RAISED FIST (SWE)

Much has been said about how the Swedish are always bigger, more beautiful and generally better off than their Eastern neighbours – but if you believe Raised Fist's lyrics, even the Folkhemmet has got a lot to answer for. With a name taken from a song by Rage Against the Machine, these punk/HC heroes are not too shy to tell the world what they think of society's increasing violence, decreasing tolerance and the excessive power given to media. But even if the lyrics are sometimes rather bitter, disheartened even, the music is everything but. Raised Fist's 2002 album Dedication presented fervent tempo and sharp intensity as it has never since been heard in HC circles.

But it's not just hardcore fans who find Raised Fist speaking directly to them, but also metalheads with a slightly wider-than-usual idea of what's good and what's not. There are, indeed, hints of metal in Raised Fist's speed: even such a power engine as The Haunted can reach these energy levels only momentarily. The spearhead of it all, however, is Alexander Rajkovic's fierce singing voice, starting as a thin falsetto but working like a lighter in gasworks. No hope of stopping for a break when you are with Raised Fist, not even for drinks.

Take good care of your sore points now, as Raised Fist is coming to tickle them in July, and they won't be tender.

www.raisedfist.com

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