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Conflict

Ungovernable Force (1985)
Go Kart Records

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

Published on December 6th 2002

The Ungovernable Force is Conflict’s swansong. Taking the (a)political stance of their forbearers, the Crass, and mixing it with ferocious yet precise punk, Conflict created the blueprint for any political punk band to come.

With urgently screamed vocals laced with soothingly calm spoken pieces, Conflict create a delicate musical landscape, which seems as if it is teetering on the brink of destruction. For Conflict, punk is more than music – “Mental Mania,” it is a lifestyle – “C.R.A.S.S,” urging animal rights – “This is the ALF,” with direct political action – “The Arrest.” Yet, Conflict realize some mistake punk merely as a fashion – “A Piss In the Ocean,” but it is in fact thriving with political action – “The Ungovernable Force.”

Conflict have the distinct sound of a ’77 era punk band, with thick bass and buzzsaw guitars, but Conflict do explore different musical territory. On “The Day Before,” Conflict briefly delve into reggae, and on the closing track, the beautiful “To Be Continued,” with nearly choral female vocals, they create a moving piano driven track with the haunting hook, “Do I stand alone again in my endless search for freedom?”

While Conflict are somewhat unpopular in today’s world of punk, partly due to the fact that they rarely tour the US, The Ungovernable Force is still a vital and essential piece of music.

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londonpunk (April 26, 2008)

Perfect political punk album. By the way, the reviewer says this sound like a '77 punk band. No it doesn't. It sounds like mid-80's British Anarcho Punk, which it is.

Americans reviewing UK bands make me laugh (in a nice way).

dirty_punk (January 31, 2007)

One of the best punk records ever. Custom Rock and This is the ALF are my favorite songs on this album.

feeeding5000 (November 6, 2005)

I've been trying to find this album, but I think Go Kart doesn't own the rights anymore, and Mortarhate stopped pressing it. It says "Conflict reissue series coming soon" on the Mortarhate website...

Anonymous (November 14, 2003)

I remember this album just blew me away the first time I listened to it. It was like nothing I'd ever heard before.
This is the standard by which all other 'political punk' shall be measured.

Anonymous (December 13, 2002)

weeeee conflict is kick ass weeeee

hein (December 11, 2002)

Damn nice to see this band getting reviewed on punknews.org. I'm not sure though if I ever heard this album, but their 1981 debut "It's Time To See Who's Who" was one of the first punkalbums I ever bought and it has to be one of the reasons why I still like punkrockmusic after something like 20 years.

Last year there was news about the band recording a new album for release somewhere in 2002, but I never heard anything from it since. Anyone knows more about this?

Anonymous (December 11, 2002)

Yeah, no justice, no peace, no racist police will get you really far. fuck antiflag.

Anonymous (December 11, 2002)

These guys aren't bad, but I like Anti Flag more as far as politacol bands go.
Free Mummyea!!

waste_elite (December 9, 2002)

this record will fuck you up

my favorite from conflict

evildeadalive (December 7, 2002)

Where's all those people saying there's never any real punk on this site? Oh yeah, they have no fucking clue what real fucking punk is. Probably never even heard of Conflict.

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

Meant to give the band THIS score. What an idiot I was to neglect a 10 to this band.

-BuBu

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

Great album. This is a political punk album, possibly the best of its kind. CRASS was great, but they broke up in 1984. Let it be know, kiddies, that this band does not sing about first dates, next door neighbors, or mean parents. The lyrics are poetic. The music is harsh, like the real world. This band is no NFG, Sum41, NoFx, or Blink 182. They are MUCH better. They can actually entertain their own age group. Fifty cheers for CONFLICT!

-BuBu