If you were cruising the back alleys of the UK metal scene in 1985, dodging punks and skinheads, chances are you'd have heard the sonic assault of Warfare's "Metal Anarchy." This wasn't some polished, radio-friendly metal for the masses; it was a raw, unhinged blast of noise, the kind that makes your ears bleed and your heart race.
Warfare, by this point, had already established themselves as NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) stalwarts. But with "Metal Anarchy," they weren't just riding the wave; they were trying to capsize the whole damn boat. It was an album that dared to be ugly, to be abrasive, to be everything that "good taste" abhorred.
This was music for the disenfranchised, the outcasts, the ones who felt the world was against them. It wasn't about virtuosity or technical wizardry; it was about pure, unadulterated aggression. Think Motörhead on a bender, Venom with a hangover, and you're getting close.
The album's title track, "Metal Anarchy," is a relentless barrage of distorted guitars and pummeling drums. Vocalist Paul Evo snarls his lyrics with a venomous intensity, railing against authority and conformity. It's a call to arms for the headbangers, a declaration of war against the mainstream.
Musically, Warfare weren't reinventing the wheel. They were rooted in the classic heavy metal tradition, but they injected it with a punk rock energy and a streetwise swagger. Songs like "Electric Mayhem" and "Outlaw" are stripped-down and brutal, with no time for solos or ballads. The production, while cleaner than their debut, still retains a raw edge, capturing the band's live energy.
"Metal Anarchy" wasn't without its controversies. The album's lyrics, with their references to violence and rebellion, raised eyebrows in some quarters. But Warfare weren't afraid to push boundaries, to challenge the status quo. They weren't looking for approval; they were looking to make a statement.
Roadrunner Records, the label that released "Metal Anarchy," was known for its roster of cutting-edge metal bands. They weren't concerned with commercial success; they were about giving a platform to the underground. Warfare fit perfectly into this ethos, and the album became a cult classic among fans of the heavier side of metal.
Looking back, "Metal Anarchy" stands as a testament to Warfare's uncompromising spirit. It's not an easy listen, but it's a powerful one. It's a reminder that heavy metal can be more than just entertainment; it can be a weapon of rebellion and a channel for raw emotion. In a world of polished pop metal and manufactured angst, Warfare were the real deal.
