Historically, Pittsburgh-based punk stalwarts Anti-Flag have always had important, socially conscious messages to convey and musical statements they’ve been driven to make. That ethos remains intact with their new album, American Spring, which is their Spinefarm Records debut and is due out on May 26.
The band has shared the front and back album artwork, which they hope will spark conversations among the youth and perhaps inspire change, which is the spirit in which punk rock was initially founded.
There are plenty of ways the viewer can interpret the vivid artwork, as the front cover features a woman wearing a black hajib veil, while the back cover features an American soldier in combat fatigues. Both of their faces are obscured by an exploding pink flower.
“The songs of American Spring are an aggressive critique of the global social and political climate of 2015,” Anti-Flag explained. “The artwork is no different. The cover art is meant to challenge our collective view of violence and peace. The entire American Spring package includes essays, personal liner notes, and further information behind the driving forces of each song, detailing ways for us all to take action against injustice in the world. The American Spring is now.”
On March 31st, the first track of the album, “Fabled World” will be premiered worldwide. Full album tracklisting below.
AMERICAN SPRING
1)Fabled World
2)The Great Divide
3)Brandenburg Gate
4)Sky Is Falling
5)Walk Away
6)Song For Your Enemy
7)Set Yourself On Fire
8)All of The Poison, All of The Pain
9)Break Something
10)Without End
11)Believer
12)To Hell With Boredom
13)Low Expectations
14)The Debate Is Over (if you want it)
Anti-Flag have just announced that their tenth full-length record “American Spring” will be released on Spinefarm Recordsthis spring.
The band released this statement regarding the release:
“There is no shortage of fodder for a new record of commentary on the social and political climate in 2015: Endless wars, the new Jim Crow and American injustice, corprotocracy, environmental coup d’état, the surveillance state, loss, grief, and anxiety. We hope that these songs can grant us solace in a seemingly hopeless era. It has been frustrating to see much punk rock music —and music in general— quiet in the face of so many atrocities that are taking place around the world. This record is not quiet.
If you are disillusioned with the status quo, these songs are for you.
The American Spring is now.”
Anti-Flag last released a career-spanning compilation titled A Document of Dissent on July 22nd through Fat Wreck Chords. Their latest full-length The General Strike came out in 2012 on SideOneDummy Records.