Published on May 22, 2019
In my much younger years as a punk rock kid forever in search of that new, obscure band who would likely become my favorite outfit for, say, a month, I used to devour just about every compilation record I could find. Of course, during these times you'd have to sift through a lot of mediocre tunes to find that one band who might have a rare 7” available or maybe a poorly recorded demo tape.
The Pirates Press Records label celebrated their 200th release with the king of all compilation albums, a giant three LP collection of some of the best punk rock tunes from their first 13 years as a label. As to be expected with the label's history, the packaging is top notch, with a poster including artwork from all 200 releases and screenprinted 6th side of LP #3.
Cock Sparrer's “One By One” starts out perfectly with driving rhythms and a charged atmosphere plus gang vocals and melodic yet gritty sing-a-long punk rock, which sets the pace for the entire experience. From a label that has been to countless different subgenres of punk, Bishops Green contributes a rawer, throaty tune with “Alone,” while “The Interrupters” offer the ska-punk stylings of “This Is The New Sound.”
Pirates Press Records has been home to plenty of bigger named bands who are featured here. Off With Their Heads makes an appearance with one of their best tunes ever, the angry and visceral “Die Today,” and global punk icons Rancid are in attendance with “'Fuck You,” an uproarious display of punk 'n' roll energy with their trademark singing/snarling/growling.
As far as the somewhat newer bands on the Pirates Press roster, Territories can't not be named for their scrappy pop-punk “Heart That Breaks,” and Booze And Glory's “Swinging Hammers” showcases their UK punk roots that will have you searching for the nearest pit to jump into.
There's 34 tunes present from 34 bands and not a dud in the bunch here. Put One Family. One Flag on a shelf next to State Of The Union, New York City Hardcore: The Way It Is, and Punk USA as compilation records that should hold a special place in any punk's collection.