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Pipedown

Mental Weaponry
2003
A-F

Pipedown - Mental Weaponry (Cover Artwork)


Review by: FortyMinutesWest
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A-F Records (Logo)

Published on December 12th 2003

You know, as much as I dislike Anti-Flag, I do have to commend them for picking up some quality bands for their label. Bands like Much the Same, Thought Riot, Inhuman, New Mexican Disaster Squad and many more have been quite pleasing to my ears. Now I will add Pipedown to that list.

Right from the start (well, after the sound clip anyway) I’m reminded of “Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes” era AFI and the newer wave of melodic hardcore bands such as Rise Against. The music is darkly melodic; the vocals are very similar to those of Davey Havok, before he decided to become a Fran Drescher impersonator, and the drums rarely slow down. The album as a whole is fairly dark, fitting the lyrical content, I suppose. Opening the albums insert gives immediate clues to the band’s intentions, with quotes from the likes of John Locke, Sir Francis Bacon, and of course, Martin Luther King. Lots of bands quote famous people, but Pipedown went a little further and included a little bit of background information about each person. I find this to be more interesting than simply quoting someone.

The band’s lyrics don’t stray too far from the standard political rantings of their brethren, but they do at times show that they have a sense of humor. Such as in the song “Muppet Goes To Washington”: “Another note to self today, now we’ve found a reason to believe that Jim Henson is under control. We were told by the government that he had died, but they had sent him underground. Plan a puppet, cheap Texan accent…” Odd, I thought Henson’s final work was creating the lead singer from Nickelback, who says music doesn’t teach you anything?

I miss older AFI, and although band isn’t identical to (they have a wider range of influences, it seems) they fill the niche rather well. This isn’t one of the top albums of the year, but if you like fast, melodic hardcore, it’s certainly worth a listen.



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    Posted by insipidaspersions on 2004-12-08 15:00:29
    My Score:

    I saw pipedown. it was a good show. i like them, but I haven't heard any of their recorded stuff. you're right..his face is kind of creepy while he's performing...in a good way.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 13, 2004 at 2:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    yeah, they sold out their bass player, doug was the sickest dude in the land

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 7, 2004 at 2:17 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    they are such a great band. ean's energy is so great, his stage presence and "antics" force you to get into their set. not to mention, they're GREAT guys!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 16, 2004 at 11:46 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    (levithan) is ean purposly trying to sing like that

    this is a prime example of justin sane ruining a band

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at 3:22 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    hc-Punk at the best and in november they come back to switzerland! better than anti-flag... :)

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 21, 2004 at 6:56 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    well done! keep going on

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 7:06 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Sacramento (and surrounding areas) grow some nice bands, now and then. Final Summation is another that comes to mind.

    Nothing creeps me out more than the face of Pipedown's front man during their shows. And I can't help but giggle when he yells to the crowd something like "It's time to take our country back!" Sometimes kids need to be force fed obvious information, I guess. Gateway bands, ahoy!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 4:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    last post courtesy of Funkisdead.
    signing in was sooooo 2001.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 4:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    my first cd was a public enemy receord, way back in 1994 or so... my second cd was the ultramagnetic mcs record from the 80s. thats right... i am all about the old school, kids.
    first punk rock = rancid's lets go, nofx's punk in drublic, and green day's dookie, all purchased one fateful day in 1996.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 4:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    my first cd was a public enemy receord, way back in 1994 or so... my second cd was the ultramagnetic mcs record from the 80s. thats right... i am all about the old school, kids.
    first punk rock = rancid's lets go, nofx's punk in drublic, and green day's dookie, all purchased one fateful day in 1996.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 4:14 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    A rare moment, I actually agree with 40 min.
    -ThereIsLifeInThis-

    Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2003-12-17 00:11:16
    My Score:

    My first Cd's were the Ramones Mania, misfits collection I and II and the Doors boxed set (I got them all for christmas 1993!)

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 9:48 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Well when I seriously started getting into music my second cd was Alkaline Trio's CD from here to Infermery

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-12-15 18:49:26
    My Score:

    My second CD was Against the Grain...

    I just realized that this is the second time I've mentioned Muppets in a review, hmm.

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-12-15 17:44:30
    My Score:

    My second CD was Green Days Insomniac. My first? The soundtrack to Mortal Kombat the movie. I liked the dance theme song.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 at 4:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Though my second CD ever was 'Feeding of the 5000'"

    Fuckin awesome. Mine was Paula Abdul. Dare I say it's almost as good as Crass.
    -Janelle

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 15, 2003 at 11:26 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This album is awesome and what kind of fucking retard compares Pipedown to AFI...Fuck off you fucking prat

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 14, 2003 at 8:57 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Wow that came out wrong i ment did anyone else not get the cd

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 14, 2003 at 8:56 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Did anyone else ever get the cd from a-f for sending in your voting stub about a month ago?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 14, 2003 at 8:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Look, I don't care for their music, but I like A-F as the starting point to some kids' political punk collections... Though my second CD ever was "Feeding of the 5000"...

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at 7:17 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Anti-flag? More like anti-fag! haha, boy do those guys suck! yeah! i'm original!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at 6:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    better of dead is good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at 6:43 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    oi oi anti-flag. oi oi anti-flag. Everyone chant it. run out side and just start yelling it. WE need to start a revolution. NOW

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at 12:15 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "way to go dickhead!"
    it's great to see a fan of Anti Flag embracing their ideals and teachings

    Posted by funkisdead on 2003-12-13 09:29:05
    My Score:

    good review.
    this record isn't essential, but its pretty chill to throw on from time to time.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at 4:06 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    wow you had to mention that you dislike anti-flag in your review.
    way to go dickhead!

    Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2003-12-12 18:13:46
    My Score:

    I like "Enemies of Progress" better!

    Posted by Edgie on 2003-12-12 16:26:38
    My Score:

    Very good album, although I like Enemy of Progress more. Still, like I said, it's a great CD.

    Posted by skankin_in_the_pit on 2003-12-12 16:07:16
    My Score:

    I haven't heard this but "Enemies Of Progress" was really good. These guys put on a great show when I saw them with Virus 9 and Against All Authority. A-F definitely has some good bands, regardless of what you think of Anti Flag.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 12, 2003 at 4:01 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This is definitely worth a 10, this is one of the best albums of the year

    And I can't believe this guy didn't mention the Refused in his review, since that's what everyone compares them to

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 12, 2003 at 3:40 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I remember when I used to go see Bitter Delores and Sleeping Giants all the time.

    Sigh...

    - Scott
    you know the rest

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-12-12 15:02:27
    My Score:

    Haha, Rusted Root, oh wow. I remember in the mid-nineties when they used to play Rusted Root on the X every five minutes. Hell, maybe they still do, I haven't listened to that station for years.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 12, 2003 at 2:57 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I'm hoping that Better Off Dead is the next Pittsburgh band to gain notoriety.

    They were at that show too and def. need to get recognized.

    - Scott
    http://www.local-felons.com/
    (Rusted Root!!!)

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-12-12 14:50:19
    My Score:

    I'm hoping that Better Off Dead is the next Pittsburgh band to gain notoriety.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 12, 2003 at 2:46 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This band is sooo great live. I saw them at one of the last Whatever it Takes shows at Roboto and I was overly impressed.

    This score is for that, as I haven't heard this disc yet.

    - Scott
    http://www.local-felons.com/
    (Next big thing from PGH: Sixty Four)

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 12, 2003 at 2:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i like this band a lot. still haven't heard this yet, which is a shame.
    -Janelle