Omnigone continues to be one of the most prolific bands around- releasing their third full length album since the start of 2023. The band has long established their position as torch bearers for the East Bay Ska Core sound that has existed for decades. This new album Turn Up The Fear definitely puts a few new twists into the sound, beginning with a fairly different guitar sound throughout the album. I also feel like this album features fewer tracks that have the more singalong type of choruses that stick out in their last two albums. Meanwhile, the hardcore and aggressive portions of the album are very consistent with the most hardcore parts of previous albums.
The thing that this album excels at more than anything is the political messaging. I have always loved the political messages consistent through Omnigone’s albums, but I feel like this album lays it out a little more clearly, succinctly, and directly.
The album begins with “Set the Tone”, which does exactly as the title states. Aside from being the tone setter for the album, it also begins as a bit of a history and civics lesson. “The banks control the loans for homes and all of our careers” and then leans into a lesson in redlining and the federal reserve and federal government sowing divisiveness. It then goes in to more examples, but each verse ends with the question: Now that you know what happens, what are you going to do? Knowing is half the battle, but having a plan to address the problem is even more important. Don’t let them keep us distracted, don’t let us get divided. Build a community. Educate. Communicate. Also, listen to the fucking guitar solos in this song. The closing breakdown is pretty fucking good too!
“Flagburner” is the third track on the album and the first track that is a little faster and more aggressive of a ska-core track. I’ve always kinda broken down Omnigone’s albums in my head between the more aggressive tracks and the more ska-punk tracks that tend to have lyrics that are easier to sing along with. This is one of my favorite of the aggressive hardcore tracks on any of Omnigone’s albums.
The next song is “Corpse of Corporations” which was the first pre-release single, and for damn good reason. This song has everything: Aggressive hardcore, great breakdowns, a catchy chorus, angry yelling, guitar solos, and great political lyrics focused mostly on the exploitation of labor.
The album features a lot of new sounds for Omnigone, and “Maggots” is one track that feels very different. The guitars and bass particularly reshape the song in a way that feels unique, but that sound flows into “As Above So Below” which discusses the exploitation and commodification of youth. We are all sold this idea that we have to have success in our 20s or 30s, that we are too old to begin new things and that we have to settle down and accept our roles in the corporate world. The song includes an extended sample that was taken from a TikTok reel where fellow ska musician Jer is explaining the music industry’s exploitative practices. In particular, it expects artists to have success while they are younger and less able to stand up for themselves. The song sounds amazing, but the lesson is one that often goes overlooked or underexplored.
I think the album ends with my favorite track: “All Hands on Deck”. Again, the guitar intro feels very unique for Omnigone. The drums drive the song forward in a way that fully engages me, and aggressive cymbals during the instrumental portions of the song somehow allow the guitars to shine. The verses are aggressive and appropriately angry, but the chorus is catchy enough that you want to sing along with “What will you do when they come for you?” The distortion and guitar play is crazy fun, but the song is about state violence and the need for everyone to come together. “Never again” needs to mean NEVER. Not in Gaza, not in Sudan, not in Ukraine, not with police attacking protestors in Iran or in Phoenix, Arizona or Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Never again” has to mean no ICE or National Guard in Tennessee. Don’t wait until they come for you: Stand up against it right here, right now.
I love how different this album sounds, and yet, how much of it still carries the East Bay Ska Core sound. This is definitely a welcome evolution. Adam Davis has continued to put out amazing music every year, and I love it every single time.
Take a listen to Turn Up The Fear below.
Written by Gimp Leg
