Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Love in the Fascist Brothel

BY Sam SutherlandPublished May 1, 2005

Matching the Blood Brothers’ intensity and manic songwriting style while viciously maintaining their own aural aesthetic, Plot’s newest release destroys all of their previous work with one fell swoop of feedback-drenched noise. Brendan Welchez’s vocals often get lost in the intense cavalcade of sound created by the rest of the band, but it’s intentionally low placement in the mix helps emphasise the sometimes uncomfortable sonic worlds created by songs like "Angry, Young, and Rich,” and makes the moments when they emerge with great clarity, such as the awkwardly sexual "Drake The Fake,” all the more jarring. With occasional forays into dance-punk territory, the band keeps thing interesting by always keeping things dirty, avoiding the "nice” disco sound that can easily drag down any band who choose to utilise a disco drum beat. The songs on Love in the Fascist Brothel never clean up, however, their grittier elements serve to further the record’s exploration of fascist ideology. From the artwork, to song titles like "Lipstick SS,” to the recent donning of Nazi-styled uniforms for live performances, the band makes an interesting attempt at exploring the nature of fascism in our everyday existence and personal relationships. It should be noted that, as the band has been forced to discuss in recent interviews, none of their on-record or onstage antics should be taken as being supportive of neo-Nazism or fascism in any way, particularly given the Jewish heritage and homosexual orientation of several band members. Technicalities and defences aside, the simple fact remains: Love in the Fascist Brothel is one hell of a record.
(Revelation)

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