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Rip It Up, Issue 241, 1 September 1997, Page 32

MORE ALBUMS

STRIFE In This Defiance (Victory) BY THE GRACE OF GOD Perspective (Victory) VARIOUS ARTISTS Victory Style 2 (Victory) - Chicago’s Victory Records — home to the hardest of hardcore, straightest of straight-edge, and some of the most righteous and overtly political rock music since the days of Britain’s premier politicore act, Discharge — have provided an alternative view of the punk and hardcore scenes for a couple of years now, and are showing no signs of letting up. ■ The new album from California’s Strife perhaps illustrates the problem of having some degree of success in preaching to the converted on your previous albums. Like many efforts where the message is more important than the medium, there is little in the ' way of diversity, and the’ guest spots from members of Sepultura, Deftones, and Fear Factory, are virtually indistinguishable from the metal-

lie morass here. Still, parts of it are just fine, and Strife have taken hardcore and metal styles and mixed them up in a novel, new agey kind of way.

On Perspective, Kentucky’s By The Grace Of God go as far as to include a recommended reading list — Chomsky, Hesse etc, and finish their album with a reading from a local poet. They fly a little closer to outthere than Strife, but still manage to spit a venomous zealot’s anger against corporate capitalism along with their intense high-speed assault. Good stuff. Victory Style 2 showcases the best of the label’s roster, including the superb Earth Crisis (who would frighten Motorhead with their abrasiveness), the equally excellent the Path Of Resistance, and a supporting cast of others less notable but still worthy — take a bow, Cause For Alarm,. Integrity, snapcase, and Doughnuts. Metal crossover, hardcore and old school — something for (almost) everybody. TRO Y FERGUSON

VARIOUS ARTISTS All Over Me Soundtrack (TVT Soundtrax) All the hits, shoulda been hits, and well worthy in-betweeny bits a grrrl could ask for, are back-to-back on this parent worrier. I could mention that Babes In Toyland’s ‘Hello’ gets the'wheel wobbling, or that Patti Smith’s ‘Pissing In A River’ proves it’s falling off the right bike, but I’d much rather bring your attention to the truly ass-kicking Geraldine Fibbers ‘hit’ you may have missed first time round, ‘Dragon Lady’, and ‘Something’s Burning’, from another band you should never be forgiven for having overlooked, 12 Rounds. Ani DiFranco’s ‘Shy’, Helium’s ‘Hole In The Ground’, the Amps’ contribution of the best drinking song this side of the bar (‘Empty Glasses’)... it all adds up to more pussy power than a skip full of Spice Girls.

BRONWYN TRUDGEON