Damaged

This is definitely a punk album. Short songs, fast paced, heavy sounds, lots of talking about just wanting to have beers with friends. Did not do it for me, would not want to listen again. No songs that stick out positively. 1/5

Uh oh. I fully understand the cultural importance of this album and how it influenced punk. I had never listened to them. Since the album is so short, I listened to it five times in a row. I like it. 4/5.

Djöfulsins partý er þetta! Hafði heyrt tvö lög áður en restin er frábær líka. Góð orka!

FUCK YES. I love this album so much.

I had definitely heard some of Black Flag's music before and I remember when they were pretty well-known in the 80s. Until this album showed up here, I hadn't heard any of their music for probably about 35-40 years, and I knew I'd not listened to a full album of theirs before, so I am glad I got to hear this one. They are as thrashy, punky, and edgy as I thought, but more musical too and I can hear the hard work they put into these songs. They aren't a sloppy garage band to my ear; instead, they sound like musicians who put a lot of effort into playing their songs well. Even though it's definitely rougher and more gritty than the music I typically listen to on my own time, it's impressive stuff.

Lmao

Not my cup of tea.

It was okay

Good fun. I especially loved the TV party one. Reminded me very much of my mid twenties.

Il y a quelque chose de vraiment bon là dedans. Cest du vrai de vrai punk comme ca brassait dans mon temps. On voit bien que cet album a influencé une génération de Punk Rock Trash (Anti-Flag, The Exploited, etc...) J'ai aimé ca pour vrai et j'ai meme réécouté plusieurs fois quelques chansons, ar je me faisais déranger. 4.5

I realize TV Party is meant to be satire, but dammit if it doesn't make me wanna go out and buy a TV just so I can play it while I pregame my favorite TV show with some brews. 3 mosh pits out of 5

teenage me would 5 this masterpiece. 45 year old me loves the angst but cant place with the others

I need to lay down and do nothing after listening to this. But I can definitely understand why this record is on the list. As a very sheltered kid with a lot of unrestricted access to the internet, but also a deep fear of accidentally downloading a virus onto the family computer, I remember reading about Black Flag & Henry Rollins & the DC punk scene as a young teen. I deeply wanted to hear the music that influenced the music I loved the most (third wave emo, ofc) because I KNEW it would resonate with me, a 12-14 year old suburban girl in the early-mid-2000's. But I was scared I'd get in trouble for downloading it from Limewire or similar. This was before the days of streaming, so I had to make do with the little preview snippets from the Apple Store, and the random MP3 track or two someone would upload to Xanga or LiveJournal.... Anyway. Glad this music is so accessible now for those young people feeling really big feelings and looking for a relatively healthy outlet for them! I think I *would* have loved this album at that age. Now I am just exhausted. But appreciative!

pas ma came du tout

An album where I'm ready for it to be done... before it's actually done; nonetheless I enjoyed Black Flag more than Germs, the other recent Californian punk band. HL: "Rise Above", "Six Pack", "TV Party", "Depression" September 18, 2023

I liked a couple of the songs, particularly Rise Above and TV Party. If I listened to this when I was younger and angrier, the album would have probably resonated more.

6/10. Yeah, this was a punk album, they yelled about stuff, attacked their instruments, and it was all over in about 30 minutes, what else is new?

This album cover is in a niche meme where the text is replaced with “Venmo me for my emotional labor”. I have nothing to say about the music other than it sounded exactly how I expected it. 5/10

3.5

Tja, je had er bij moeten zijn, denk ik!

Teveel teringherrie

Toffe vent die Henry, en zijn spoken word bio over zijn jaren op tour met deze band zijn fantastisch. Maar de muziek is eigenlijk niet te doen. Toen: baanbrekend. Nu: 2 dimensionale herrie.

Amai.

Punk...loud noises!!!

