The second full-length release from the Welsh quartet, and it’s a continuation of the band’s Nausea-esque feisty, metallic, D-beat punk. Short, sharp bursts of musical anger matched by caustic lyrics addressing sexism and the destructive, strangling nature of corporatism/capitalism.
Some sterling bass lines (especially on the haunting ‘Sex Robot’ and album closer ‘Discard’) back up Payney’s Heavy (not metal) guitar riffs and Chris Smith’s tribal beats dripping with elements of 80s Thrash Metal – all brought to life by a decent chunky production courtesy of Stuart Mackaye and Jason Livermore.
There’s a definite progression musically and especially vocally from the band’s earlier releases, with vocalist Keda spitting out a veritable volley of verbal venom. Andy Lefton’s cover art is suitably grim – kinda reminiscent of Ed Repka’s 80s cover art, and there’s some decent inner sleeve art from Hannah Taylor and StivArt. Tidy darts.
Ian Pickens / Mass Movement magazine.
Limited edition CD version, with artwork by StivArt.
Released 31st July 2025. Available now.
Joint release on Engineer Records, Urinal vinyl (UK), Rejected abused (UK), The Jans Little Hammer (Spain), Deviance (France), Mass Production (France), and DIY Kolo (France).
systemofslaves.bandcamp.com/album/live-not-by-lies-at-one-time-we-dared-not-even-whisper
