Blitz - Voice Of A Generation

Double-disc reissue of 80s street punk classic

With today’s ready crossover of musical styles and genres, it’s strange to think that, back in the early 80s, eyebrows were raised when New Mills outfit Blitz defiantly set out their stall as a mixed punk and skinhead band. Their debut vinyl outing was the All Out Attack EP, the first release by No Future, which went to No 3 on the indie chart in August 1981. What a stunner it was, with Nidge’s distorted guitar pushing the volume levels well up to 11.

The band’s inclusion on the compilation Carry On Oi! saw them pushed firmly into the skinhead camp, but it didn’t really matter by the time they unleashed their magnificent first album, Voice Of A Generation, in November 1982. Bravely, perhaps, no singles were included, but by now Blitz were at the top of their game, and the album even made the national album chart, reaching No 27.

Lyrically simplistic Blitz may have been but, given room to expand, they were musically much more imaginative than many of their contemporaries. Here, as well as the album and early single and compilation tracks, you also get a second disc of demo and live tracks.

Anagram | CD PUNK 141

Reviewed by Shane Baldwin
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