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F-Minus

Wake Up Screaming (2003)
Hellcat Records

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

Published on March 25th 2003

Brutality. That's the word I'd use to describe this album. Utter brutality. From start to end this album skins you alive and screams in your ear loud enough to cause perminant loss of hearing.

Although longer and more varied than past F Minus albums, this is without any doubt their best. Most of the songs are what you'd expect from an F Minus album- raw, thrashing and fast as hell. Brad's gravel like voice mixed with Erika's throat tearing yell (which makes Brody Armstrong look like Britney Spears) propel the band over music as punishing as the lyrics. Lyrically this album is similar to the others, dealing with anger, anomie, violence and politics. Many people had labeled this album as "slower" than the rest, that's just false. First off, there are some songs that have a "heavier" tempo and last longer, but those one's ended up being my favorites on the record. Songs like "Wake Up Screaming", "Sweating Blood", "Not This Time", "From Here", and "Survival" are trademark, blistering F Minus. A couple of the songs play at a heavier, longer pace and really give the band a chance to show that they CAN play a song over 2 minutes long AND play it well! Brad get's his shot at it in "Mother Of Suffer"and, my personal favorite "Here Lies Jessica". Erika REALLY shines on the brutal "A Transformation". The latter 2 songs moving along at a chugging pace slightly faster than, say, side 2 of Black Flag's "My War". The album closes itself with the most ferocious and ear splitting song this band (or almost any band for that matter) has ever produced- "Barking Dog", I'm sure that both Erika and Brad sing on this song, but most of the time they are screaming so hard that you can't tell which is which. The scream until their throats become coarse, Erika actually screams until her throat actually gives out on a her a couple times. It's amazing.

This album more than earns it's 10. Definitely a surprise, not that I wasn't expecting it to be good, but just not incredible....which is what it is, purely an experiance which must be had from start to finish. The album plays almost like a single, long, brutal assault on the senses. Get this thing. Best thing to ever come out of Hellcat.

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Anonymous (June 9, 2004)

this album is decent but i still must say the S/T and Suburban Blight are 10 times better they are much faster and capture the true F-Minus sound good CD none the less

Anonymous (November 9, 2003)

i love this band and i love this album although i think suburban blight was just a little better. too bad they got all their equipment stolen.

Anonymous (October 1, 2003)

I definitely have to agree with this review. This album is a natural progression for F-Minus. They still have their amazingly raw and energetic sound, except they take more time to develop the songs on this album. Great stuff!

Anonymous (May 19, 2003)

All i can say is some people are very easily pleased.

Anonymous (April 19, 2003)

Hey guys u guys are slaming haha>u guys are the best band in D world.The Music is well yeah u know how it is hehe its d bomb.Uh look how im talking haha
got to go though but its just something i had to write to u guys Rancid!

FTY (April 2, 2003)

This record is amazing. That's the way I like it.

Anonymous (April 1, 2003)

this album is amazing but not as good as suburban blight. here lies jessica is the best song. hellcat is a division of epitaph, rancid are on both as tim armstrong owns hellcat. epitaph distributes and makes all of hellcat's cds. and suburban blight is the best album hellcat have put out.

Anonymous (April 1, 2003)

Lame Pat, Lame!

Anonymous (March 31, 2003)

so i guess the F- album gets an A ?

Anonymous (March 31, 2003)

Tim owns Hell-Cat. It is a sister company of Epitaph...Epithaph does the distro for Hell-Cat. Hell Cat puts out some AMAZING records.....Rancid, Tiger Army, Slackers ect.

Anonymous (March 30, 2003)

I want to be a douchebag!!!!

Anonymous (March 29, 2003)

To the guy below...

You're a douchebag.

Anonymous (March 29, 2003)

Rancid sucks... Go home, wannabe Brits. There are plenty of fine American bands you can rip off and look a lot less stupid doing so... By the way, Rancid 2000 sucked big time. They need to go away, and their lead guitarist needs to stop going on VH1.

Anonymous (March 28, 2003)

Only really hardcore kids, like the Crego, can get into this band.

Anonymous (March 27, 2003)

I knew Hellcat was a division, I just wasn't really sure what label they were releasing their material on.

Anyway, I'm drooling over the new Rancid record...I can't wait for that shit.

Anonymous (March 27, 2003)

Like I said before......to each his own. I think Tiger Army is ok, but I'm not into psychobilly and Rancid is good but just not at the top of my list of faves. This album, however, is the best thing "to me" that ive ever heard come out of hellcat. It's just my opinion.

Anonymous (March 27, 2003)

I believe Rancid is on both Epitaph and Hellcat. Hellcat is a division of Epitaph.....

Anonymous (March 27, 2003)

I believe Tiger Army is the best out of the whole Hellcat lineup but...

is Rancid on Hellcat? Or are they still on Epitaph?

sickboi (March 27, 2003)

I belive "Do or Die" was released on Hellcat.

Anonymous (March 27, 2003)

F Minus is cool and all, but best out of Hellcat? What about Tiger Army and the Nekromantix (yes, I know import but they're still on Hellcat now). Oh, and the Distillers, wait, no, they suck. Still, Tiger Army.

-El Vaquero
(the only radio station i listen to is the oldies station, bitch-ass)

Anonymous (March 26, 2003)

i just got the jackass the movie dvd. All i got to do now is find this album for cheap and listen to F-Minus, see jackass and half-baked with my boys and this will be one fucking great night.

Ramo
(danger ehren owns your asses)

Anonymous (March 26, 2003)

rainer maria comment = me rolling around on my floor pissing my pants