I was dreading the global reviews on this, and they were what I expected. Here's the thing. If you've never heard Damaged, it's going to sound like a samey racket. But if you were around 14 when you discovered it, it's going to be a foundational record. Guess which I am. Equal parts sarcastically funny, furiously angry, and heartbreakingly sad, it's a vital touchpoint to the evolution of punk rock, hardcore, and metal. But, also very much a "you had to be there" record. I get the objections, but I will always love it.

Certamente um marco na história do hardcore e rock, felizmente muitos artistas escutaram bem mais do que eu. Reconheço as marcas na influência, mas não empolgo o suficiente para escutar mais vezes.

Svårt att lyssna igenom

Has some feel of something like Ramones in the tone, but very annoying to listen to overall. Creaky music and scream-y. Just not my jam at all. 1.5

good job henry

Kept the Spotify station after listening and discovered it’s not just Black Flag. this is not the genre for me. Very muddy and difficult to hear the lyrics which surprises me as I am aware of Henry Rollins’ spoken word stuff. Best enjoyed by sweaty men colliding with each other violently in a mosh pit, which is something I have never understood the appeal of

For a while I thought I was listening to a punk parody album.

Una de es referències indispensables del hardcore nordamericà. Energia adolesecent en estat pur i sense filtrar. Ràbia a dojo i més interés per l'actitud i la búsqueda de reacció en l'oient que per les cançons en si mateixes

kuivakausi...kuivaa kautta.... 8 vuotta ei mitalia mm kisoista...paitsi tänään...PRONSSIA!!!!! wuolma murto.... rikkoi sen kaudenm.. .mutta albumeissa jatkuu.. paskaa albumia jällleen kerran kuka osasu odottaa, minä. minä osasin odottaa rise above

If running through a brick wall made an album. Anyway, at least it was nice and short. 5/10.

3.5

Siis kuinka hyvä biisi on Rise Above. Ihan hyvä levykin, mielenkiinto ei aivan lopu kesken kaiken vaikka meinaa lähellä käydä. Hyvä.

Puoli-irrationaalinen Henry Rollins-skeptisyyteni tekee tästä vähän hankalaa, mutta bändin biisinteossa on ensimmäisen neljänkin vuoden jälkeen puolensa, ja Ginnin kitara on aidosti jotain, joka täytyy kuulla ennen kuolemaa.

Fairly standard punk album, not many standouts but decent throughout. 3/5

Rough n ready brat punk, a great time. It just loses a lot listening on some earbuds in the pharmacy though - it's live, massive crappy speakers or nothing here. Three and a half. Fave track: Rise Above

High octane and full of energy, with some good humour and irreverence to boot. Didn't grab me heaps the first time, but by the second listen definitely thought it could be one that enters my rotation. Three and a half. Fave track: TV Party

Weird to think that there's a whole history to Black Flag prior to lead singer Henry Rollins and, subsequently, their first album Damaged. Guitarist Greg Ginn had perfected a distorted guitar tone that was essential for the sound of hardcore. Combine that with playing faster and with more aggression compared to the punk rock of the late 70's, the 1979 Nervous Breakdown EP was essential to the now-burgeoning subgenre. The struggle with maintaining a band for hardcore audiences was finding a vocalist who would be able to withstand the crowd's vitriol while still being able to shout the lyrics out properly. You can hear the iconic Keith Morris (later doing vocals for Circle Jerks) on the Nervous Breakdown EP, Ron Reyes on the Jealous Again EP, and Dez Cadena on the Six Pack EP. Short tenures from each of these men lead to bringing on Henry Rollins, who had been a fan of Black Flag already. This made it easy since he pretty well knew the songs. All he had to do was get up on stage. People have reservations about Rollins' vocals. It's been described as "meathead vocals" and I can hear that, especially on songs like Six Pack and TV Party. The big thing that'll stand out is how dark Damaged gets in the back half. No More, Depression, and Life of Pain are all details of Rollins' inner turmoil that, while maybe cheesy, would be essential for the attitude of hardcore. Deeply influential, but has since been outdone by numerous hardcore releases in as many different ways as you can think. It's been done faster, louder, heavier, thrashier, noisier, more aggressive, more emotive, and more interesting. This one just happened to be one of the first.

