What makes Annihilate This Week by Black Flag notable?

Annihilate This Week stands out for its raw sound and unabashed exploration of themes like societal disillusionment and personal strife. While it received mixed reviews upon release, it has since been recognized for its influence on the burgeoning post-hardcore scene and remains a vital part of Black Flag's legacy in punk music. Released in 1987, Annihilate This Week is Black Flag's final studio album before their breakup, marking a significant evolution in their sound. This record followed the experimental work of their previous album, The Process of Weeding Out, and showcased a more aggressive approach as the band navigated lineup changes and internal struggles.

How many songs are on Annihilate This Week?

Annihilate This Week has 3 tracks, running approximately 12 minutes.

Annihilate This Week

Black Flag · 1987

12 min · 3 tracks · hardcore punk

Raw, unfiltered energy collides with intense lyrical commentary, encapsulating the defiant ethos of late '80s hardcore punk.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Annihilate This Week — The title track serves as a powerful manifesto, blending chaotic instrumentation with lyrics that critique societal norms and expectations, epitomizing the band's confrontational style.
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Best One Yet — This track features an upbeat tempo paired with sardonic lyrics that convey a sense of irony about success and expectation, showcasing the band's unique blend of humor and critique.
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Sinking — With its slower pace and introspective lyrics, Sinking highlights vulnerability amidst chaos, illustrating a departure from the relentless aggression typical of hardcore punk.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

54 /100

Foothills

Higher than 43% of albums we've rated

This EP captures the raw energy of hardcore punk while exploring relevant themes, making it a notable entry in Black Flag's discography.

What we noticed

The EP opens with a fast-paced title track that maintains a relentless tempo throughout its duration.
Each song features aggressive guitar riffs and shouted vocals, creating an intense atmosphere.
The tracks are short, averaging around two minutes each, contributing to a sense of urgency and immediacy.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. 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.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Represents a departure in sound and themes for the band during their late career.
Themes: societal critique· late '80s disillusionment· internal band conflict
Career context: Released in 1987, Annihilate This Week is Black Flag's final studio album before their breakup, marking a significant evolution in their sound. This record followed the experimental work of their previous album, The Process of Weeding Out, and showcased a more aggressive approach as the band navigated lineup changes and internal struggles.
Stylistic neighbors: Minor Threat· Dead Kennedys· Circle Jerks