Published on Dec 20, 2005
With the release of the six-song Daggers &
Dynamite E.P., an album title obviously lifted from a
previously forgotten lyrical afterthought on Amulet’s “Breaking
News” single, the band obviously thought it wise to hire a new
label to repackage the hits from the band’s second and third
albums, Freedom Fighters and Danger!, Danger!
Having been earlier signed to the major label
Columbia in the Nordic countries, the only reason that I can think
it was necessary to come out with Daggers & Dynamite was
to expose the rest of the world and primarily Europe to those
tracks off Danger!, Danger! that the band couldn’t get
Columbia to market outside of Scandinavia. Given that Amulet’s
breakthrough effort, Freedom Fighters, was released on the
respected German mid-major label Bitzcore throughout Europe (in
addition to Scandinavia) before Columbia signed them, Amulet had a
lot of momentum riding down south as the burgeoning heir apparent
in becoming kings of the contemporary punk scene.
By and large, Daggers & Dynamite
successfully identifies and offers the best tracks from those two
albums. I’ve shared my thoughts on both releases with previous
write-ups and can honestly say that Daggers is the best bet
for a new listener in making their first purchase of the band’s
material, as Danger! begins to pull away from what I will
call the classic Amulet sound that Freedom Fighters delivers. And
since All That is Solid Melts Into Air takes Amulet into
tamer safaris than Danger! dares to trek, the Danger!
tracks on Daggers begin to sound better than they ever did
originally.
The key singles from those albums are revealed on
this E.P — from the riveting fury of Freedom Fighters‘
“Naked Eye” to the suspenseful “Breaking News” and
one-for-the-ladies punk anthem “We Are Thunders” — with the
fortunate addition of “(Cocaine) Nosebleed” making you almost
forget how wonderfully chaotic the band’s first omitted hit, “Life
On The Edge Of Chaos,” sounds. With the addition of “Nosebleed,”
long time fans can nod approvingly that Amulet still appreciates
their truly hardcore days, despite recent recordings leading one to
believe otherwise.
With that said, Daggers & Dynamite is as
comprehensive a snapshot of Amulet’s recording history to this
point as it is varied with regards to what comes packaged on this
CD. This knowledge alone makes it even less necessary to hunt the
vinyl that carries the elusive “Life on the Edge of Chaos” single
as an extra track.