19 Dec 2008 // A review by CEOMong
Ever since hearing some of their earlier stuff (from the Distance EP) and seeing them go off at BDO ‘08 I’d been hanging out to hear some more – a wish finally realised with this awesome offering of headbangin goodness. Listen to it loud, and on repeat.

We Are The Dead is a CD packed with ten, shortish, (2mins average) tracks, which to tell the truth kind of blend into each other – which is cool, its kind of like an ever-evolving 22 minute long epic track. Excellent driving music, clean & precise while at the same time angry and heavy. Inventive and always sprinting, climbing, running, diving – like free-running molten metal.

Awesome artwork, and well-laid out liner notes. Reading these provides an insight rarely provided these days into the minds of the band and themes of the album, it’s refreshing to have this glimpse into what sometimes is not obvious – and is completely lacking in most pop bands. Just another sad fact of western culture that “songs” about “bangin bitches” get regular airtime (and sell millions) yet songs that have something to say about the state of decay that we laughingly call our culture are relegated to the underground, and these artists are labelled as dangerous to society. What a fucking joke.

Track 1 – Twelve Twenty Two – solid heavy intro, heavy heady atmos and trademark vocals, staunch double kicks. Wastes no time fronting up with the goods.

Track 2 – Wolves & Cowards – cool little axe riff, carries on the theme thus far nicely without losing pace.

Track 3 – No Regrets? – carries on the theme.

Track 4 – The Golden Years – more of the same. Some cool Antagonist trademark background vocals – the bits I think make them stand out from the pack.

Track 5 – This Gun – a Suicidal Tendencies kind of feel right off the bat, a bit of a different riff, and some inventive and varied rhythms. Nice drops, gets the boots stompin.

Track 6 – Beached – nice electric riff to hook, dominant gax brings out the headbang. Well-timed, fast-paced metal.

Track 7 – The Twilight Years – cool little hook draws you in for the kill, nice to see this continue for a bit longer than most. Nice little drops and crescendos throughout.

Track 8 – We Are The Dead – well-blended soundbyte to commence the title track. Heady vocals and steady, slower-paced deep strummed gax and bass, coupled with rapid double-bass drummage. Would be an epic live track, its already stuck in my head.

Track 9 – Celebrity – picks up the pace again.

Track 10 – Misery – a well-rounded track to end the album.

Be educated. See the lies. Do something, or else we really will be the dead.
CEO Mong

Taking a different approach Antagonist A.D.’s music and message could be described as 'Modern hardcore with old school ethics'. It's raw metal core at its purest and sincerest. Not watered down or compromised in any way. Antagonist A.D. delivers the frantic intensity of hardcore, while utilising a heavier edge.

Lyrically the band speaks of the cancerous nature of western culture, the infectiousness of apathy, its symptoms & consequence, the exploitation of animals across the world, for pleasure, science, fashion or food. With topics ranging from social & political commentary to the brutally honest self-retrospect and analysis. Simply Antagonist A.D.'s words are full of venom, conviction & passion.

Antagonist A.D. has not only toured New Zealand consistently but also Australia, South East Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, The Philippines and Japan touring with locals and internationals to name a few. Most Precious Blood (USA), Have Heart (USA), Parkway Drive and Carpathian (AUS).

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Antagonist A.D.

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