A refreshing face punch.

The people who "largely ignored" this album on it's release most certainly made the correct choice.

Nope

STICK IT TO THE MAN! RAHHHHHHHH!

Better than I'd expected. Black Flag t shirt people always seem to be awful and gatekeepers, so I was very surprised to find out they are big inclusive sounding fun!

"My name is Henry and you're here with me now" A classic of hardcore punk. Some Black Flag fans hate Rollins on vocals, but I think the rawness on display here just elevates everything else. I love this album, have since I was an angry young man and I continue to do so as an angry approaching middle age man.

Another seminal punk album

Black Flag was lightning in a bottle. They nailed hardcore punk and made it marketable. They launched a thousand bands, and music today wouldn't be the same without them.

Erm, no thank you. What an awfully shouty man.

As with a lot of punk rock, I really get into it for about a minute and then I'm done. So I did a little bit of thrash and then waited for it to be done. Most of the songs were fairly indistinguishable except for "TV Party," which was a song shared with me on a compilation tape in the 80s by a dear friend, and one that I've always quite liked. If you're looking for solid punk rock, not too chaotic, not too melodious, I think this hits that mark just right.

So, this is definitely not my jam. At the start of my second listen, my ears had adjusted and it wasn’t so bad. But then a few tracks in I started to tune it all out…my ears got numb…

Another band that just sounds so mad at their mom...but somehow I don't mind it. They're young and loud and fast. It's not my thing but I appreciate their place in history.

I listened to a little Black Flag here and there in college. TV Party is the door I walked through to really appreciate this group. Through a friend I listened to this many times back then. Today I wasn’t looking forward to listening to this. I expected this to sit poorly with me 36 years later. Turns out we sit together great. I appreciate the introspective and socially conscious lyrics. The music is still really catchy. While I no longer have the energy to jump in a mosh pit, I definitely can spend 35 minutes kicking back to this with a glass of wine! A real surprise that I love this as much now as I did back then!

Didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but it felt like a raw and sometimes oddly fun outpouring of anger and teen angst. 35 minutes is about as long as I can handle thrashy music, too.

You get this when you put together the sound of '70s punk rock, the 'in your face' character of '80s metal, and the stylish angst of '90s hip-hop. It's an amalgamation of three decades that interestingly works pretty well. Not my style as it's a bit too abrasive and rhythm-less, but respect, right? At least, even through the loudness Black Flag manages to sneak in some funky bass lines and drums that stand out against all the noise. Standout tracks are TV Party and Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie.

I’m not sure about this one’s rating, but it really didn’t give me an impression. Maybe if I re-listened it would be 3 stars.

I don't think I've ever listened to any hardcore punk before, so I've definitely never listened to Black Flag, but I was really excited to get this album today. After listening to this, I don't think hardcore punk is exactly my cup of tea. I did enjoy the fast tempo, but I could barely understand the lyrics. I know that Black Flag's lyrics usually filled with social and political commentary, so I was kind of bummed that I had to google the lyrics to each song. While I didn't really enjoy this album a lot, its influence on rock music is abundantly clear after listening to it, and I think it's a really important album. Favorite track: "TV Party," by a mile.

They’ve got balls, but mostly bollocks.

Our Flag Means graaar duh duh duh duh

Even when I was young, angry, and listening to skater punk, this would’ve been too hard.

TV Party!

1981 is surely too late for Punk? Regardless this is fun energetic, talentless and crass. I can understand why it was popular but really speaking you should be listening to the Ramones, Pistols or some other band who did it sooner.

Bit too punk for me. Shouty. Glimpse of 90s - 00s punk inspo

An absolute classic when it comes to punk and hardcore. This changed everything when I first heard it

Bit of a snore

Boring - punk isn't really for me. 2/5

Every time I see someone wearing a Black Flag shirt I ask them to name five Black Flag songs to prove they’re a real fan. And that’s because I’m just better than most people. This album is about as punk as it gets. You know what you’re signing up for, and I know I shouldn’t expect any sort of dynamics or mixing gems in this record, but without that stuff, the 35-minute runtime feels just a bit too long. But overall, this is an insane debut from a band who was doing things literally no other band was doing at the time and has had a lot of mimics since.

