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While it seems that in the last few years we've seen a few of Fugazi's most impressionable followers make waves in the indie rock community only to abruptly dissolve (Bear vs. Shark, Despistado, I'm looking your way), there are some still kicking around -- and have been for a bit, at that. One of these is Red Animal War, who inaugurate their seventh year of existence with the appropriately titled Seven Year War, which draws five songs from compilations and 7"s and adds two live tracks and six new songs to help round it out.

What results is a collection of jagged, raw, and dense post-hardcore that can offer moments of solemn, concentrated reflection ("FFB," which offers a short, random African tribal beat sample at its end), or juggernauts of full-throttle, hoarse-throated rock ("The Insanity"). You can give the band all the time in the world, and they'll still manage to offer something different every few seconds; case in point, the 5-minute "Enterfear," which manages to be rhythmic and shaking with a salsa-like vigor at its most alive peaks, and subtlely building at its quieter valleys. "Did You See It in the Sky?" vocally somersaults over careful plinks of piano. Particularly impressive is the live version of "77" for its beginning vocal triumphs, furiously spat and conquering the audience's attention.

If you still have no idea what this sounds like, J. Robbins produced three of the tracks. This sort of guarantees Jawbox and Burning Airlines comparisons abroad with the band already playing that style of D.C. post-hardcore to begin with.

Disjointed? Sure, but it's a compilation we're talking here (though the label awkwardly intends it as full-length no. 4 for the band). Lengthy? At 51 minutes, yeah, just a bit. But Seven Year War surely manages to offer up a sound and matching production that could make you swear this is a product of the 1990 punk scene in only the best of ways.



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    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 22, 2006 at 10:25 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Blake is such a rad dude. Glad to see him in this band

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 11:01 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This band is going to blow up. It's such a cult hit that theres no way it's not going to goto a major.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 17, 2006 at 8:19 PM (EDT)

    No, there's a band called Yes and Red Animal War are still better than them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 17, 2006 at 7:43 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    No/Yes? Are you insane? They are all Yes!

    Pull your ears out of your ass.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 14, 2006 at 5:14 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    No/Yes? They're yes/yes.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 14, 2006 at 12:39 PM (EDT)

    yeah they're alright i guess but they're no yes. what do they stand for? music is dead.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 10:25 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this band deserves so much attention, yet they garner nothing, sad. they make amazing music.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 8:29 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I have never heard a better band. Please make more music.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 3:09 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I actually prefered Black Phantom Crusades. The production was so much better.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 10:43 AM (EDT)

    Their albums get better with each release, check out the newer stuff. Breaking In...is good, but they just get better and better with each release (and that was their first).

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 9:53 AM (EDT)

    Breaking in an Angel is the best release they've put out. One of the best debut albums i've ever heard.

    Dan

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 7:40 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This is my official score. I'd give it higher but there are like 2 songs in this collection of material that I could do without. The new songs are amazing. A great return to the sound I loved in Black Phantom. I could of done without the 7" tracks like "Monarch" and "The Insanity". Still, a great return.

    I'd love to hear new stuff from this band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 4:16 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    oh yeah! these guys bring it full-on!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 7:25 PM (EDT)

    "Enterfear" is so amazing. The bass is insane!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 5:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    My favorite release of 2006 so far. I wonder if Plane's Mistaken For Stars' will top it? Doubtful. Can't wait for new music from these guys.

    Posted by feeeding5000 on 2006-04-04 17:27:26

    That's an amazingly cool band name. I've never heard of them before, but sounds good.

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-04 15:29:29

    That should read "shorten it here".

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-04 15:28:59

    Ah, crap. I typed a long post, but I'll short it here. Suffice it to say: i know Polizda was before this. When I said "the one before that", i was referring to the post below my original one saying they liked the 2003 album and asking for suggestions. By "that", I was referring to Polizda. If I'd meant to refer to this album, I'd have used the pronoun "this". Read a grammar book before you try to criticize someone. It'll make you look smarter, which is what you obviously want.

    Posted by Infrarecon on 2006-04-04 14:43:20
    My Score:

    I got a pretty good reaction when I wore my RAW tee "Red Animal War...I don't get it"

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 2:42 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "Yeah, get Black Phantom Crusades, it's the one before that. It is awesome."

    Actually, Black Phantom was 2 albums before this. 2004 they released "Polizida" on Ice Planet Records (Flickerstick, Tendril's label) which J recorded as well. It got a lot of crap because of how different it was compared to Black Phantom Crusades. I personally loved it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 2:40 PM (EDT)

    Yeah I saw that. I love most of the videos. The live version of "Mouse" is amazing. I really like the video Travis directed too.

    I can't wait for them to tour this summer. The new songs are going to sound so good live.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 2:34 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Did you guys check out the videos on this album? Some of them are amazing, this band shreds live as you can tell from the live tracks but check out the videos in case you haven't popped it in your comp yet. It plays that creepy voicemail tracks in the background on the enhanced part, scares the crap out of me.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 2:27 PM (EDT)

    J goes to every RAW show when they play near him. He loves these guys.

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-04 11:53:03

    Naw, Burning Airlines was a bit poppier and more playful.

    Also, yeah, J. Robbins doesn't always produce stuff that sounds like his bands, but he does almost constantly produce awesome records.
    Garrison's "Be A Criminal", Blueline Medic's "The Apology Wars" (and I'm sure the reason "Text Bomb" sucked so much was partly because J didn't produce it), all of Jets To Brazil's stuff, The Promise Ring's "Very Emergency", Maritime's "Glass Floor", Liars Academy's "Demons"... It goes on. The man works with quality bands.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 10:34 AM (EDT)

    ...sounds like burning airlines

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 10:26 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "J. Robbins produced three of the tracks. This sort of guarantees Jawbox and Burning Airlines comparisons"

    Just because J.Robbins produced a few tracks doesn't guarantee the comparisions to the bands of J.Robbins.

    But the fact that the vocals' "sound and delivery" are eerily just like J.Robbins himself, not to mention the songwriting and guitar work would and do merit Jawbox/Burning Airlines comparisions. Also the band mentioned on the End Sounds website "We’ve ripped off his old bands (Jawbox, Burning Airlines) unmercifully for 5 years, so it was way past time for us to give something back." about enlisting the production of J.Robbins.

    Fugazi wouldn't be my main comparision, but I can see some of the influence. Great Album. But if you like Fugazi you may not get into this. But if you like the bands jawbox and burning airlines and if you also like fugazi, then you will probably like this.

    bdmj

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-04 09:19:45

    Yeah, get Black Phantom Crusades, it's the one before that. It is awesome.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 4:27 AM (EDT)

    Only heard their 2003 album and it didn't do much for me.......and I'm a HUGE Fugazi and DC Post-Hardcore fan. Any suggestions? -Brandon Sideleau

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 1:26 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    a return to form!

    Posted by danperrone on 2006-04-04 00:23:07

    soooooooooo fucking good

    Posted by Godfather on 2006-04-04 00:16:44
    My Score:

    incredible band

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-04 00:04:23

    Also, The Ghost was pretty sweet and Fugazish and then broke up.

    Red Animal War rocks!

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