Belligerent Declaration formed in the summer of of 2001 with the intent to play real punk rock with meaning. That was it. No intentions of becoming stars, making money or conforming to any of that bullshit to many money grabbing arsehole musicians (lets face it, that’s most of them) aspire to.
“Bald Cactus said This was a surprise cos although I love watching their intense live performances I didnt expect it to translate too well on CD. Well blow me down if this isnt a little corker. Not held back by any pigeon holes or musical boundaries, this is a pretty varied project musically, though fear not, its mostly good old school hardcore and a bit of RAMBO style moshtrocity thrown in. Lyrics deal with sexual harassment of women, child abuse, the war in Iraq and other important issues. And when you hear Jamess spoken words track about Iraq and explaining what the song Belligerent Declaration means, you know they are not fly by night punks jumping on the politics band wagon., they really mean it. (It sends shivers down the spine!). Theres a frightening moment when the vocals briefly go back to the days of BOLT THROWER and all that shit, but thankfully it doesnt last long and to cap off this fine CD theres a CRIPPLE BASTARDS cover. Conclusion: Passion and intensity bleed from this and you can jump around like a lunatic to it too! 8/10”
Belligerent Declaration are not amazing musicians, but they simply play with passion from the heart and there energetic live show are filled with dramatic intensity that are always memorable. The band are pleased to have not fitted into any hardcore niche remaining uncategorisable by mixing hardcore/oi/emo and there own brand of Pink Floyd ambient weirdness without being up there own arses. All the music is written as a tool to fight capitalism and spread the ethos of revolutionary anarchy and it has gotten the band into trouble with right wing groups. However the band says fuck you and carries on.
Belligerent Declaration are simply five working class lads from Scarborough town who love each other, love hardcore punk and love the world enough to try and make it better. Because of that they couldn’t give a flying fuck what you think of them as they would be playing if audiences are 1000 or 1. That’s integrity, that’s Belligerent Declaration, that’s why they are popular and get shows all around the country and that ladies and gentleman is why they laugh at sad twat musoes in their town that are looking for the gold and stay in the town. Fuck off
