Labels: self released
Review by: MH
Volunteers have been around for yonks although there was a bit of a hiatus at one stage. There is a Jacob’s Mouse connection in drummer Sam Marsh and while I’d like to regale you with a plethora of Jacob’s Mouse anecdotes from my youth I will save that for a discography of theirs if that ever happens and really we are here to talk about Volunteers’ new album. This is a short one too – 11 songs of politically-minded and thrashy hardcore that blasts by in around 20 minutes. Distortion levels are up, anger levels are up and they attack at full pelt. There is a similar fuzz on the guitars and similarly awkward rhythms to “Rubber Room”-era Jacob’s Mouse at times although the vocals are distorted and crazed and the politics are fierce. The BBC gets it in the neck, as does organised religion amongst other targets. This is in your face and unhinged throughout – ringing ears indeed!