Jade Tree Records
2005
To Live In Discontent
About This Album
To Live in Discontent bundles Strike Anywhere's out-of-print 2001 EP Chorus of One with outtakes from 2003's Exit English, a handful of previously vinyl-only material, and a few choice covers. Despite the grapeshot it's a pretty cohesive release, sacrificing none of the Virginia-based hardcore collective's political vitriol, nor its flair for brain-stinging melody. Fans of wide-angle acts like AFI will rally behind the harmonies and triumphant chord changes of "Antidote" (from a 2000 7" for Fat Wreck), but then Thomas Barnett rips into a line like "Poverty is the biggest and strongest jail that the government ever built," and you know you're dealing with kids who grew up on the righteous ethos of D.C. hardcore. That's what's great about Strike Anywhere -- its consciousness is catchy. That sound continues through "Chorus of One" (where this comp's title comes from), the strident guitar breakdowns of "Incendiary," and the hyper-driven mission statement "Cassandratic Equation," in which Barnett declares his revolt for "the vision of strength." He wouldn't be more sincere if he sweat blood. Throughout To Live in Discontent it's that old lockstep hardcore rhythm, but Strike Anywhere manages to make it new on each track.
Track List (try tracks 2,5,6,10 and 11)

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