Kained But Able (Civil Disobedients - Capdown)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Civil Disobedients - Capdown
Date:	06/03/08 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ferocious power, intense excitement, fantastic passion.

Disadvantages: Capdown are no more.

In 1997 a band was formed in Milton Keynes under the name of 'Soap'. Later this name would change to Capdown, standing for Capitalist Downfall. In late 2007 the band decided to call it a day and bid the world farewell, they did however leave three studio albums in their wake, 'Civil Disobedients' being the first that they released. This album comprises of twelve excellent tracks, each one as vital as the next and equally important to the 'Civil Disobedients' album as a whole.

Igniting with 'Unite To Progress', this album is without doubt the finest that the band ever recorded. Each track here is explosive and superbly entertaining, never do the band fail to impress with their raucous assault of sensational Skacore music. I still remember the first time I ever listened to this album, nothing before had ever had quite such a profound effect on me as this. Every track from this album I love, not one of them disappoints and every time I listen to this album I make sure I have enough time to listen to it in its entirety so that I can take in each and every one of these brilliant musical blasts.

'Ska Wars' is perhaps the most well known track the band ever recorded and is one that I personally am a huge fan of. With this one everything just seems to sound absolutely perfect, from the superb saxophone and vocal work of lead singer Jake right through to the gruelling guitar work; 'Ska Wars' is spot on in every sense, the track never fails to impress me and every time I hear it I smile. There are few tracks that I love this much, but 'Ska Wars' has to be one of my all time favourite tracks, as are a number of others from this album actually.

Whilst 'Ska Wars' always impresses me, it is the track 'Kained But Able' I feel that is the most impressive from this album. It contains a brilliant drum work introduction and when the vocals come cutting in at 30 seconds I can't help but sing and shout along. It's explosive, exciting, and most of all tremendous fun. Capdown are a band that never fail to impress me with their Ska tinged hardcore sound, whilst the band may no longer be together their fantastic music lives on through their albums and I can not thank them enough for this.

'Positivity' is another one of the stand out tracks from this album for sure, it contains the super line of 'It's all about positive thinking, it's all about positivity'; a lyric I am particularly fond of. Even if for nothing else, this one lyric makes the track worth listening to for me, and even though it is perhaps not one of the strongest tracks from this release, it is still one that I find particularly appealing for this very reason. Similarly with next track 'Cousin Cleotis', it is the saxophone introduction that gets me every time and is the reason I think so highly of it. It features some super saxophone work throughout and is perhaps the best example of the use of the horn on this release.

Throughout the entirety of this release, great use is made of the drum kit and the drumming of this band is always something that has stood out to me. When I myself learned to play the instrument it was the drum beats of Capdown that I aspired to play first and foremost. Their fast and frantic drum style has always been of great appeal to me, something that shines through on this release as being particularly impressive. Their heavily distorted guitars are another element of the music which makes it so raw and edgy, the hardcore vibe of the band is heavily down to the brutal use of guitars and unforgiving and relentlessly vicious vocal attack of main man Jake.

Title track 'Civil Disobedients' is greatly effective in its use of the lyric 'Watch out for the civil disobedience', furthering this with their declaration that 'we will take you on, so beware'. The track is heavy and aggressive, the lyrical content furthers the aggression that is laid out in their instrumental use and really helps to further the effect of the music. Capdown offer a brutal barrage of declarative vocal intentions here, their passion runs rife on this one and you believe the band with every word that they say. I feel it is the aggression and intent with which the vocals of Capdown are spat out that makes the band so effective, they are great at what they do and never do they disappoint as they blast and bully their way through this release.

'Bitches And Nike Shoes' is the perfect ending anthem for the 'Civil Disobedients' album, all through this album the band impress and none more so than with this track. It has a nice chilled out Ska vibe to it, it takes you away from the hardcore blasts you have been treated to for much of this release and offers you a moment for reflection. It is a lot to take in an album of this level of this level of excellence, and with this track the band just allow you to relax away and fully take in the excellent aural experience that you have just encountered. It is one of my favourite tracks from the band and is in my opinion a brilliant closing track for an album that has been so impressive throughout and never disappointed.

'Civil Disobedients' is without doubt one of my all time favourite albums. There is such energy and excitement contained within this album, levels of excellence that few bands ever manage to attain. Capdown were a brilliant band and with this album, the first that they ever released; they really show what they're worth and why they will be so sadly missed. Long gone are Capdown, but forever will 'Civil Disobedients' remain as one of the greatest albums that the genre has ever produced. Capdown came, they saw, they conquered, but now we must accept that the band are gone but what they left behind is three albums worth of excellent music including their finest piece; 'Civil Disobedients'.

Summary: Capdown's first album was most certainly their finest, an excellent début album.