Live '84

Sound DNA

• Punk
• Hardcore

• abrasive
• aggressive
• punky

About

As Black Flag transformed from a hardcore punk band into a tough, atonal free-jazz-metal outfit, the emphasis was clearly on the group’s improvisatory abilities. With newer bassist Kira Roessler, Descendents’ and full-time Flag drummer Bill Stevenson and guitarist Greg Ginn pulling together behind singer Henry Rollins’ angst-ridden howls, the band had become a perfect live animal whose studio albums could only hint at their primal power. <i>Live ‘84</i> was recorded in one night in San Francisco and features the band in their unvarnished mid-‘80s glory, pulling many tracks from their then current albums, <i>My War</i>, <i>Slip It In</i> and <i>Family Man</i>, while also including obvious crowd-pleasers such as “Nervous Breakdown,” “Six Pack” and “Jealous Again.” Perversely, and completely in line with Black Flag’s determination to challenge their audience, things begin with the then-unknown instrumental “The Process of Weeding Out” that for eight-and-a-half minutes rips like a festering sonic scar. As usual, do NOT file under “easy listening.”

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits