118 on the Billboard 200 on 4-19-08

2009 - The People Or The Gun (SideOneDummy Records)

* peaked at #122 on the Billboard 200 on 6-27-09

2012 - The General Strike (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2015 - American Spring (Spinefarm Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2015 - Cease Fires (A-F Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2016 - Live Acoustic At 11th Street Records (Spinefarm Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2017 - Live Vol. 1 (A-F Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2017 - American Fall (Spinefarm Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2018 - American Reckoning (Spinefarm Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2019 - Live Vol. 2 (A-F Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2020 - 20/20 Vision (Spinefarm Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON ANTI-FLAG:

Anti-Flag formed as a band back in 1988 by members Justin Sane and Pat Thetic. This Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania product would last only one show together before disbanding! Luckily however, the boys decided to give it another go in 1992, this time with much more staying power! After releasing a 17 song demo and various splits, Anti-Flag released their debut album in 1996 called "Die For The Government". In 1999, bassist/vocalist Chris No. 2 joined the band and basically solidified the line-up of Anti-Flag which exists to this day, Justin Sane (vocals/guitar), Chris No. 2 (vocals/bass), Chris Head (guitar) and Pat Thetic (drums). In 2001, the band signed a two record deal with Fat Wreck Chords. Their first release with Fat, "Underground Network", proved to be the album where Anti-Flag was beginning to make a name for itself on the punk rock scene. The second release through Fat, "The Terror State", turned out to be Anti-Flag's highest charting album to date. The band had been receiving offers to sign with major labels but it wasn't till 2006 that they decided to ink a deal with RCA Records, the stipulation being that they retained full control of the recording process and promotion. Both RCA releases, 2006's "For Blood And Empire" and 2008's "The Bright Lights Of America", charted on the Billboard 200. The band continued it's success with SideOneDummy Records for the releases "The People Or The Gun" and "The General Strike". From here, the band would form an alliance with Spinefarm Records. Anti-Flag released a string of great albums with Spinefarm, beginning with 2015's "American Spring" and ending with 2020's "20/20 Vision". The band is set to release their brand new full length studio album in January of 2023, called "Lies They Tell Our Children". Anti-Flag is a very active punk rock band. They seem to release something every year to two years! In between their studio albums, they may drop some compilation albums or live albums or maybe some EP's or split releases. On top of that, they seem like they are constantly touring and performing live. These guys just don't seem to stop. Their style is very political punk. They wear their ideals on their sleeves and are not afraid to shine a light on hot topic issues and express their views without apologies. There's a price to be paid for expressing some of their opinions because it could alienate some of their fans but Anti-Flag will always be unapologetic. I knew of Anti-Flag since the mid-90's but the first album that really made me take notice was 2003's "The Terror State". The first song on the album, "Turncoat", got me hook, line and sinker! I've been a super fan ever since. I would say pretty much every album they put out from "The Terror State" on has been top notch. Hard to pick an outright favorite of mine, cuz they're all great. But, "American Spring" has always stood out as an awesome record front to back for me.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Pennywise

Authority Zero

Bad Religion

Rancid

Rise Against

TEN ANTI-FLAG SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Brandenburg Gate

2. The Press Corpse

3. Turncoat

4. Broken Bones

5. The Bright Lights Of America