Amen

Amen: Death Before MusickDeath Before Musick (2004)
Sony Music Entertainment

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: BrandonSideleauBrandonSideleau
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 18th 2004Every once in a while an album is released that is great from beginning to end. The Clash's "London Calling", Bad Religion's "Suffer", Black Flag's "Damaged"; I would like to add Amen's first full length in 3 years, "Death Before Musick" to that list. For the past 3 years Amen have been screwed by a.

Every once in a while an album is released that is great from beginning to end. The Clash's "London Calling", Bad Religion's "Suffer", Black Flag's "Damaged"; I would like to add Amen's first full length in 3 years, "Death Before Musick" to that list. For the past 3 years Amen have been screwed by a label, resulting in a completely lost album that will never see the light of day, they were denied access to England after being handpicked by Steve Jones to open for the Sex Pistols. So, as you can see, there is much reason to be pissed. Casey is back as the only original member of the band with 4, in my opinion, much better musicians than his past lineups which have gone on to do horrid things (IE join Nu Metal crap bands). This new lineup is far more punk rock influenced anyways, which fit's Casey perfectly. 2000's "We Have Come For Your Parents" was amazing, but nothing could prepare me for this new album.

Amen set the tone for the rest of the record from the defiant riot call of the intro "Liberation For....", a quick and brutal way to welcome you back to Casey Chao's world of anger. The second song, "Hello", begins with the screaming lyrics "Rise up and be discarded! Rise up to be.....misunderstood!", before breaking into thrashing hardcore punk reminscent of early Discharge or mid-era Black Flag. Next is the first single off the album, "California's Bleeding" (which is slowly becoming quite a hit over in the UK, but is unheard of here in the states) This song is done in typical Amen style, but there is also an unexpected groove and almost a funk to it which gives it a distinctive edge. It is almost like an Iggy Pop style song, only with a lot more screaming and slightly heavier music. The fourth track on the album is one of my personal favorites, "The Abolishment Of Luxury". This is an amazing track that reveals a strong Germs influence, one of the hardest tracks on an already brutal album.

Other highlights include the catchy and hyperactive "Oblivion Stereo", the nihilistic and heavy as hell "Please Kill Me". The most offensive and violent track on the album is the frenzied "Bring Me The Heads", which is a straight up hardcore punk thrasher featuring the chorus "Selling out, everyone you know is selling out....Bring me the head of Roman Polanski! bring me the legs of Fred Astaire!".

A true classic in ever respect, "Death Before Musick" is the result of 3 years of anger, frustration and perseverence. In this release you can hear all of Casey's varied influences mixing together, everything from the obvious Flag, Germs and Discharge influences to more subtle Adverts, Dead Boys and Stooges influences. This is REAL hardcore punk's answer to all the weak screamo and metalcore bullshit that is considered hard music. If you have any interest in highly physical punk rock at all you need to pick up or steal this record for your own good and see their live show which rivals any possible description.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (July 9, 2005)

This band is by far one of the best out and touring right now. Not only do they put on an incredible show but their albums are equally as incredible. Casey Chaos is a super nice guy as well, totally in it for the music. The guys fucked himself up beyond repair but keeps going and going. People give him shit for being so violent on stage and bleeding, setting a bad example but most of thos people listen to shit like Good Charlotte, Avril Lavigne and any other pussy ass musician. I didn't like Amen at first, then I saw them live and it blew me away. I have never seen a band play with such energy and passion as these guys and Casey was just crazy. Hell he'd even been accused on stage by some band about asking $200 to tour with them and if I remember rightly Casey said this was bullshit and got them on tour with him straight away. Fucking stunning band and this album is one of the best easily accessable punk recording for a while. It's hard to find shit by F-Minus, LoC and countless others in local stores but these guys are so amazing it'd be just wrong not to give people a chance to listen. If you don't know what all the fuss is about then go and see them live...you will be converted

im-dead (March 18, 2005)

this is the one we've been waiting for, Casey's a messiah

Anonymous (October 20, 2004)

they are fucking awesome, i love this band

Anonymous (July 21, 2004)

I was never a big fan of these guys until somewhat recently. A friend burned me a mix of his fave tracks and I thought it was okay, but for some reason it didn't floor me. What changed me around was seeing them live. It was so intense and chaotic that I couldn't help but get into it. So I went back and listened to the mix again and started to see what the fuss was about. I bought DBMusic when it came out and I totally love it! Casey's voice at times reminds me of Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra, and after reading some of his scathing anti-government lyrics, I would bet anything that they were a huge influence on Casey growing up. This is unbelievably aggressive punk rock, the way it should be.

Anonymous (June 14, 2004)

i´ve been a huge amen fan since 4 years. i love the self-titled,we have come...,slave and all the free music campaign stuff.i love it all for what it is.
the albums that ross robinson produced were exactly what amen should be: harsh,agressive and self-destructive yet compact and intelligent.
slave was a first attempt.i like it very much.
join or die/free music campaign mainly consisted of demos.there were very good songs included.i liked their sound.they kicked ass (for a demo...)
but now...
death before music sounds more or less just like join or die,only weaker and more commercial. if casey had put out the best jod songs properly instead of dbm´s tracks 12-15 it would have been much much better i think.die diva die or cracks of tomorrow shouldn´t be left to rot.
i hope casey produces the next record together with ross robinson again.
dbm is only ok.
jod,whcfyp and amen are awesome.these 3 records are the best releases since nirvana or since ten years i think.
but at last amen are still the best band on this planet.after releasing the next record no one will whine about the mainly weak dbm-album.

