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Anti-Flag

Lies They Tell Our Children

Written by: PP on 09/02/2023 14:26:18

Anti-Flag has been around for quite a while now, yet they keep consistently producing sublime political punk rock. Their past two albums, in particular, were some of their strongest material since 2003's "The Terror State". Where 2017's "American Fall" nicely pre-empted and foreshadowed the Trump presidency years through its dark atmosphere, its follow-up "20/20 Vision" in 2020 is an outright masterpiece and one of the best Anti-Flag albums to date.

Against that context, "Lies They Tell Our Children" is such a disappointment. Despite featuring a litany of guest stars from Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage on "Modern Meta Medicine" through Tim McIlrath (Rise Against) and Brian Baker (Bad Religion) on "The Fight Of Our Lives" to Shane Told (Silverstein) on "Laugh. Cry. Smile. Die." and Campito (Die Toten Hosen) on "We Gave 'Em Hell", their contribution feels nondescript and irrelevant when the songs are classic career extension material throughout. Basically, the album sounds like Anti-Flag on autopilot.

Don't get me wrong. Stylistically, the record follows their tried and tested formula to the letter. Anthemic choruses follow huge melodies and dramatic verses, and there are plenty of woo-ooh style sing-alongs. It's even a concept album - a first for Anti-Flag - which attempts to deep-dive into the reasons and background behind the political and social problems we are facing today. It just feels... less angry? After the vitriolic rage of "20/20 Vision", the songs here on comparison lack edge and feel overproduced in comparison. The polish in production is considerably more major-label sounding than on the last few albums, which makes the songs sound larger but at the cost of urgency.

That said, there are a couple of solid songs here. After all, Anti-Flag is known for their consistency so there are bound to be a few great tracks on each record. Here, the balladic "Shallow Graves" allows Tré Burt's guest vocals to stand out as one of the rare successful contributions on this record, while Stacey Dee (Bad Cop/Bad Cop)'s parts on "Nvrevr" add a different look for the band altogether.

The few exceptions do not remove the feeling that "Lies They Tell Our Children" doesn't carry itself with the same intensity as usual. The songs are less memorable and merely sound like Anti-Flag by the books. In other words, how a career extension album sounds like, whether intentional or not.

Download: Laugh. Cry. Smile. Die., Nvrevr, Shallow Graves, Victory Or Death (We Gave 'Em Hell)
For the fans of: Rise Against, Smoke Or Fire, The Shell Corporation
Listen: Facebook

Release date 06.01.2023
Spinefarm Records