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American Steel

Rogue's March (1999)
Lookout Records

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Contributed by: MN_punkmaster-skaman
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on August 11th 2009

American Steel is one of the very few bands that helped reinvent the punk rock sound out of the skateboard/SoCal scene resurgence in the `90s. With their blending of the Bay Area punk scene (Samiam is one band I could hear in their sound) with that of older punk/hardcore like the Clash, folk music and Motown, they reinvented the genre into a new style heard in bands such as Against Me!, the Lawrence Arms, Dead to Me, Off with Their Heads and, dare I say, the Gaslight Anthem. They set the standard for so-called "beardcore" bands of the new millennium. Their 1999 release on Lookout! Records, Rogue's March, is the perfect example of where it all began.

Rogue's March is now a classic of the punk rock genre. Here you can hear the blending of the aforementioned musical stylings. They kick things off right away with a well-paced romper, "Loaded Gun." Here you get both punk and politics in a swift punch right off the bat. This song, the title track and "Insurrection Ave." are perfect examples of political punk with themes on violence, race and economy. They're delivered with a raw emotion through the vocals of Rory Henderson and Ryan Massey.

Of course, this isn't a political album throughout. You have a few songs with upbeat music and depressing lyrics such as "Got a Backbeat." The album gets even more emotional towards the end lyrically, especially with "There Could Be More" and "The Optimist." The album finishes with the appropriately titled closer "Parting Glass." Here, the culmination of everything heard throughout the album so far crashes together, making it one of the best final album tracks ever made.

Since then, American Steel has made three more albums, went through a breakup, another band, and finally back together again. They never went back to the sheer rawness of this album later on, but that doesn't mean they got worse. There is nothing else I can add to this review that I've already stated on this band's obvious greatness and influence on others, and how essential this album is to anybody in the punk community of today. I leave you with the last line of "Parting Glass": "Fill up the parting glass up off your ass. It's time to make what we have last. Good night I love you still. Turn off the lights the party's over."

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bannerpilot (August 13, 2009)

This is definitely one of the best albums of the decade in my book. If you travelled back in time and told me that in 2000, i'd be like "wait, so it's all downhill from here this decade? And why the fuck are you wasting time travel on this?"

VictorIkpeba24 (August 13, 2009)

If something on a site called punknews should be awarded a 10, it's this album. Their new albums are good but they can't compare to this and Jagged Thoughts.

ashtraymonument (August 12, 2009)

goddamn i love this album

kylewagoner (August 12, 2009)

You just like blew my mind and had me reach a revelation when you said that all of those bands are part of beardcore...because that covers most of what I really like. Anyway, I'm personally more of a fan of later American Steel but there are a few songs on here I love. I don't listen to this as much as Jagged Thoughts, though. Fuck it, they're one of my favorite bands. Score is for them.

killdefenses (August 12, 2009)

greatest punk album ever? i can officially say yes, after all these years.

abracadaver (August 12, 2009)

"Got a Backbeat" / "Rogue's March" / "Whiskey, Women, and Blackguarding (Ain't No Cure for a Broken Heart)" is one of the best 1-2-3 punches ever.

pricey123 (August 12, 2009)

aren't all their albums out of print except for the fat releases?

score is for the dear friends album

Indecay (August 12, 2009)

Great record. Can't really decide which one I like better, this or the S/T. Both are amazing and easily their best stuff.

KevinH (August 12, 2009)

I'm amazed it took this long for a review. One of my all-time favorite punk albums.

thegreatestmanalive (August 12, 2009)

Also, whats up with dude's voice changing so much after this album? Always throws me through a loop

thegreatestmanalive (August 12, 2009)

Stoked to see this up here finally. Definetly their best record, this shit is pure gold, especially optimist

aarontoben (August 11, 2009)

optimist is easily amsteel's best song. in my opinion.

sexualsunshine (August 11, 2009)

A classic.

mike_killroad (August 11, 2009)

One of the best records in my collection. This started my love for this band almost 4 years ago and I am so happy they are back together.

miniblindbandit (August 11, 2009)

i'm pretty sure the tenth review spot has had the most perfect scores.

good record.

telegraphrocks (August 11, 2009)

A ten?!?!?!?!

Come the fuck on!!! Even if you think this is their best work, it's still NOT a perfect fucking record.

Also, this is NOT their best... and it's a 7.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

damo (August 11, 2009)

such an overrated record. much prefer their Fat stuff

cloudkicker (August 11, 2009)

This record rules, but a step down from their self titled record.

TrueBeliever (August 11, 2009)

"I Don't Mind" is on Jagged Thoughts. "Parting Glass" is the best song they've written.

dougkatz (August 11, 2009)

but the lawrence arms and one man army had already put out records when this came out

Dante3000 (August 11, 2009)

Seriously, NO on the Jagged Thoughts. Just NO.
-Dante

mikexdude (August 11, 2009)

It's okay. Jagged Thoughts is where it's at, though.

Phantom_Maggot (August 11, 2009)

Great album. I love, "I Don't Mind"

mpc (August 11, 2009)

This is a great album, but almost sounds like a different band even from Jagged Thoughts at times. It's cool that they still play several songs from it live too.

LinoleumMagazine (August 11, 2009)

I love this record so damn much!

Definitely my favorite Am Steel record.