Album Review

Propaghandi – Failed States

• 19th Sep 2012

Propagandhi have had a lengthy career to say the least, recently releasing their sixth full-length album Failed States. After facing several line up changes throughout their career the four-piece have stabilised their members and focused on producing a very exciting new release after their fifth record Supporting Caste.

Opener “Note To Self” introduces the record with slow chilling guitar which then brings the track up to a mid pace with the welcoming of two sets of repeated guitar and drum structures. With an instrumental opening lasting just under two minutes the track builds up suspense for the joining of vocalist Chris Hannah. The lengthiest track on the record and “Note To Self” makes for a great opener for what is set to be a very admirable release.

Full to the brim with frenzied time signatures, both title track “Failed States” and “Devil’s Creek” are definitely commendable, quite different to the mid pace of the opening efforts of the record. Their rapid structures keep the listener on their toes, which can be said for a lot of tracks on Failed States. Propagandhi’s technical ability is already astounding and there are still another nine tracks to go.

Mind blowing guitar work in “Cognitive Suicide” makes this a certain favourite on the record. The section appears out of the blue, complimented by frenzied drums before slowing back down to the original pace that welcomed the track. That’s what’s so great about this record: you don’t know what to expect from one section of a track to the next; it certainly keeps hold of your attention.

Failed States is calmed down somewhat (although by no means is the record calm) with “Unscripted Moment” and “Dark Matters”, tracks that focus less on fast-paced riffs and drum beats but are a reminder of how the record began; highlighting the diversity of the bands musical ability when working with their genre. “Duplicate Keys Icaro (An Interim Report)” rounds off the record, reiterating Propagandhi’s phenomenal technical skills with uneven structures and untimely beats. Most would attempt this and get it completely wrong but this and all of the other tracks on Failed States sound far from messy.

Propagandhi deserve extreme praise for Failed States, a record that after listening to several times can barely be faulted. The quartet have proved yet again that they can produce an astoundingly tight record and even six full length releases into their career the four-piece certainly haven’t overdone it. Bring on album number seven.