Album Review: Smiling Assassin - Plight Of The Millennial
Reviewed by Carl Black
Angry, angry young men. Each generation has them and the millennial generation are no different. As a wise man once said ”anger is an energy”. But Yorkshire’s Smiling Assassin are angry. So angry they could start an argument in an empty phone box. They are angry about being stereotyped, being called “snowflakes”, angry about insults from "boomers". Angry about everything really, (this is explained in the minute long “Prologue” at the front end of the album) and I have never seen the colour pink used in such anger since Acid Reign’s Obnoxious thirty years ago. Just to reiterate, Smiling Assassin Are Angry. But anger is no good without direction, purpose and talent. It’s what separates the tantrum from a cause. Is the 'Plight of the Millennial' a toddler screaming on the floor or a seed of a movement?
Regardless of movement or tantrum what we get is a short sharp shock to the senses. A hammer blow to the head and then it’s gone. It’s like a pop punk band playing hardcore songs. Think New Found Glory covering Agnostic Front. With only one guitar, some of the slower parts don’t have the same effect as the fast parts. Vocalist, George, has a style similar to Matt Caughthran from The Bronx. Constantly on the edge, one line away from completely losing it but is under total control at all times and most importantly, completely pissed off all the time. Smiling Assassin would be a great addition to the Warped tour or a Slam Dunk bill. Would they go down well with the old guard at Rebellion? Not so sure. But it would be fun to see what would happen.
Full of anger, full of hate and letting people know. Nothing wrong with that. I think they have introduced themselves with a big fuck you to everyone. Smiling Assassin are in the game. I wonder if they have a plan on how to play the game or if they plan to shout all the way through their career and ignore the game? I hope not as I believe they have something to say. Let’s hope that they can control their anger, or their anger may control them.
