Crass - Feeding Of The 5000 LP

Label: Crassical Collection

Our Review:

Legendary for a reason, Crass is the uncompromising anarcho-punk collective that has lived and breathed punk rock like few others. Starting in 1977, Crass not only recorded some of the most scalding and energetic punk, but they thrived putting on gigs, setting up squats, coordinating political actions, starting a label, creating art, making films, advocating for animal rights, environmentalism, feminism, direct action, anarchism, pacifism and protesting across the political spectrum.

Feeding Of The 5000 is the incendiary debut for Crass, originally released in 1978, and almost didn't come out, as the pressing plant refused to carry it due to the lyrical content of a song called "Asylum." This was to be the opening salvo to the record: an intense spoken word rallying cry against religion, filled with violent images and foul language, all over a field of buzzing feedback. But no plant would press the record and in turn Crass replaced the song with silence, in protest. Then and there, Crass decided to start their own label which then re-released the record the way it was initially envisioned. Feeding Of The 5000 still stands as a frantic chunk of pure punk rock, full of chaotic angular guitars, wild scowling urgent vox, caffeinated drumming, samples and snippets of spoken word. These songs manage to be angry and caustic and intense, but still catchy as hell. The lyrical vitriol reflect a relentless punk rock energy, just as energetic and as lyrically relevant as it was all the way back in 1978. Which speaks well of Crass, but not so well for the state of the world.