With 2008 being a big election year in the United States, punk rockers The (International) Noise Conspiracy, never ones to miss out on political fun, are releasing their latest album The Cross of My Calling this November. 
Although from Sweden, these boys have plenty to say about American life and politics. If the title didn’t give it away, “Washington Bullets” is one such song. However, many other songs have the American focus, too. On “Storm the Gates of Beverly Hills,” singer Dennis Lyxzén repeats, “All this shit is making us ill,” to drive his point home.
The aspect that most impresses me about this album, is the band’s ability to mix religious and political imagery-there’s no separation of Church and State here. The title itself, The Cross of My Calling, bares the religious implications and leading up to the “Interlude,” the band talks about following God before the second half of the album shows them giving into Satan and society’s materialistic tendencies.
“Child of God” works with “Interlude” to transition into the second half of the album. The succumbing to Satan is quite clear after a long instrumental break and the vocals returning saying he’ll be the “sinner,” “snake” and “seducer.” This song is followed by the angrier second half of the album which references the devil more.
If you’re a fan of punk rock in the vein of Bad Religion be sure to grab yourself a copy of The (International) Noise Conspiracy’s The Cross of My Calling out November 25 on Vagrant Records.
Tracklisting:
01. Intro
02. Assassination of Myself
03. Dustbins of History
04. Arm Yourself
05. Hiroshima Mon Amor
06. Boredom of Safety
07. Child of God
08. Interlude
09. I Am the Dynamite
10. Washington Bullets
11. Satan Made the Deal
12. Storm the Gates of Beverly Hills
13. Black September
14. Cross of My Calling
The (International) Noise Conspiracy: website | myspace
Written by: Bethany
