Raised Fist

Raised Fist: Ignoring the GuidelinesIgnoring the Guidelines (2001)
Burning Heart

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: layawayplanPaul Ferraro
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 3rd 2001DISCLAIMER: Fans of poppy, light-hearted music should stop reading. Fans of weepy, emotive music need not apply. However, if you're a fan of powerful, passionate, intense music, you've come to the right place. Sweeden's best (living) hardcore act have done it again. After two EP's and an amazin.

DISCLAIMER: Fans of poppy, light-hearted music should stop reading. Fans of weepy, emotive music need not apply. However, if you're a fan of powerful, passionate, intense music, you've come to the right place.

Sweeden's best (living) hardcore act have done it again. After two EP's and an amazing album (Fuel) they've taken their sound to a new level. Ignoring the Guidelines has a much fuller sound, and is played at an even more breakneck pace than their previous work.

While most of the songs tend to follow a similar style, it's a style that Raised Fist has raised (no pun intended) to an art. With a few exceptions, the pattern seems to be this: 60-90 seconds of intense verse/chorus hardcore, then another minute or so of the same lyrics at a slower tempo and different beat. However, each song tends to have a different memorable aspect. "Envy Is Dangerous" has a chorus that sticks in your head, "Different but the Same" will have you shouting along in the outro, "Twisted Debate" never fails to bring out the air-drums, and "Working on Wood" has one shouted line that begs to be listened to over and over again (you'll see when you hear it).

Just before wrapping up the album, Raised Fist takes time out to give their own rendition of Gorilla Biscuits's "New Direction". I've never really been a fan of Gorilla Biscuits (never really gave them a chance), but...wow...sorry, i'm speechless.

Raised Fist has never been much of a political band. Most of their songs tend to speak to a specific person or people, hoping the listener will see some of his/her own faults, and make an effort to correct them. Sometimes, however, the message is a bit garbled in translation. The imperfect Swedish to English reminds me of early Millencolin lyrics. Favourite lines include (these are not typos): "remember the knife always land in the back" and "I don't care about what your ugly mouth say".

As the most recent Burning Heart band to be imported to Epitaph, Raised Fist has been getting more North American exposure. Check out the Epitaph site for free song ("Breaking Me Up" - one of the slower songs and an exception to the pattern mentioned above). "Different But The Same" appears on the latest Punk-o-Rama comp.

What's the problem with this cd? It's too short. 11 songs, 27 minutes. But it's one of the most intense 27 minutes ever put on CD.

Whatever you do, give them a few listens before passing judgement. I couldn't thoroughly enjoy this CD until about the 4th listen through it. And a word of warning: Raised Fist has been known to cause riots at shows (see: Brandon, Manitoba). One listen through will help you see why.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

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

LeightonESmith (October 17, 2010)

One of the best hardcore albums ever.

matthall (December 24, 2005)

This album (along with every other Raised Fist release) really is incredible. I heard them on a somewhat recent (maybe it was 10) Punk-O-Rama CD, and they were the only band that really stood out.
I wasn't too into it at first, but a month or so later I gave them another chance and got their first EP. Not being a big fan of alot of newer hardcore, I was surprised at how much I loved it. I immediately got every other record they had and have been waiting patiently for a new release ever since. Seriously-Raised Fist is the only band that me and my metal friends can really agree on. Everybody loves these guys. Best hardcore band around today.

jbigwig (September 4, 2005)

By track 3 I had already soiled myself, the only thing better than listening to Raised Fist is seeing them live. Fast, hard and pissed - off that's what a hard core record should sound like. PERIOD.

Anonymous (July 6, 2004)

Aw man ... I believe if Slayer ever decided to do strict punk record ("Undisputed Attitude" was a tribute/cover album) it would sound like this. Damn good record. I don't mind if the syntax is wrong (ObeyYourParents), it's the sound that matters. Very clean, very tight. Personally, coming from the Black/Death Metal world, when I want Hardcore, I want to sound like this. This makes me happy.

ObeyYourParents (May 31, 2004)

Oh, those Swedes!

I'll dub this "Dr. Sbaisto-core". The vocals may be powerful, albeit powerfully monotone. Their Gorilla Biscuits cover was bloody weak. Last, and most damnably of all, the grammatical errors were horrendous ( I know english isn't their first language or anything, but come on!).

"If you found a million dollars in a bag would you keep them?"

Its so sad to see it makes me sick.

Anonymous (October 1, 2002)

Raised Fist are fucking legends. The best thing about em is that they get HARDER with every album. That is rare for bands today. The "DEDICATION" is a huge fucking killer aswell... probably the best CD i've heard even though i just found it on the net.

kiwipunk (April 12, 2002)

This is one of the best harcore albums to come out in the last 5 years. The singer has an almost hollow rasp to his voice and it completely compliments some kick ass music. This album makes you want to riot.

Anonymous (July 30, 2001)

this is some hardcore shit right here- fathead

Anonymous (July 4, 2001)

Yeah, Raised Fist play kick ass music but they are huge fucking assholes...

Me and my friend went out to see them live here in Oslo, Norway, and guess what... the bastards never fucking showed up to play the show. The cell phone number the promotor was given was dead, and they never even gave them a reason... so we went home empty handed, even the support band, a swedish band named Deliverance, told me they disliked them when they did shit like that. So much for Raised Fist.

-Lars

Josip (July 4, 2001)

Great Album, blows everything away, you just have to hear the first song and you'll like it (or not)!

Anonymous (July 3, 2001)

Whoa...that rating is supposed to be 4.5, not 3.5
Why would I give such a glowing review with an average rating?
- Paul Ferraro

coldjuly (July 3, 2001)

holy fuck...this is hard shit! If you like shit like judge, insted, Gorrila biscuits and youth of today this album is for you.