Lower Class Crucifixion

Even without the "leather, bristles, studs, and acne" getup, the green and blue Mohawks, and the Exploited and Abrasive Wheels T-shirts, five seconds with this CD would confirm that early-'80s English Oi! is still alive in Boston. And if "Oi! Oi! That's your lot!," this foursome actually plays it better than many of the originals, more on par with the Business, Straps, and especially Four Skins than the talentless types such as Varukers, Special Duties, Vice Squad, and Disorder. Capitalism critics the Unseen are tight (see "Alone" and "Coincidence or Consequence?," thrashers as effective as early-'80s Scream, S.S. Decontrol, or Articles of Faith discs), loud, angry, and roaring like the best of riff-oriented hardcore. No band can erase the fact that we've heard this style a million times for two decades, adhering as closely to preset formula as McDonald's french fries, but if you're not tired of the older still-inflamed mold of Oi! and hardcore, with guts and rousing, shouted/shrieked-in-tune choruses, instead of ever-worsening, diluted, well-behaved, polite poppy punk, this is the place! ~ Jack Rabid