‘A fairytale or myth, So far removed from life, But when its at your doorstep, There’s nowhere safe to hide’ (Right To Your Door)

French political philosopher Michel Foucault developed a compelling theory of the ‘boomerang effect’ to examine how techniques of social and military control deployed by colonial powers in overseas territories often migrate back to the West in the form of domestic oppression, ‘an internal colonialism’.  This effect has become ever more powerful in contemporary society with militarised patterns of policing, incarceration, and surveillance flowing back from the “war on terror”.

The rampaging new album from British Columbia’s Bootlicker explores how we all currently suffer a 1000 Yard Stare from this very process.  Sonically, the band’s template remains consistent.  A burly and satisfyingly fluid blend of UK82 and 1980s’ US hardcore with a healthy dash of driving d-beat.  The blistering guitars remain notably clean, almost scratchy in texture, which gives plenty of space to breathe for the thunderous yet dynamic rhythm section and aggressively guttural vocals.

The human costs of military adventurism form the initial lyrical fulcrum on tracks such as the opener State Property and Held By Threads.  The focus then shifts to how these ills have fed back into wider society in the form of social control (On All Fours), economic inequality (Billionaire Bunker), and a willingness to blame the most marginalised for our predicament (With Reason).  While Red Serge traces the roots of the first paramilitary presence in Canada, who later evolved into the The Royal Canadian Mountain Police.  So, drop the needle and strap in for the Bootlicker Effect!