THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY October 18, 2005 17 Arts & Entertainment The Unseen bring political punk to The Black Cat

Courtesy of aversion.com Courtesy of unseenpunks.com Spotted at The Black Cat: The Unseen tears up the stage at last week’s concert. State of discontent: The Unseen’s new album is strong and powerful.

KATHRYN GOODMAN “…Until we Die”, A Global Threat handed the of fi lling in for absent guitarist Scott. The to the crowd’s delight, The Unseen fi nished Retriever Weekly Staff Writer crowd over to fellow Bostonians The Unseen. Unseen tore through songs “Children of the their set with Black Flag’s “Rise Above,” from Having recently signed with Hellcat Records, Revolution” and “Police Brutality” from their an album of the same name that was crated to The Unseen were pretty much that at the the street punk band has been seeing many early album Lower Class Crucifi xion. raise awareness for the West Memphis Three. Black Cat on Thursday. However, it was not venues across the country. The Unseen managed The vast majority of punk music is, In 1993, three teenagers from West Memphis, the small crowd that was unwelcome; it was two full headlining tours and backed Avenged and historically has been, politically charged. Arkansas were arrested for the gruesome opening band Career Soldiers. While sometimes Sevenfold, Agnostic Front, Hatebreed, Sick of it In a punk band, you are expected to at least murders of three young boys. Although there people are open to indecipherable lyrics and All and Suicide Machines for almost 200 shows follow politics and incorporate them into your was no physical evidence, murder weapon, thoughtless composition, it is generally agreed last year alone. Also under their studded belts music. The Unseen have been no exception. motive or connection to the victims, in 1994 upon that it must be done correctly. And the are two tours in Europe, a show in Japan and While 2003’s Explode shifted to be unusually the three young men were convicted of murder, Career Soldiers were all wrong. No fl uidity, no gigs with punk heavy hitters The Casualties, centered on the personal issues of lead singer including Jessie Misskelly Jr. who is mentally cohesiveness in the songs, no crowd interaction, Anti-Flag, Dropkick Murphys and AFI. Mark Unseen, this year’s State of Discontent is handicapped. Visit www.wm3.org to read more and vocals that sounded remarkably similar to The new album State of Discontent has a welcome move back to political and media about the crime and to see what you can do to a dog barking. For every song. When I wasn’t solid backing from producer Ken Casey of dissatisfaction. help. taking notes, I was outside giving my ears a the Dropkick Murphys, Bad Religion’s Brett The band got to the goods with “Dead rest. Gurewitz on mixing, and Lars Frederiksen and Weight Falls,” “Force Fed,” and “Weapons Kathryn Goodman reviews the Baltimore/ After a welcomed intermission, A Global Dicky Barret (of Rancid and the Mighty Mighty of Mass Deception” from State of Discontent. D.C. scene in hopes that someday everyone will Threat got the crowd and the circle moving. Bosstones) doing guest vocals. Although none After wrapping up with Explode’s “Negative listen to good music. She is available for comment Songs “Invite a Coroner” and “Work or War” of these names was present at the Black Cat, Outlook” the band headed offstage for a quick and accepts free tickets, show info and rides at were well received. After fi nishing the set with Matt Smith of Strike Anywhere did a fi ne job breather before the impending encore. Much [email protected]. by Mike Pinkin Weekly Comic Weekly