World Burns to Death is certainly one of underground hardcore's premier bands. They are truly one of the few great punk groups to keep the spirit of the `80s alive. The Sucking of the Missile Cock isn't necessarily an innovative album, but it certainly combines elements of crust, D-Beat, Scandi-core, and good ol' U.S. hardcore into something memorable.

This CD contains the full LP plus their Human Meat and self-titled EPs. First of all, the technical skill and quality of musicianship is surprisingly high. They play well, and fast, and when they play fast, they do it well. The guitar sound is heavy, but not overly so, and the bass features some of the prominence that defines "crust punk." The vocalist reminds me a little bit of Negative Approach's; he has that same sort of spitting bulldog voice (yes, I know that's how Roger Miret's vocals are always described, but it sounds nothing like him -- it sounds like a spitting bulldog). The lyrics are mostly put into the traditional D-Beat pattern. You know, the "verse/chorus/same verse/repeat" kinda deal. Still, the lyrics are more specific and informed than Discharge's "War is bad / I hate war / War is baaaad!" lyrics ever were. Each song comes with its own short essay, or quote, or explanation, á la Anti-Flag. The thing that separates them (lyrically) from Anti-Flag is that they don't go into CNN detail, which is to say, superficial detail. We don't need to hear statistics from rock bands, just a general idea of what's going on. Oh, there's backing vocals from Lyz of Antischism, which can only be a good thing.

I really like the art style on The Sucking too. The cover art itself is tasteless enough that you know it's going to be a good album. If you can't tell, that's our Dear Leader with a warhead up his anus, and on the right of the album that's him posing in a very (ahem) compromising position. I would have liked to see more of the art style within the booklet, but I guess they had to make room for the lyrics. So overall, The Sucking of the Missile Cock is juuust shy of a great record. Over time, it could become a punk rock snapshot of the…I believe this would be the first Bush II administration. It's true -- there is better music when a Republican's in the White House.