Anti-Flag

“For Blood and Empire” (RCA/Sony BMG)

Sounds like: The Unseen, U.S. Bombs, The Business

REVIEW: 3.5 / 5

In short: Much to the chagrin of elitist D.I.Y. punks everywhere, Anti-Flag’s major-label debut features its finest, most diverse work yet.

Anti-Flag set off a firestorm of controversy last April when it was announced that the anti-corporate, underground punk band had inked a deal with major label conglomerate RCA/Sony BMG. The band cited the deal as a way to spread its leftist politics, but critics saw the move more like sleeping with the devil.

Regardless of scene politics, Anti-Flag’s deal with RCA has resulted in its best work yet. The big-budget production on “For Blood and Empire” makes its earlier work sound like a basement recording, while songs like “War Sucks, Let’s Party!” show that the band hasn’t lost the fun cynicism of earlier work like “Operation Iraqi Liberation (O.I.L.).”

Although its previous albums showed a narrow range of sound in keeping with the street punk tradition, “For Blood and Empire” pushes the band in new directions while still maintaining an inherently punk sound. “The W.T.O. Kills Farmers” has somewhat of a bouncy ska feel, “Hymn For The Dead” features a trumpet solo interlude and “One Trillion Dollars” marks the first acoustic guitar-led Anti-Flag song on a full-length release.

Despite the backlash from critics of the band’s choice to sign with RCA, Anti-Flag has managed to pull off an upset with “For Blood and Empire” that just might make a mark on the mainstream.

– Tyler Barrett