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Strife

Angermeans (2001)
Victory Records

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Contributed by: loserjames
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on August 27th 2002

Hardcore is invariable linked with metal. Ever since Black Flag unleashed My War, a sludgefest with anguished riffs moving like molasses, hardcore has forever been divided with two distinct influences, punk and metal. Strife is heavily influenced by the latter. With technical leads on “Life Stained Red,” “From These Graves,” and “Mon Bel Ami” – the influence is obvious.

But angermeans isn’t only driveling lead guitar bravado, it features deliberately heavy chugga-chugga guitar and breakneck drumming on “Mine Alone.” Strife also evolved a bit past many of their peers, adding slight piano and strings parts to “Angel Wings,” the album’s best track, and a drum machine to “Staring at the Sky.”

Lyricist Rick Rodney words are vague yet still moving. They lack the biting cynicism of Sam McPheeters, but still conveys great emotion and feeling on songs like “Rise Again,” with “I refuse to give in/I will not be defeated.” If you still enjoy furious finger pointing and fondly recall the days of your crew, angermeans is the perfect album, while others may feel it is even a bit too metallic to be a guilty pleasure.

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jbigwig (September 4, 2005)

Like Guttermouth said "Straight Edge is for the under 21".

Bottom line Stife tore shit up in the hardcore scene and still I haven't heard many HC bands live that touch these guys. Angermeans isn't their best work...check out "One Truth", or their best "In this Defiance".

None the less RIP Strife great band in their prime.

Word

Anonymous (September 8, 2002)

"I think strife realized what many people who are straight edge eventually realize: It's a fucking joke!! It's ok to have a drink now & then if you want."

Right idea, wrong way to it.

Anonymous (September 3, 2002)

"PLEASE GO SAY THIS IN SYRACUSE"

I can't think of a reason good enough to use my gas & waste my time going to a godforsaken place like Syracuse. Blah!!

Anonymous (September 1, 2002)

fuck this world, this album is pretty good, not as good as it could have been. enough with the straight edge comments, straight edge is not what these idiots think it is, it's just a healthy way of living, anyone who turns it into a code, or rule is a fucking moron.

Anonymous (August 31, 2002)

I think strife realized what many people who are straight edge eventually realize: It's a fucking joke!! It's ok to have a drink now & then if you want.
That's not to say doing drugs & drinking is "cool", but drawing silly "x"s on your hands & talking about "the edge" is nonsense. I can't get enough of the really young kids at shows with the "x"s though. 14 year old kid talking about how he'll be straightedge for life!! Funny.

PLEASE GO SAY THIS IN SYRACUSE.

Anonymous (August 31, 2002)

If you've ever read a few messageboards, some people have dissed Born Against. Even if you read old interviews with Born Against, they do mention how some people hated them when they were around.

-green run brad
va beach, va.

Anonymous (August 31, 2002)

"when you broke the edge, you lost my respect"

Born Against is a lot fucking better than Strife. Now lets talk about ice cream instead.

Anonymous (August 30, 2002)

I NEVER KNEW STRIFE WAS sXe! I JUST THOUGHT THEY SUCKED AND LEFT IT AT THAT.
ANOTHER sXe BAND SELLING OUT, WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT!(insert sarcasism at the beginning)

Anonymous (August 30, 2002)

aubin (August 30, 2002)

I was really disappointed with this one. Strife (was) one of my favourite bands, I think "In This Defiance" is incredible, but this record was mostly filler.

Sad.

Anonymous (August 30, 2002)

I've never heard anyone ripping Born Against. They were incredible. As far as Strife goes, "Angermeans" is pretty generic sounding nu hardcore. "One Truth" was good, "In This Defiance" was better, but this one is just a throw away. I'm not even going to get into the sXe thing. I sort of figured by the time they got done touring on this record, they would've decided to change their name because of all the shit they are gonna get for it.. but I guess not. The Strife tour video from '95 is one of my favorite hardcore videos, but I have a really difficult time watching it now, knowing what they have become.

Anonymous (August 29, 2002)

they broke the edge. why in the world would they keep the same name and play old sXe song if they aren't now. screw them and this crappy new album.

Anonymous (August 29, 2002)

I wish the production was louder, but otherwise this is a great album. I love how it is takibng hardcore's elements to a new level, but it's no My war.

evildeadalive (August 29, 2002)

Sorry.. garbage... not crap...they are not... uhh... Born Against is cool.. yeah

evildeadalive (August 29, 2002)

Who would call Born Against crap? I certainly wouldn't. That shit was years ahead of it's time. If you like Refused check those dudes out.

Anonymous (August 28, 2002)

Sam Mcpheeters was the vocalist of Born Against and has been involved in many bands since Born Against broke up in the early 1990s. A lot of people will dismiss that band as garbage, but as how all hardcore bands should be, they developed a sound and vibe that was confrontational.

"This shit should have been free!"

-green run brad
representin' va beach