Blame the BNP. Blame the football hooligans. Blame Britpop, even, but I can't help but be a little wary of any band that make a deal of associating themselves with the Union Jack (which isn't just prominent on the cover of this, the band's debut EP) or the cross of St. George. Similarly, a striking yet potentially confrontational title focusing on England could equate to dodgy ground. The simple fact is that it's naive to think that the flag doesn't bear political implications, and right now nationalism is a toutchy subject, and there's no escaping the fact.
There's nothing in the music to suggest that The Underclass are pro-nationalist neo-nazis: in fairness, the EP's cover looks like an attempt to recreate the Sex Pistols' 'Anarchy in the UK,' and the music - a blast of stomping, rabble-rousing pub-rock punk (a bit like wot the Pistols used to make, only with ludicrously indulgent guitar solos occupying significant space) serves more as a paean to disaffected youth than a call to initiate a riot. 'I keep it going, I love living fast / look to the future, can't remember the past.'
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Inventive it isn't, but then as it seems unlikely now that music will revolutionise anything, smashing the system isn't what it's about any more. At least these guys make a decent fist of making a reasonably entertaining racket while being pissed off about the whole crummy deal, and I can't knock 'em for that.
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