One of the things that initially drew me to punk rock music was earnestness. I guess you can say it's the main ingredient that continues to bring me back to that particular cookie jar over and over. Do you have something to say? And more importantly do I believe in you enough for me to buy what you're selling? I can't recall the exact moment I first heard Home Front or even the first song, but I can tell you how it made me feel. I know this because it's the same way listening to this, the band's second LP. It makes me sit up straight, pay attention, clench my fists, and decide whole heartedly that the struggle is worth carrying on. From this, you can conclude that I indeed opened up my old Boba Fett wallet and bought what Home Front was selling me.
I have been eagerly awaiting this release since the very first announcements were made. After listening to Watch It Die a few times, swishing it around my head and really taking it in, I decided that it did not disappoint me. To be honest, I never thought for a second that it would. This record contains 12 songs of sweaty, Oi! style street anthems spliced together with skinny tie, new wave synths that blend together so brilliantly you wonder why more new bands haven't landed on this combination. Think Cocksparrer and New Order tightly woven together into battle armor chain mail and you get an idea at what I'm trying to describe here. Only Clint Frazier's strong foundation of cold drum machine percussion and dry melodic synths can serve as a launch pad to Graeme MacKinnon's explosive and dedicated vocals. I had the pleasure of seeing Home Front when they came to my town last year and the show was everything I had hoped it would be.
Watch It Die, much like Home Front's 2023 debut LP is fist crammed with high intensity battle hymns (see the song "For The Children [F*uck All]" and "Always This Way") as well as gut wrenching tracks like "Eulogy". But Home Front really swing for the fences this time around with songs like "Kiss The Sky" which sounds like it could have been an MTV smash in 1982. The fourth song on the record "Between The Waves" is so great, it could have been an anchor to a John Hughes movie soundtrack right between the Psychedelic Furs and OMD. The song "Dancing With Anxiety" reminds me of early, pre Twitch era Ministry. All this and I haven't even mentioned the closing track "Empire" which is one of the best songs to cap off an LP ever! Without corny stars or thumbs up ratings, I'm certain you can guess where this record lands for me. Home Front are one of the best active bands out there right now and I am excited to see what they throw at me next. - So sayeth El Maestro
