FEAR - For Right & Order

I can’t recall when I first got into Punk Rock music, but I’ve always leaned towards the nastier/meaner side of the genre. I believe the kids call it Hardcore Punk nowadays. I can’t tell you why, but when I was a kid, the Ramones just didn’t do it for me, (I love the Ramones, now) I needed it MEAN AS HELL and nobody embodies the mean-spirited side of Punk Rock more than the band FEAR! I remember getting Fear’s The Record on cassette in the early 80’s and just being blown away - it’s still wild as hell after all these years. The brain-trust, front man and main song writer of the band, Lee Ving was so far ahead of his time, specifically way back then. Nowadays, the band would no doubt be canceled. “New York’s alright if you’re a Homosexual” …. lines like that would stir up way more shit today than it did back then, and I know it stirred up a ton of controversy when it was current. Of course, the negative PR helped the band as it always draws the kids in. Or well in my case, middle aged men who still like to cause trouble and talk shit every chance they get.

In 2023 the band, FEAR released their first new full-length album in 23 years! The album is entitled “For Right and Order” and minus a song or two here and there all the tracks are new. Earlier in 2023 we were treated to the “Nice Boys” EP which was a 3-song release (on 7” vinyl and cd) and those 3 tracks are also featured here. For those not in the know, “Nice Boys” is a cover of Rose Tattoo’s world-famous track that was also covered by Guns N’ Roses on their Lies release. Of course, FEAR does it in their own special way, and how could they not. I’m hard-pressed to wonder or say it’s better than the Tatts version, what it is though, is fucking FEAR annihilating everything in their path. I promise you; you’ve never heard it quite like this and given the lyrical content, the music makes it more believable. I see the garbage in the streets, smell the stench of piss and trash and I know in my heart, that these dues ain’t nice at all and would wreck a Sunday morning church service if given the opportunity! My favorite track off the album is an unreleased track from 1978 called “Do Me Some Damage”. Thanks to underground tape trading I’d heard the song before, so it was a sincere treat to find that it had been re-recorded for this release. The song very much has the vibe of the band’s debut release “The Record”. It’s a non-stop thrill ride of rude attitude and fist pumping lyrics. “DO ME SOME DAMAGE”!!!!!!!!! “Manhunt” is another gnarly track packed with some serious angst that could’ve been released on the band’s “Have Another Beer With FEAR” – very energetic and straightforward. And of course, we couldn’t get a FEAR album without a little questionable content – “We Just Love the Little Girls”. Let’s just say the term “Poontang Killers” is thrown around rapidly, but hey if the shoe fits, then wear it! The title track of the album, “For Right and Order” is a straight-ahead Punk anthem that comes across like a victory/fight song in a very patriotic manner. FEAR has always had a patriotic vibe to me or I’m fucking losing it. Rounding out the album is a song about Beer – I’m not at all surprised, and neither should you be. “I Like Beer” is a Country & Western track that probably would’ve been better served on a release from Ving’s Country band, Range War. Not that I mind the track, I don’t mind it at all, I love it. I’m an old-school Country fan, but I know the bulk of the Punk community won’t care much for it.

One of the most obvious things about this album is the recording/musicianship, and while it pains me to say this, this might be the band’s best effort on that front. Not that I’m disappointed by any stretch. Ving has surrounded himself with some very capable players, not that former members were slouches by any means, but the new fellas are plenty capable. Geoff Kresge of AFI/Tiger Army fame handles bass duties so you know exactly what the band is working with given his resume. It was surprising to me to see him in the band, I’d lost track of his whereabouts. Of course, Spit Stix is still handling the drumming duties and why not, that dude has single handedly driven many drummers crazy while trying to cop his chaotic playing style – mostly me, but that’s besides the point. Eric Razo is a relatively fresh face, but not at all new to the music scene as he’s done some time in Viva Hate, Guana Batz and The Henchman, so he brings an assortment of influences and know-how to the band. It goes without saying that Lee Ving himself is a still a beast and a force to be reckoned with at 74 years old. Yes, there are moments where his voice doesn’t sound quite as gruff and gravely as it used to, but you can hardly tell it – he’s still as fuckin’ mean and nasty as ever. A new FEAR album is exactly what the world needed – at this rate we could use a new release every year!! While Ving has never shied away from controversy and never will, he’s a true American treasure. And until he drinks his final beer and shouts “I Don’t Care About You, FUCK YOU”, I’ll proudly support his efforts and be proud that I was a fan the first time I heard the man scream. 1, 2, 3, 4 – 1,2,3, 4!!!!!!!

~Black Angel