T.S.O.L.
Divided We Stand (Nitro)
by Ewan Wadharmi
The Sounds of Liberty chorale group have been a mainstay of Jerry Falwell’s Old Time Gospel Hour for decades. But in 1978, it was revealed that this group of Up With People wanna-bes were not who they claimed. That’s when four innovators from Los Angeles introduced their “Up Yours, People” Goth-punk style as True Sounds of Liberty.
The last few exciting years have thrilled us crotchety old punks with new releases from The Damned, The Exploited, The Adicts, and Killing Joke. These resurrections have at least lived up to the fiery youthful works, and in some cases, exceeded them. With Divided We Stand, T.S.O.L has melded their metal tendencies into a controlled element of the snotty punk mix. The Goth creepiness as well has nicely settled into a smart-ass threat of droogy ultraviolence. The music has a natural drive that comes from inside you. By that I mean the boys are inside your body cavity, strumming and pounding on your digestive canals.
Fans of A.F.I. should know these guys were a major influence on Davey Havok. Everyone else, worry not. T.S.O.L. still has more balls and humor. And are obviously thrilled to be heroin and hairspray free.
(7071 Warner Ave. F-736 Huntington Beach, CA 92647)