Pisschrist - Victims of Faith LP

Pisschrist - Victims of Faith
Yellow Dog/Havoc Records
October 2008
By: Bill Molloy

In reality it's been a year and a half, but it seems like only yesterday that Australia's Pisschrist came to the USA and thoroughly destroyed my brain and forehead (care of several knees to the face from vocalist Yeap). When a band is good enough to steal a show from the mighty Wolfbrigade, they're onto something. After the show I bought up everything I could from them: t-shirts, CDs, stickers, whatever. I had a new favorite d-beat/crust band.

Now it's late 2008 and they're back with their second full length (not counting the singles collection) entitled Victims of Faith. It's a definite journalistic cop out to use the phrase "they're not reinventing the wheel," but this is more of the same super blown out crust that you'd expect from Pisschrist. The difference between Pisschrist and just about every other band doing this style is that they're simply better. Beneath the pounding drums, ultra-distorted guitars and the grizzly bear vocals lie actual melodies. I said it, real melodies. You'll be pumping your fist while the actual record is on and drumming on your knees when you're at work. Take one listen to the re-recorded "Run For Your Life" and you'll know what I mean.

Taking a cue from any number of generic Youth Crew (ugh) bands, Yeap has decided to include explanations of several songs. Most revolve around the typical themes of atheism (this is Pisschrist after all), nihilism/anarchy and the horrors of war, but with some variation including a how-to-guide on how to get out of perfunctory military service and rants on immigration. Yeap I believe emigrated from Malaysia into Australia so it's obviously an important cause to him. The opening song "Punk is Love" for example is an ode to what makes punk rock great, in a few simplistic lines.

"DIY Punx Under One Flag
Music and Idea
Empowers Our Life
Good Friends Playing HC
Around The World
Punk Is Love
This Is Our Life
Different But It's Right
International HC
Without No Pose
Punk Is Love"

The US distribution of Victims of Faith is through Havoc, so head over to their website to order it. My only minor complaint is that my copy is a little beat up but shit happens when a record comes from Australia into MPLS then into Chicago. If you're into d-beat, crust or even good old fashioned punk rock there are literally millions of worse bands to listen to than Pisschrist. This is definite top 15 of the Year material. RIYL: Framtid, Discharge, Mob 47, bands that begin with "Dis-"
9/10.
Pisschrist Myspace