Bricks walls stand no chance against runners aided by this acrid assault on the senses.

Angry but what else? Energy! 2.5

I think punky kinda stuff would be superr fun to see live in a small venue with friends but i don't think I would just listen to this normally

Even though I am not a Henry Rollins fan, this was fantastic.

Not really feeling this. TV Party is a fun standout, but that kind of slacker humour seems at odds with the music and also with a lot of the other, angrier lyrics. Maybe hardcore punk in general isn't for me? If I'm gonna listen to something loud, distorted and unmelodic then I want it to be heavier, tighter and riff-ier than this.

Punk covers a pretty wide spectrum, but if someone asked me to show one album to represent the genre this would be my pick. Fast unconventional instruments, screaming and taking the piss out of society, just really that sense that this is the opposite of what is expected of how one should behave. Tv party was hilarious, mocking how people will get together to hang out and not talk at all. Henry Rollins is one of the all time great. Not an album I would just put on to listen to, and usually wouldn't give a five to an album based on that, but this is a critical punk album and I think warrants the rating despite not being to my personal tastes at this stage of my life.

Why do you torture me. Someone use this in a film now.

I was looking for something fast but not as heavy as metal. Lo and behold, I am recommended one of hardcore punk’s best albums. It’s just what I am looking for. Favorite track: TV Party

This is my fucking jam.

Demasiado enérgico. Punk colérico. Poco melódico. Voz con autoridad. Le falta algo más de pausa

Meh.

fuck yeah, this is how you start a Monday morning. I have never listened to this album in full but know so many of the songs. First heard some of them as a little dude watching Repo Man. This a great

I would say this is a pretty fun album but it’s also just about as basic and generic as it gets when it comes to punk music, imo - 7/10

It’s definitely punk. I’m not too deep into punk so this won’t get highs marks from me. There’s nothing especially wrong though

while the wiki for this album says it was very influential, there’s just not much special about it to me, and i’m fairly burned out on punk recently.

Three 1's on the bounce. Hardcore punk is also not my thing

Clash vibes. Which was great.

Great stuff

This rips. Don't need to say too much more!

I know it’s a short album, but I wish it were even shorter. Because it was a damn blast to listen to overall, only a few tunes in the 2nd half kind of failed to stand out. Not the closer though. Freaking “Damaged I,” dudes. Whew. That’s a bruiser of a song and I love it. The only other Black Flag album I’ve ever really earnestly listened to is “My War,” and it’s strange to me to read how that album apparently alienated a bunch of the early Flag-heads, because I feel like the closer of this one set the stage for the heavy-sludgy songs to come on the second half of “My War.” But maybe Im crazy. I’m sure it was different if you were all up in that scene at the time. Anyway, god bless the refrain on “Jeffersons” in “TV Party.” It kills me every time.

Loud angry punk. Sounds kind of the same after a while.

The list is in a mood this week. Can you imagine seeing these guys live? I have a soft spot for punk but this is a bit too angry for me. TV Party is an iconic song but this falls just short of a 4.

From Black Sabbath to Black Flag. If this is truly random that is awesome. Henry Rollins at 20 was a force of nature. The rest of the band was not far behind. Goes on my list for its influence on the genre, but the raw power of this record is incredible. I understand the genre is not for everyone - my Mom was not a fan - but the bursts of energy that come through in every song was impressive to me at 21 and is equally impressive four decades later. TV Party received some airplay but is not indicative of the rest of the songs. I would suggest What I See and Damaged (both I and II) as prime examples of Black Flag's fast and loud credo.

