Propagandhi – Supporting Caste

Winnipeg's political Punk rockers have dosed up another great album to date. Fat Mike from NOFX has called them "The most important band in Punk rock to date". With "Supporting Caste" being their fifth full length,it is by far the most progressively structured album. Their sound has gone from the speedy pop punk style of the 90's to this thrashy type of melodic hardcore.

Rather than releasing the album off of their founders Fat Wreck Chords, this is the first album Propagandhi has taken out on Smallman Records along with their very own label, G7 Welcoming Committee.  Supporting Caste was recorded at the bands very own Illegal Combatant Studios and the world famous Blasting Room (founded by Descendents drummer Bill Stevenson). The album consist of 12 songs tackling the political subjects as well as the social matters that concern society today. Oh and Kent Monkman did the beautiful cover art.

For anyone that has listened to Propagandhi before, you would know that these guys don't mess around when it comes to politics and moral issues.  Most of the songs are loaded with irony and boy do they love sarcasm. The album opens up with "Night Letters" which automatically shows the structural differences and advancements between Supporting Caste and their last album, Potemkin City Limits. "Dear Coaches Corner is a song that catches a lot of attention by starting out with  fast thrash riffs leading to a stab-at-the-heart of Canada's hockey announcer Ron MacLean for all of his Nazi/Nuremburg accusations. The track "Human(e) Meat" is another one to dig into. It basically calls out Sandor Katz (A famous fermentist feminist) for all of his bluff and hypocrisy. The song entitled "Potemkin City Limits" was supposed to be the self titled track from the past album, but they decided to delay until this album. The song I believe stands out the most from the album(although not the best track either) is the nostalgia filled "The Bangers Embrace". The song sounds a little bit like Face to Face or Swingin' Utters and shows Propagandhi's lighter side.

The album consists of many tempo and rhythm transitions which cause the evolution between the last album. All in all this album lived up to it's potential and hype. These crazy vegan Canadians never disappoint. Look for this album to hit the street March 10, 2009.

Band MySpace:  www.myspace.com/propagandhi

Record label MySpace:  www.myspace.com/smallmanrecords


Album track listing:

1.  Night Letters
2. Supporting Caste
3. Tertium Non Datur
4. Dear Coach’s Corner
5. This is Your Life
6. Human(e) Meat (The Flensing of Sandor Katz)
7. Potemkin City Limits
8. The Funeral Procession
9. Without Love
10. Incalculable Effects
11. The Banger’s Embrace
12. Last Will and Testament


-Kevin L.
Big Wheel Online Magazine