Released 40 years ago
This Is the Voice
Agent Orange · 1986
34 min · 10 tracks · hardcore punk
Raw energy and aggressive melodies collide in a relentless exploration of inner turmoil and societal disillusionment.
Top tracks — play these first
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Voices (In the Night) — Opening with haunting melodies and urgent rhythms, this track sets a dark tone that encapsulates the album's themes of internal conflict and anxiety.
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Fire in the Rain — A standout for its emotional weight, this track combines lyrical vulnerability with powerful instrumentals, showcasing the band's ability to blend melody with punk ferocity.
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...So Strange — With its frenetic pace and introspective lyrics, this song captures the essence of disorientation and confusion prevalent throughout the album.
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I Kill Spies — This track exemplifies Agent Orange's biting social commentary wrapped in raw energy, making it a quintessential representation of their punk ethos.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases energetic compositions with thematic depth, though it may not fully reward repeated listens.
What we noticed
- Many tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, often shifting from fast-paced sections to slower, more melodic interludes.
- The lyrics frequently address themes of disillusionment and personal struggle, with a direct and confrontational delivery that matches the music's intensity.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- frenetic energy for rebellious spirits
- short bursts of adrenaline
- melodic undertones with urgency
- cathartic release through intensity
Maybe skip if you
- prefer slow, mellow soundscapes
- seek long, immersive tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 1986, This Is the Voice is Agent Orange's second studio album, following their 1981 debut, Living in Darkness. At this point, the band was solidifying their place within the hardcore punk scene while grappling with the challenges of evolving their sound amidst a rapidly changing musical landscape.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Dickies· Dead Kennedys· Circle Jerks
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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It's in Your Head
The shift from questioning self-perception to addressing external expectations exposes the internal struggle uniquely faced by individuals in society.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Voices (In the Night) 2:23
- 2 It's in Your Head 2:58
- 3 Say It Isn't True 2:49
- 4 Fire in the Rain 3:19
- 5 In Your Dreams Tonight 5:02
- 6 Tearing Me Apart 3:09
- 7 ...So Strange 2:19
- 8 Bite the Hand That Feeds, Part 1 5:29
- 9 I Kill Spies 2:45
- 10 This Is Not the End 4:08
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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