State of Alert: No Policy Ep

Washington D.C. hardcore band State of Alert, often abbreviated S.O.A., was among the first wave of D.C. hardcore. Formed by Henry Garfield (Rollins), Michael Hampton, Wendel Blow, and Simon Jacobson in the fall of 1980. They released a 10 song EP, included three tracks on a compilation, and played nine shows before disbanding less than a year later in the summer of 1981.

The No Policy EP was the second release on Dischord Records. Ten songs clocking in at less than nine minutes, the vinyl record accurately documented the bands existence. The black and white, cut and paste style sleeve is an artistic expression typical of the genre.

Lost in Space starts of side one with a quick ‘one, two, three, four!’ and jumps right into an anti drug use rant. Being part of the scene that coined the term straight edge, Lost in Space is a good example of an early straight edge song.

Draw Blank is up next. A quick song with somewhat introspective lyrics that forshadows Henry’s later work. Michael Hampton even manages to fit in a quick guitar solo during the songs 36 seconds.

Continuing with emotional subject matter, Girl Problems sings of abstaining from relationships. Written from the perspective of  someone who is sick of dealing with a girlfriend, this song is both driving and catchy.

The introspective emotional tirade continues on Blackout. Again, this sounds like a simplified version of some of Henry’s work with Black Flag. Although the lyrics are brief and the music is simple, the song matches the intensity of  later Black Flag.

One of the longest songs on the record, Gate Crashers is about a washed up band that cannot get over what they once were. This song is a rallying cry for S.O.A. and their D.C. hardcore contemporaries. Out with the old and in with the new.

Kicking off side two with an opening cry of ‘Bonzai!’, Warzone continues the rallying cry, this time with a song about the kids aimed at the clubs and the bouncers. They will come, they will take over, stay out of the way.

A quick and unforgiving song, Riot is about youthful anger gone too far. The powers that be will always be stronger and more numerous. They have the power and they will end this anyway they need to.

Gang Fight turns the criticism back on the punks, foreshadowing revolution summer and the birth of post-hardcore and emo. An acknowledgment that the anger and unity that keeps the scene together against ‘normal society’ could go wild and destroy the scene itself.

Public Defender is a classic anti-police song. Written and played as though everyone in the band has been on the wrong side of a cop at one time or another. Either in reaction to police abusing their power, or in opposition to authority in general, there will be songs like this.