Filthy Militia was formed in North London in 2016, they are a five-piece ska-punk band. Their sound is rooted in more modern ska and 2-Tone and I hear echoes of Reel Big Fish and the Mighty Mighty Boss Tones among others. Their first EP ‘Innocent Until Proven Filthy’ was released back in February 2018. Following that they secured some ace support slots with Neville Staple, Lightyear, Captain Accident & The Disasters, and Call Me Malcolm to name just a few. The band stayed busy during the dark days of Covid, after a very successful Kickstarter campaign they hit Hidden Track Studios in Folkestone with producer Oz Craggs (Neck Deep, Call Me Malcolm, Millie Manders & The Shut Up) to record their new EP, ‘Coping Mechanism’. The EP is scheduled for release on Pookout Records on 4th February, it will be supported with what I am sure will be a cracking launch show at The Black Heart, Camden on Saturday
12th February 2022.
This EP really is a class affair in which Filthy Militia prove that they are more than just a ska-punk band. It kicks off with a magnificent song, “Another Day” that immediately smacks you in the face, in a good way, and doesn’t let up for its full three-plus minutes. After a couple of listens, I think perhaps “Differences” is my favourite track here and takes me back to those early No Doubt days. I particularly love the dub elements present on “Beatdown” which reminds me of those heady days when the Clash did their reggae thing so well. This band clearly has a wonderfully well-developed social conscience too and this is clear in the lyrics to most tracks, but for me particularly so in “The Land Of The Dead”. Perhaps the most Jamaican Reggae sound is on EP closer “Don’t You Look Back”, I love this track’s wistful, hopeful, summery feel. It makes me yearn for a cold can of Red Stripe in the sunshine. This is a fabulous EP that will get played a lot by me this year. Filthy Militia are yet another band on my must-see live list
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