Sunday, August 31, 2008

Flags Of Democracy - Shatter Your Day + Love Song (EP)


Flag of Democracy (F.O.D.) ranks at the top of a very short list of great Philly hardcore. Melodic-Fuzz-Thrash.

One of my favorite local bands during that time period (early-mid 80's) was Flag of Democracy, better known (as were most 80's punk bands) by their acronym, F.O.D. I was probably about 14 or 15 years old when I found a copy of their 1984 debut 7", Love Songs, and instantly loved it. Fast, loud, sloppy hardcore; the sonic equivalent of two cats mating in your ear duct. I ran out and picked up their follow-up LP, Shatter Your Day, for more. Most of this early output was typical punk rock fare thematically: non-conformity, oppression, war, suicide, rejection, etc., but these guys did it with a great sense of humor. They weren't cool and they knew it, just like this listener. Or, at least, that's what it felt like to me growing up in an era of hair metal fandom, which is what seemed to pass for "cool" in my neighborhood.

"Powerload" is one of my favorite F.O.D. tunes, off of that Love Songs 7". Singing along to it in my room was incredibly satisfying during my miserable teenaged years (oh, hey, its pretty satisfying to sing along to in my miserable adult years, too). Bonus points for the most creative use of the Philly colloquialism, "YO!". F.O.D. are surprisingly still around, though their output is incredibly hard to find. Their website is pretty shabby, but it looks like the show dates page gets updated every once in awhile for Philly area shows.--Recordrobot


Genre: Hardcore
Year: 1984/1986

Tracklist:
SHATTER YOUR DAY
01. Houses Made for Mannequins
02. Love Song II
03. Metal Plate
04. Kid Called Me
05. Shatter Your Day
06. The Family Knows
07. Science Patrol
08. Mad House
09. Carousel
10. Everythings OK
11. Cheep Alcohol
12. Hoe Down
13. Shadows of Children
14. Serene Danker
15. Guimos' Theme
16. Black Light

LOVE SONGS
01. Powerload
02. Babysitter
03. Meat Factory
04. Guidance Councelor/Metamorphosis
05. Love Song

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