This band is not a stranger to these pages. I previously had a chance to listen to some of their material at a couple of Pirates Press compilations, and I was blown away by their anthemic sound. Antagonizers ATL is one of those bands you surely don’t want to miss if you’re profoundly into streetpunk/Oi!… Read More Antagonizers ATL – Kings LP (Pirates Press Records)
This band is not a stranger to these pages. I previously had a chance to listen to some of their material at a couple of Pirates Press compilations, and I was blown away by their anthemic sound. Antagonizers ATL is one of those bands you surely don’t want to miss if you’re profoundly into streetpunk/Oi! sound. Previously, I wrote an article about their square Flexi single 7” record that carried the song Black Clouds. That particular track went on various artist compilation named For Family And Flag Vol. 1. Antagonizers ATL have a couple more recordings under their belt, such as Just My Luck EP, Hold Your Ground 7” EP, a split 7” record with DCC, a split 7” with legendary The Queers named Beyond The Dirty South Valley, a debut full-length album called Working Class Street Punk, a split 7” with The Warning Shots, a 4-way split 7” with bands such as Crim, NOI!Se, and Rude Pride.
Kings represent their second debut album that showcases a natural progression towards the more polished but still punching sound. Antagonizers ATL decided to include more melodies, more instruments, and more rock’n’roll onto Kings. Therefore, their brand new material sound more luxurious, detailed, and complex. Nevertheless, the group still nurtures recognizable streetpunk/Oi! sound they have become notable for throughout the years. Right with the initial beats of this particular record, you’ll hear how the Antagonizers ATL evolved into unstoppable streetpunk machinery, decorated with ear-appealing melodies, but the group somehow managed to retain moderate dosages of aggression in their music.
Antagonizers ATL delivers the best of both US and UK streetpunk/Oi scenes. The band bases the sound upon the uncompromising British Oi! music by incorporating abrasive riffs during the complete album. Still, there are generous layers of American streetpunk melodies floating above these robust foundations. The guitars deliver generous portions of harmonizations, memorable guitar themes, striking chords, loud riffages while the rhythm section kicks directly in the head with powerful basslines and precise rhythmical sequences. The lead vocal contributes with another layer of aggression through classic streetpunk shoutouts, while the remaining portion of the group backs up with compelling singalongs. These striking vocal segments appear like the group recorded them on football terraces.
Antagonizers ATL unquestionably nailed with the Kings. This material showcases how the group invested heart and soul into these numbers. Each segment of the album is thoughtfully written, composed, and arranged to fit into the colossal slab of rock’n’roll-driven streetpunk sound. Kings come on gold vinyl limited to 500 copies, black vinyl limited to 300 copies, and ultra-clear w/ blood-red and gold splatter limited 200 copies. The album is also available at the streaming services such as Bandcamp and Spotify if you prefer digital music. Head over to Pirates Press Records for more detailed information about ordering.