The Exploited- punk rock in it's purest form.
There's something so beautifully pure about punk music once you wash away the swearing, the spit and the sheen of violence that glistens on its supple body. It isn't always necessary to have talent if you're in a punk band because what matters, more than anything, is the energy pumped into your music and your devotion to the genre.
Punk is not about looking pretty- if you want a pretty band, look away now because The Exploited uphold the traditions of true punks. When you look back at the career of Wattie Buchan and his partners in crime there's a trail of blood, gore and beer cans. The Exploited have never tried to dilute their music and have never tried to dress up what they do for the cameras. Their DVD 'Beat 'em All' is proof that The Exploited are pure in the name of punk. 19 songs, all performed in the most intense, blistering atmosphere that isn't created by flashing lights or the like. This is all down to those four individuals raging upon the stage and no one else.
Beginning as they mean to go on, 'Fuck the System' is a brutal assault of words and guitars. Screeching and snarling the song tears at your flesh and leaves your head reeling when the guitar strings still. 'Dogs of War' is a little slower but it doesn't compare to 'Chaos is My Life', which contains addictive guitars and vocals you can almost understand. The pure rage that The Exploited put into their live performances has a tendency to mask the words of their music but that doesn't matter. You don't need lyrics to know these guys are angry...Very angry.
The Exploited are speaking out for those of us who are too afraid to raise our voices. In a rebellious yell The Exploited rally the underdogs to their sides with 'Fightback'. Everyone in hearing range of this scorching battle cry looks angry, from the audience to the security guards, but none more so than Wattie who leaps around the stage, spitting the government baiting lyrics into his microphone as though the world is going to end. The sense of urgency gives The Exploited's music the edge
There's something for most people on this DVD because The Exploited are diverse within their genre- 'Alternative' fires up with a heavy bassline before breaking into a fist-pumping anthem that begs to be sung along to. With the repetitive chorus it's hard not to.
But the DVD simply gets better- There's the undying message behind 'Never Sell Out', Wattie dedicating the 'Porno Slut' to his mum, the hypnotic pace of 'Troops of Tomorrow' which easily steals the show. Slower in pace, but grimy with blood, sweat and tears, the live rendition offered by this DVD is dangerously violent. The Exploited are going to go down fighting regardless of what anyone does to try to silence their vulgar voices. The Exploited are still alive and still able to give any modern "punk" band a lesson in what it really means to stand up and deliver your view in the loudest possible way.