Harsh but surprisingly not horrible. Couldn’t just sit down to listen to this but it does display the intensity of hardcore

This is the kind of rock I really don't like. It would definitely be a great example of what harcore music is though and I bet a lot of Vassar punks loved this shit. I do like the intensity of the guitar and feel like it could be fun live if i want worried about getting punched in the face. For better or worse, this album is extremely consistent, has a clear vibe, and achieves its goal. So it gets points for that.

Gotta love the classic LA hardcore

Zaheer did nothing wrong.

p U n K K

sucks

Hardcore Punk is usually not my cup of tea but Henry Rollins knows how to lead a band behind him. Maybe they're not meant to be funny but some moments are exactly that. I can enjoy it but I will not listen to it it too much.

not bad but not my style

hated it

This was a delight from start to finish 8/10 Fave: TV Party

interesting, didn't like it as much as I expected...

Nothing that moved me particularly here. It's OK, and I wouldn't object to it coming on randomly, but I'd not go and seek this out to listen to again.

Another band I've heard much about but never got round to listening to. It's another one which is difficult because I can see, in context, how it's an important release it could have been. I liked it but I can't imagine returning to it. I love the sound of it. Real lo-fi production. Noise. Shouting. Certainly not the background music I've been accusing other albums of being!

Was tempted to give this album a 5 on impact alone, but it's still a little too rough around the edges and inconsistent to garner the perfect rating. But man oh man, is there a lot to say about this one. I've mentioned it before, but I listened to it because of the chapter about Black Flag in Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azzerad (imo a must-read for any music fan), and it didn't really resonate at the time, but it definitely FELT like something that I could understand the influence and importance of, especially given Black Flag's reputation and how popular their iconography became, along with the legend of Henry Rollins. Anyway, this album is incredibly important as a harbinger for the production of American music, and I have no issue proclaiming that many, MANY bands that I love today simply would not exist if it weren't for Black Flag. EDIT: changed my mind, it's a 5. Standouts: Rise Above, Six Pack, TV Party, Thirsty and Miserable, Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie, Depression, Damaged II

A huge success if they wanted to create the most idiotic and ugliest music possible. One wonders how many of the people who wear the t-shirts (with the admittedly cool logo) actually have heard the record.

Pretty standard punk stuff. Didn't hate it, didn't love it, but happy to have listened to it. 3.5/5

ved aldrig om jeg bliver glad for black flag

I fucks with it

I've only heard of Black Flag a little bit and I ended up really like this album! I didn't really know what genre they played other than just general rock but I was pleasantly surprised.

Anger distilled. Henry Rollins really created something impressive here. It's raw, emotional, angsty, and youthful. Perfectly captured a feeling of disaffected youth. 3.5/5

A key album in the American wave of punk. An early gateway into what would later become hardcore music. This album brings back so many memories from playing skating games as a kid. Rise above might be one of the best American punk songs, no questions asked.

As with other examples of bedrock punk this strikes me as surprisingly tame, almost innocent. Regular jack offs screwing around. Very much of my era - every mediocre program call-out in TV Party absolutely hit for me. Overall a little basic, lyrics and music alike, but I liked it.

Cool

есть red flag, а есть black flag... ну ровно или скорее никак

This was one of many albums I downloaded as a kid only to barely pay it proper attention, skimming through the album on shuffle (shamefully I did this with most albums as a kid). After listening to it all the way through, I'm happy that I decided to revisit this. As is the case with a lot of punk for me, even if I don't especially enjoy or prefer the music, I can't help but appreciate it for the merits it achieves and delivers consistently. Songs like TV party though will forever be a jam I'd be happy to hear when my playlists are on shuffle!

Il faut imaginer Sisyphe heureux

raoult le chat assassin a dormi comme un bébé à 30cm des enceintes diffusant ces paisibles mélodies

Solid punk music that had an outsized impact on later music I love. This is a little too before my time, though. 3/5

Tv party

For sure I respect this for what it is but I didn't enjoy listening to it. Except TV Party that song is hilarious

No nyt oli punkkia. Omaan makuun voisi toki olla melodisempaa jne. joten enemmän tämä ahdisti kuin ilahdutti.

