D.O.A. – We Come In Peace

Iconic Canadian punk rockers D.O.A. have been going strong for practically 35 years with no sign of letting up.  Founding father and longest serving member Joey Keithley is a workhorse of dedication and has even announced that he will be taking his message of political activism to the next level and will be running for a seat in the provincial legislature in 2013 if he wins an upcoming New Democratic Party nomination.  So it shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone who throws on the band’s latest full length, We Come In Peace, to discover that D.O.A. hasn’t lost any steam.

Part of what has kept D.O.A. relevant over the years is how true the band remains to their own legacy.  Keithley still sounds as ragged and rough as ever (probably even more so now thanks to a lifetime of vocal chord abuse), and even with a career worth of stylistic growth they remain true to that 80’s style Vancouver melodic hardcore sound.  Stiff riffs and fast rhythms propel tracks like “Bring Out Your Dead” to dangerously addictive territory hosting the type of vintage guitar solos that likely once inspired the likes of countrymen Subhumans.  “Boneyard” reflects more of an updated aggression characteristic of the band’s 00’s output, serving as a well-matched counterpart to the tempo reductions of the band’s least formulaic tracks.

Generally songs match the trio’s dual political and partying agendas.  For instance the bagpipes and military march in “Dirty Bastards” lead the call against corporate corruption with a fist-pumping chorus achieving similar effect in the anthemic call for a paradigm shift “We Occupy (Ft. Jello Biafra)” – and yes, Biafra and Keithly remain masterful together.  In contrast, the somewhat satiric party hearty message of “Do You Wanna” achieved from Keithly and guest vocalist Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent (who would have pegged them for sharing the mic?) shows that approaching 60 doesn’t have to mean sleeping in late and snooker tournaments at the local community centre.

And then there’s the really satisfying outliers rounding out and rejuvenating We Come In Peace’s back half.  “Lost Souls” takes a pseudo-acoustic turn that culminates in an instantly impressionable four minutes complete with catchy chorus and lose-western vibe.  “Man With No Name” expands on the concept with a spaghetti western intro, humming background chants, and an attitude unto itself.  These tracks are fun and prove that Keithly has kept D.O.A. alive all this time out of love rather than obligation.

That the album closes with an acoustic version of 1983’s “General Strike” – and that it couldn’t feel more at home amidst both style and message – reinforces that D.O.A.’s work has yet to be completed.  Whether we see the band take a back seat to Keithley’s political aspirations in the coming years, We Come In Peace is a perfect pausing point.  Not because they’re tired and ready for a break, but because above all they remain on the top of their game.  A fine new chapter from a legacy far from finished.