North Carolina punk band The Muslims are a gloriously confrontational prospect in modern America, from their band name, song and album titles, artwork and videos, they display a fairly consistent say-sumthin stance, and it has served them well. This thematic strain tears through their latest song and video “Fuck These Fuckin Fascists”, released on the legendary Epitaph Records. One would think that this would not be an especially bold stance to take, but only one who had not been watching the news. The cover for the single is gratuitous but gratifying, simply depicting aging Sex Pistol-turned-MAGA Gammon John Lydon getting punched in the face, forcing his teeth to scatter and one eyeball to flee. This trashing of the old icons of punk is in the very spirit of punk, yet some old punks will get angry and claim that the new punks are not punk, which is in itself not punk. It’s a complicated topic.
The song is a simple one-two melodic gut-punch of energy in a classic eighties punk vein. Guitars shred over frantic drums, vocals perform a call and response with unrestricted sneer and vitriol. The track starts deceptively calmly, before disposing of those notions with the fervour befitting of a track with this name. The lyrics, primarily aimed at that guy who used to live in the White House but also at punks with “swastikas on your jacket”, are a hardcore tour de force and a masterclass in bluntness.
“Fuck these fuckin' fascists
Fuck their family and friends
If they defend a fuckin' fascist
They can fuck off 'til they're dead”
A typically uncompromising position, taken with commendable commitment. More conflict is shown in the music video, shot in point-of-view perspective, taking us on a trip through an average day for The Muslims, promoting the show, playing spin the bottle, playing the show. A couple of people take issue with being handed a flyer for a punk show on the street, registering their disgust only to be rebuffed with a swift bird. The video culminates in a fascist being punched into an unconscious state, naturally. They had to give the fans the ending they wanted. “Fuck These Fuckin Fascists” belongs on a mixtape, or “playlist”, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Dead Kennedys in the surprisingly controversial anti-fascist milieu. However, it is all well and good this track pinging around the “leftist echo chamber” but it is best served to a local fascist, loud and drenched in feedback. Buy the track here.
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