Fight Back [LP]

Vinyl LP pressing. 2018 album from Canada's legendary pioneering punks, released to coincide with the band's 40th Anniversary. D.O.A. set the bar high for punk and basically invented hardcore. Their rough and ready line up is led by the godfather of hardcore, Joe Shithead Keithley (guitar, vocals), and he is more than ably accompanied by the manic rhythm section of Paddy Duddy (drums) and Corkscrew (bass). Fight Back is the most innovative album the band has done since War On 45. Released on Keithley's own label Sudden Death, this is a scathing and timely piece. Dealing with all manner of unseemly low characters and issues. The album opens with acerbic "You Need an Ass Kickin' Right Now," then rips right into the startling "Killer Cops," then smashes into the anthemic "Time To Fight Back," which is street punk resistance at it's fiercest. The band rips through the timely "Gonna Set You Straight" with violent and natural ease, same goes with the vitriolic "Just Got Back From the USA." The album takes a funny twist with "We Won't Drink This Piss" (down with bad corporate beer!) and "You Can't Stop Me," where Keithley delves into the character of Slapshot's playing coach Reggie Dunlop, a natural alter ego perhaps!