Anonymous (June 6, 2004)

Wow, I really liked this. I didn't like much of Amen's stuff before hearing this. The only song I liked was Coma America, but now after listening to the quality of this album, I'm finding I can appreciate more of Amen's stuff. This is an amazing album. Casey Chaos is a legend. It's nice to see there's still some decent music amongst all the crappy new rock bands like Jet, The Darkness and The White Stripes.

Can I get an Amen?!

Anonymous (May 27, 2004)

there is no word to describe how amazing this album is, casey chaos just dosnt give up, 3 diferent record labels, recorded anywhere he could find. Casey played all instraments in this album apart from drums, this guy just wants 2 make music, he just wants to get his message across. BUY IT.
abolish luxury

Anonymous (May 24, 2004)

poop

-exhaustra

Anonymous (May 24, 2004)

amazing there arnt any bands as good as this any more....went all the way to leeds to see em and liverpool and manchester love em now

fuck you mr i think these are shitty his voice is great i especially like it when the bastard screams like a fucking mother!!!

anyway must dash he will reply soon
and i dont care
jbdead
1bastardUwannah8

squirrelbait (May 23, 2004)

Hmm.. just heard this album and I gotta say, this isn't very good. The intention might be good, but this guy has a shitty voice, the band plays shitty music, and it sounds totally bland and unoriginal.

Anonymous (May 23, 2004)

Yeah, too bad Sonny Mayo didn't play one fucking chord on the previous albums.

Anonymous (May 23, 2004)

Incredible, album of the year.

Anonymous (May 22, 2004)

Get 'We Have Come For Your Parents', it's much better. They still kick arse live thouugh.

And Sonny Mayo is a better guitarist than those runts they have now. Especially cause he was in Snot.

Anonymous (May 22, 2004)

i'm glad amen's singer is going to be dead or paralyzed soon or whatever his deal is. he killed everything that was good about amen with this shitty album. and yea, go buy a wilhelm scream instead.

Anonymous (May 21, 2004)

A Wilhelm scream should have gotten that review for Mute Print, these guys are nothing special, buy MUTE PRINT, don't waste your time on these assholes!

squirrelbait (May 21, 2004)

"the OLNY band making music on their own terms"

yeah right! gimme a break. i'm not saying Amen is not making music on their own terms, but if you think they're the ONLY one doing that, then you're just plain silly.

Anonymous (May 20, 2004)

I wish there was a higher score I could give for this album. But it. Buy it right now, and then run out and see them live for the best show of your life. This is a REAL band, a band making music on their own terms.. the OLNY band making music on their own terms. This album was recorded with no label, in friend's studios, with maxed credit cards, and at times with almost no band. BUY THIS ALBUM!!

Anonymous (May 20, 2004)

Free Amen mp3's infos here : www.destroyrocknroll.com

Anonymous (May 20, 2004)

time for you to stop talking idiot

Anonymous (May 19, 2004)

Every once in a while an album is released that is great from beginning to end. The Clash's "London Calling", Bad Religion's "Suffer", Black Flag's "Damaged";

so, these are the only albums that are great from start to finish?

Anonymous (May 19, 2004)

I've been waiting for this album to drop & I must say I wasn't let down. Amazing album by an amazing band. I think this album puts their older albums to shame & their older albums were far better than anything that came out recently. Definately go out & cop this one way or another.

Anonymous (May 19, 2004)

"Hey what the hell is up with all these 5 star reviews today?"

true but brandon wouldn't give it 5 stars unless it's a good reason. gotta check this out soon.

Ramo

Anonymous (May 18, 2004)

i guess i'll have to check this out, since nobody yet has complained that it has been put next to london calling, suffer, and damaged.

and them's be fightin' words.

-duped

Anonymous (May 18, 2004)

The only bands that could live up to amen's live show are Black Flag, The Stooges, The Misfits, Samhain,and a slew of other early 80's hardcore acts.....all of which are now extinct. Amen is....well...the only threatening live band around right now. Casey Chaos is a madman, and it's no show...this guy bleeds and suffers for the music and only the music....they're poor and he is actually very ill...he could die anytime, his doctors warn him to stay iff stage....but he just keeps going....it's amazing, yet tragic. Great guy....hopefully he lives a long time.

Anonymous (May 18, 2004)

F Minus is great...but LIVE these guys destroy them....in fact....I can't think of ANY currently touring band that could even come close to Amen's live show. Talk about a force of fucking nature.

RondoMondo (May 18, 2004)

Sorry, but this band is nothing new.

There's better hardcore out there. You guys act like hardcore's dead. Remember a little hardcore band called "F-Minus"?

Bryne (May 18, 2004)

If you're looking for a band that brings the fucking rock, look no further.

Anonymous (May 18, 2004)

Im surprised you crazy punk rock kids arent saying "we never listened to them because they were on roadrunner". They sure were, and their past 3 CDs are far more punk rock than anything else on this site.

Piss Virus

flummo (May 18, 2004)

Are there any mp3s of this band anywhere?

notfeelingcreative (May 18, 2004)

Just bought this, absolutely amazing. Doesn't really sound like anything else that's out right now.

Anonymous (May 18, 2004)

Hey what the hell is up with all these 5 star reviews today?

Anonymous (May 18, 2004)

this band is pretty fucking good, from what I've heard.