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Astpai

Corruption Concealed (Under Deceptive Slogans) (2008)
Jump Start Records

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

Published on June 6th 2008

On paper, Astpai sounds great. They're a sometimes vicious, but always spunky melodic punk/hardcore band from Austria with some poppier elements -- sorta like Kid Dynamite meets File Under-era None More Black. Really! But the thing is, the formula only comes out with decent results from their end.

Astpai have it all -- well. almost. There's the raspy, outraged vocals, a good charging motion and swift tempo changes. They also have an astute political awareness, with "Born as Destined, Locked Up as Forced" addressing Operation Spring and “This Declaration of War...” rooting on an anti-sexist group.

However, for all the inspiring thoughts and open-eyed consciousness at work here, little of Corruption Concealed is truly compelling or memorable. “Paving Ways in Cliché Suits” is definitely a catchy romp, complete with start-stop riffs and handclaps; overall, the album definitely retains a minimal level of interest too, but that’s roughly it. After a first listen that seems to promise a whole new world of endless fist pumps and salivating house shows, Astpai doesn’t quite manage to live up to those expectations upon repeat experiences of the album. Something’s missing, and it’s hard to pinpoint just what.

That being said, Corruption Concealed (Under Deceptive Slogans) is hardly terrible. Astpai seem to know what they’re doing, and maybe with some more time and development they’ll be able to match the level reached by their North American counterparts.

STREAM
Born as Destined, Locked Up as Forced
Hard to Manage Broken Windows
Stuck on Repeat
Visibilify!

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literamaniac (April 29, 2011)

I think some of the album is forgettable but the stand-outs (Paving Ways, For Habits, Hard to Manage, etc.) are fucking INCREDIBLE.

This band's potential is off the charts, I've been sleeping on the full-length they put out last year, but I'm excited to see how they've developed from this. There are so many great songs on this album.

WaitingRoom (June 10, 2008)

Hello friends

mikexdude (June 9, 2008)

Carolyn and Maddie are great friends of mine. I go to pretty much every show, you should say hi sometime.

feeeding5000 (June 8, 2008)

Mike... you're in Ante Up? I'm friends with Maddy (I guess Ian too), Carolyn B., Zack C., and Lydia.

[Members of Strength Through Defiance, New Habitat, ex-Broken Bodies, and Lydia's kind of a groupie.]

imisschampion (June 8, 2008)

If these guys were American, there would be a huge buzz about them.

mikexdude (June 8, 2008)

feeeding 5000, do I know you? I played that show with Astpai at the elctrik maid. These guys are so good live. Blew us out of the park.

johnrambo (June 7, 2008)

met these dudes in austria.

like em.

feeeding5000 (June 7, 2008)

Saw 'em at the Electrik Maid in DC. The energy and melody doesn't come through on record at all; live they sounded very much like Kid Dynamite, but their recordings are meh.

TD99 (June 7, 2008)

I disagree wholeheartedly. This band has an intensity that really comes through even on CD. To their credit, their live show is even more impressive. With songs like "Visibilify" and "Hands Kept Clean," they really find a balance between outrage at the injustices of our world and hope for the future. This album (as well as their previous release, “Feeling Safe in Programmed Channels”) jumps out of the speakers with energy and a positive message.

icapped2pac (June 7, 2008)

Jason? You mean like "ch-ch-ch-ch ah-ah-ah-ah"?

blanktapesemptybottles (June 7, 2008)

on the first song on their myspace there's a part where one of them sounds exactly like Jason and for that I can't listen to it