The first thing that hit me when listening to DC Fallout's second album was the interesting blend of lyrics which swing from the negative, as found on "White Collar Crisis," all the way through to the positive moments heard in songs such as "Dominoes" and "Generation S.O.S." I find that approach to have much more of an impact that an album which is doom laden, featuring a constant message of the fight against injustices etc., as I firmly believe that despite the odds against the majority, there has to be a way of bringing those responsible for the myriad inequalities to their knees, because surely, if that isn't possible then we are doomed!
The second thing that struck me with Objector is that it sounds like the American version of Dutch punks Antillectual, as both bands currently favor a mid-paced, melodic approach with which to deliver a socially aware message. I would say though that DC Fallout also throw in a bit of A Wilhelm Scream to their offering, beefing up the twin guitar attack with some nice fretwork that doesn't take too much prominence.
The targets for DC Fallout's lyrics are as one would expect, with war, governments, big businesses, religion and (the lack of any effective) gun control taking the brunt of the anger that obviously lies deep within the belly of the band, and it's clear that the desire for an equal and tolerant society is something that would provide a positive outcome if rights could be wronged.
The title track which kicks off the album uses a short speech from Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges to set the scene for the corruption that he, and many, believes to exist within the corridors of power these days. Following that comes an opening verse that leaves the listener under no illusion as to where DC Fallout stand:
"It's not my flag, that red, white and blue,
It doesn't stand for me and it doesn't stand for you,
Whether you agree or not simply has no affect upon the truth"
It's a bold and no holds barred opening statement, one which perhaps could be seen as hinting at intolerance to how others view the American flag but I'd suggest that it's coming more from an angle which believes that the iconic image of the stars and stripes no longer represents the rights of the normal citizen nor their needs within a nation that is clearly divided in many ways. This railing against authority is a theme that is heard throughout the album and it's done very well in terms of the lyrics, which make for an interesting read as opposed to coming across like tired rehashes.
Out of all the tracks on the album it is "Generation S.O.S." that stands out to me as the strongest, and here there is more evidence of the positivity that we can all attach ourselves to, with the rallying call of "This is not a revolution, no, this is an S.O.S." that fits in nicely with this fist-pumping track.
Yes, it's easy to sit back and say that nothing will ever change, and believe me, at 48-years-old I've been cynical at times with respect to what positives can come from making a stand, but we have to start somewhere and we must be able to hope that small victories can lead on to big landslides of change. We need more bands like DC Fallout.