“Belief” is the perfect example of a track that has the perfect amount of fury and interesting arrangements to really give oi! music a fair shake. What really tends to hold back other oi acts are their reluctance to try to bring the style into the twenty-first century. With a strong production and current-sounding guitar and drum arrangements, Discipline’s “Downfall of the Working Man” should be heard as a blueprint for the next wave of oi music.

A strong reliance on a specific kernel of music means that each of the tracks present really thrive well with a somewhat common, shared sound. The title track is more than just the theme song for the band but for an entire segment of the populace, one that is typically given short shrift outside of oi circles. The throaty vocals of Discipline remind individuals of a younger Mike Ness or the Mad Caddies; Discipline finds itself much more in the Social Distortion camp when one hears exactly how catchy the average song on “Downfall of the Working Man” is. The average guitar line on any of the tracks of the disc is clear, cutting through the souls and hearts of the listeners without much in the way of effort. Discipline shows that creating a classic CD is easy – for them. I can’t imagine Discipline opening up for Hackb – I mean Hatebreed – the energy shown by Discipline in the studio is even beyond a level that most bands can bring to their live sets. Spending about three and a half minutes on each track, Discipline follows from such classic acts as the Misfits and the Ramones in the sense that there is little to no need for the band to change the formula after they’ve started a track.

The style present on “Downfall of the Working Man” is the style specific to Discipline; there are common artifacts in each of the tracks that will titillate listeners as well as acting as an identifier. Forty minutes of music awaits listeners just on the first listen; there is no doubt that this disc will have hours and hours more play as it finds itself being played at any party or get-together. Oi done perfectly; this should be put alongside Sham 69 and Stars and Stripes as utterly essential in any fan’s collection. Fresh guitars, splashing drums and a hooky vocal makes “Downfall of the Working Man” solid through and through.

Top Tracks: Road To Freedom, Belief

Rating: 7.8/10

[JMcQ]