This CD is a mind-blowing collection of hardcore that draws on punk’s history while looking forward at the same time. It holds together as one of the best listens of 2005 – and this isn’t even a proper album, it’s just a rarities release!

Fuelled by anger but campaigning on a positive message of hope for the future, Strike Anywhere have forged an addictive sound. Thomas Barnett’s hoarsely delivered calls to revolution are both sung and shouted, often in the one line, and are filled with righteous political passion. The music angrily pummels the message home but at the same time is tempered with melody and loaded with more hooks than a thousand urban legends. Notes On Bringing The Sky Down opens with a semblance of restraint before abandoning all pretence at respectability and engaging in a decent attempt at living up to its title. Cassandratic Equation is a clear highlight, with a bass riff that foreshadows the vocal line of the chorus; in fact, Garth Petrie’s bass-work is a constantly notable and consistently excellent feature of the songs. Many tracks are arranged to allow his talents the exposure they deserve.

The collection draws from a variety of sources (notably the Chorus Of One EP, which is included in its entirety) and also features four previously unreleased tracks. The songs cover the years 1999-2004, but the quality of songwriting remains a fixed value (although Sunspotting is noticeably a demo recording). The collection closes with three covers, including Gorilla Biscuits’ impassioned Two Sides (performed with members of New Mexican Disaster) and a ridiculously catchy version of Cock Sparrer’s Where Are They Now?

Normally I would protest a rarities collection by a band with only two albums under their belt, but with songs as strong as these, there’s no room for complaint.

Owen Heitmann