A New Kind of Army cover

A New Kind of Army

Anti-Flag · 1999

43 min · 15 tracks · hardcore punk

A raw, relentless blast of politically charged anthems fueled by fast guitars and urgent vocals.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Tearing Everyone Down Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    A New Kind of Army — The title track encapsulates the band's ethos, merging catchy hooks with fervent calls for social change, setting the tone for the rest of the album.
  • →
    No Apology — This anthem showcases Anti-Flag's signature blend of aggression and melody, delivering a defiant message against societal complacency that resonates deeply.
  • →
    Police Story — A cover of the classic by the punk band Black Flag, this track reflects Anti-Flag's roots while infusing it with their own political urgency and fresh energy.
  • →
    What You Don’t Know — With sharp lyrics that challenge mainstream narratives, this track serves as a critical examination of societal ignorance and complacency, embodying the band's activist spirit.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

51 /100
Foothills
Higher than 34% of albums we've rated

The album delivers politically charged anthems with consistent energy and structure, appealing to its punk audience.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a relentless tempo, maintaining high energy through the first eight songs.
  • Each song typically features straightforward verse-chorus structures, often under three minutes in length, emphasizing urgency.
  • Political themes are consistently present in the lyrics, with each track addressing social issues directly and confrontationally.
  • The final three tracks slow down slightly in tempo, providing a brief respite before concluding with a strong message.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • short, energetic bursts
  • dynamic emotional journeys
  • political engagement and reflection
  • late-night contemplative moods

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — First major label release that established wider recognition for the band.
Themes
political activism· societal complacency· punk rock rebellion
Career context
Released on May 25, 1999, A New Kind of Army is Anti-Flag's second studio album and marks their first major label release after signing with Fat Wreck Chords. Following the underground success of their debut album Die for the Government, this record solidified their presence in the punk scene as they began to gain wider recognition and a more extensive fan base.
Stylistic neighbors
Rise Against· Pennywise· NOFX

Tracklist

  • 1 Tearing Everyone Down Start here 2:55
  • 2 Captain Anarchy 2:33
  • 3 A New Kind of Army 3:41
  • 4 That’s Youth 3:13
  • 5 No Apology 2:17
  • 6 Got the Numbers 3:14
  • 7 No Difference 4:02
  • 8 I Don’t Believe 2:29
  • 9 Right On 1:22
  • 10 What You Don’t Know 2:43
  • 11 Free Nation? 2:43
  • 12 Outbreak 0:53
  • 13 Police Story 3:37
  • 14 The Consumer’s Song 2:10
  • 15 This Is NOT a Crass Song 6:00

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata