Search - Blitz :: Second Empire of Justice

Unjustly Overlooked 80's Gem

Christopher Loring Knowles | United States | 05/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1983, the Hardcore Punk band Blitz split into two factions. On one side were the Punk purists, led by the band's guitarist, Nidge. On the other was the forward-thinking musical element, led by the band's singer, Carl. Despite the wretched production the band usually labored under, a careful listener would recognize the interesting melodic ideas straining at the leash on even their earliest records. Second Empire Justice delves into this element of the band, reinventing the band's core sound around the roiling, industrial Post-Punk of bands like Joy Division and Sisters of Mercy. Second Empire Justice builds on these antecedents and sets the stage for later bands like Red Lorry Yellow Lorry. A very Martin Hannett-like Eurodance atmosphere pervades this record and the chiming guitar noise interacts with driving rhythms and blaring synth effects. Second Empire Justice hews to roots of Post-Punk without succumbing to the Gothic cliches of their contemporaries in the Batcave crowd. Perhaps because of the album's lack of cartoonish grand guignol, the record went nowhere and the band split up. Nidge later reformed Blitz, consisting solely of himself and a hired singer and recorded the Punk by numbers Killing Dream LP. Avoid it and pick up this one. Highly recommended for any fans of neo-PostPunk bands like the Bravery , the Rapture, or Interpol."

BLATANT BANDWAGON JUMPING !!!!!!!!!

JUAN MARTIN GABASTOU | Weston Hills, FL United States | 09/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With excellent and original results. After ditching original guitarrist Nidge, the remaining members recorded this excellent record on label Future (paradoxically created for them by No Future)following the direction they had shyly started with the single ¨New Age ¨. A modern (for `83), very after-punk sounding album flirting even with some electro and noise influences, and sounding like none of their contemporaries ( though some WILL find similarities with JDivision, Ultravox and the like, it just doesn't give an idea). The drumming is not that tribal anymore and flows seamlessly along programmed percussion. Same with guitar and keyboards. Singing is low in the mix but very good, and the overall sound is very good. Added as bonus tracks are 2 excellent extended versions of the singles ¨Solar ¨and ¨Husk ¨ which are way better than the original album versions.It's been a long time since I last heard such a good ¨after ¨album, let alone gave it 5 stars, which in my book is either nearly perfect or very exciting, both qualifications this album easily deserves. If you're an early Blitz fan and expect to find something even remotely similar to their early OI ! material, be warned this is a total departure from it and you may be bitterly dissapointed. If on the contrary, you like the style I have described formerly, you, like me, will fall in love with this 55 min. masterpiece. Hurry up it is out of print and you can still get it dirt cheap."