01. "My war" 02. "Can't decide" 03. "Beat My Head Against The Wall" 04. "I love you" 05. "Forever time" 06. "The swinging man" 07. "Nothing left inside" 08. "Three nights" 09. "Scream"
Description:
Tracklisting:A1 My War (3:52) A2 Can't Decide (5:27) A3 Beat My Head Against The Wall (2:34) A4 I Love You (3:23) A5 Forever Time (2:25) A6 The Swinging Man (2:55) B1 Nothing Left Inside (6:39) B2 Three Nights (5:51) B3 Scream (6:54)
"My War" is a landmark LP by the influential American hardcore punk band Black Flag, released on the iconic independent label SST. On this album, Black Flag expand their raw, high-speed hardcore sound into something darker, heavier and more experimental. The first side delivers aggressive, fast-paced songs full of tension, dissonance and confrontational lyrics, while the second side slows radically down into sludgy, almost proto-doom pieces that feel oppressive, anguished and uncomfortably intense. This contrast makes "My War" one of the most divisive yet most influential punk records of its era, pointing the way toward noise rock, sludge metal and post-hardcore. The sound is deliberately abrasive: jagged guitars, thick bass, unpredictable song structures and Henry Rollins' tormented, cathartic vocals create a sense of emotional warfare that perfectly matches the title.
Lyrically, "My War" is inward-looking and conflicted, dealing with paranoia, betrayal, isolation and inner turmoil rather than simple protest slogans. Songs are built around repetitive, grinding riffs that stretch out longer than most classic hardcore tracks, which was highly unusual at the time and challenged fans' expectations. This LP is often cited as a key release in the transition from straightforward hardcore punk to more complex, genre-bending forms of alternative music. It is an essential purchase for collectors of 1980s punk and anyone interested in the evolution of heavy underground music.
Black Flag are one of the most influential bands in the history of hardcore punk. Emerging from the Southern California scene in the late 1970s, they helped define the sound and ethos of American DIY punk with relentless touring, raw recordings and an uncompromising attitude. With Henry Rollins as frontman during the "My War" era, the band pushed beyond the limits of speed and aggression toward darker, more experimental territory that inspired countless bands in punk, metal and alternative rock. Their body of work, constant innovation and formidable live reputation have made them a cornerstone name for generations of underground music fans.
The LP is released by SST, one of the most important and pioneering independent labels in American underground music. Founded by Black Flag's guitarist Greg Ginn, SST became a creative home for many forward-thinking punk and alternative bands in the 1980s and is renowned for its DIY ethos, artistic independence and willingness to take risks on unconventional sounds. With "My War," SST once again underscores its role as a label that not only documents a scene, but actively shapes the direction of alternative guitar music.