This one’s got little to offer except very nasty Oi vocals. “Fighting the System” is a reggae-influenced number that doesn’t really go anywhere, and “Soldier” is tedious Britpunk that wouldn’t even disturb your grandmother.
Excellent, powerful release. The A-side is slower with classic soccer chants, and the B-side is a real killer.
Despite a rather dreary B-side, DRONGOS FOR EUROPE injects genuine passion into the anthem like “Death’s a Career,” an angry tirade against military conscription. True, war is a rather easy subject to rebel against, but the message is important—even if this sub-genre needs more particular targets (take your pick) in the future.
Strong production highlights these melodic mid-tempo punk songs. At first, they sound pretty generic, but for some reason they grow on you with repeated listenings, especially the title cut and “British Summertime.” Decent effort.
This record demonstrates improvements over the VARUKERS’ very good debut, and also a development from their early DISCHARGE influences. “Dance Till Your Dead” maintains a thrashy power with added melodic complexity, though “I Don’t Wanna Be a Victim” seems more ordinary. All in all, the VARUKERS mix energetic songs and powerful production with astute, intelligent lyrics.
