What makes Pick Your King by Poison Idea notable?

The album is considered a foundational piece of hardcore punk, influencing countless bands with its unabashed critique of societal norms. Its raw sound and confrontational lyrics resonated within the punk community, leading to a cult following and critical acclaim from various music publications. Released in 1983, 'Pick Your King' was Poison Idea's debut album, showcasing their explosive entry into the hardcore punk scene. This record established them as prominent figures in the genre, following a series of impactful live performances that garnered attention in the underground circuit.

How many songs are on Pick Your King?

Pick Your King has 13 tracks, running approximately 12 minutes.

Pick Your King

Poison Idea · 1983

12 min · 13 tracks · hardcore punk

A relentless barrage of raw energy and disillusionment, fueled by aggressive riffs and unfiltered lyrical honesty.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Think Twice — Opening with an urgent tempo and biting commentary on complacency, this track sets the tone for the entire album's rebellious spirit.
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(I Hate) Reggae — This track blends humor and aggression, using irony to critique genres outside of punk while maintaining an energetic pace that exemplifies their style.
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Pure Hate — With its short length and intense delivery, this song encapsulates the essence of hardcore punk's raw emotion and urgency.

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 delivers raw energy and direct critique, establishing a strong presence in hardcore punk.

What we noticed

The first five tracks maintain a high tempo with aggressive guitar riffs and shouted vocals, creating a sense of urgency.
Several tracks feature abrupt transitions, such as 'Underage' leading directly into 'Self Abuse', enhancing the chaotic feel.
The lyrics are direct and confrontational, often addressing societal issues without any metaphorical language.
The EP's total runtime is just over 20 minutes, with most tracks averaging around two minutes long, emphasizing brevity and intensity.

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

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Think Twice 0:41
2 It's an Action 1:26
3 This Thing Called Progress 1:01
4 In My Headache 1:07
5 Underage 0:31
6 Self Abuse 1:21
7 Cult Band 0:42
8 Last One 1:21
9 Pure Hate 1:11
10 Castration 0:28
11 (I Hate) Reggae 1:18
12 Give It Up 0:27
13 Think Fast 1:06

What to play next

Listen next

Kings of Punk

1986

Go back to

Dutch Courage

Full Poison Idea discography Artists like Poison Idea

hardcore punk

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