Cause for Alarm/Victim in Pain
There was never anything fancy about these New York hardcore pioneers, just the aural equivalent of a swift kick to the nether regions followed by a brass-knuckled rap on the noggin. Then again, that's probably what made Roger Miret & Co. so popular with the testosterone-fueled adolescents that related to the band's might-makes-right approach. The band drew some criticism for its avowedly right-wing political stance--"Shoot His Load" praised subway gunman Bernhard Goetz, while "Public Assistance" knocked those who accepted it--but repeated exposure reveals them to be total misanthropes, rather than antagonists of any specific group. If a feel-good album is what you're looking for, steer clear. But those hankering for a shot of no-frills punk-metal with a side of malice will certainly feel sated.--David Sprague