Ok punkkia

I expected to like this album so much more.

Para el gym

Early hardcore, fan of the genre just not reallllyy a fan of the early stuff. But I respect it

I'd like to hear Weird Al do a cover of Spray Paint, it's pretty much a polka already.

I’m not the average listener, but I did enjoy it. Very repetitive and very mad dude. Someone come give him some help. I’m playing in the music stand point I did enjoy the solos and how they open up every song. One of my favorites was “tv party” it was a very enjoyable song. Just dudes that want some drinks and watch tv. It was a up beat song some may say happy song. Then they hit you with “What I see” he speaks about I wanna live, I just wanna die type shit. I lost interest towards the last couple songs

Give me the clash, elvis Costello, velvet underground. Sex pistols violent females. Devo over this. Sounded like the same song over and over again.

Music was alright just not my top choice. This is what you’d play to scare someone away from your house if they had over stayed their welcome

Very enjoyable Listen from a band I’ve been into for a minute. Really led the charge for punk music and set a trend. Like any album there was some down spots but it’s a fast paced punk rock rump. Henry Rollins has some crazy shit to say about frozen yogurt .

I know, i love punk music, and i CANNOT disregard the impact these guys had on modern punk music. Theres a lot i enjoy about this record, but theres something that plagues this album and many punk albums of its generation - less than enjoyable vocals. Im a bit of a hypocrite for saying that, especially as part of punks whole schtick is disregarding rules, including “rules” about what vocals “should sound like,” so it makes perfect sense why their sound is the way it is. But i must reiterate! This album and many punk albums of its time were vital to the evolution of one of the genres i hold dear to my heart. I respect the hell out of these guys and what they did and help build, but i must admit its not an album i really care for. If i were there it came out and the years following, i may have a very different opinion on the album from a musical standpoint. This album makes sense, from its time and its impact, and thats why i think it deserves a spot on this list, but personally, im disinterested in it from strictly a listening standpoint.

I get it. I got it after the first track. The unfortunate issue with thrash punk is that there is virtually zero room for experimentation or expansion. It’s so shoe-holed into a very specific sound. It’s the same sound and same emotional provocation constantly. Much like the album, there’s really nothing much else to say. Why does the end of the tracks keep getting cut off? Would it kill the producer to just let the guitar finish its note one time? Also why does Damaged II precede Damaged I? Not like it really matters though - you can’t tell the difference between the two. Would rate 1.5 if I could.

i should love henry rollins but something just doesn't click with me. same thing with black flag.

Scott Kelly's noncing World Cup reaches new heights

A good punchy punk/hardcore album that was great for an energy boost. The punchy vocals of Henry Rollins and rip-snorting guitar riffs made for a wild ride of listening. Throughout it's time many a rebellious teen would love to blast this record, much to the chagrin of their parents. Best: Rise Above; TV Party Worst: Room 13

I can see whey this album was largely ignored by critics and the public at the time of its release - the big mystery is how it got on this list.

TV Party and Rise above are tops of the album. 3.5/5

It's not that i don't like metal/heavier music, it's just that this ain't it for me

Verrattuna 70-luvun pink flagiin, joka oli punkin kannalta uraauuratava teos, on tämä 80 luvun punk albumi paskempi ja ei niin kokeellinen, pink flag oli hyvällä tavalla kokeellinen, ei mitenkään ärsyttävä, tämä paljon yksinkertaisempi. Puni on yksinkertaidta musiikkia yksinkertaisille ihmisille. Joten 2 tähteä enemmän kuin pink flag saa tämä albumi.

Difficult to imagine a consistent sound to any of these songs. 1981 was sooooo long ago

Noise

I can appreciate the roots of punk music, but it's not an easy listen. You can hear the age in this album.

Not for me unfortunately. Can appreciate the work on there. Rollins is one hell of a lead. Won’t be returning to this one

Fast and furious and often funny. A classic of hardcore. Though as far as Black Flag albums go I think I like "My War" better, probably because of the B side that alienated all their fans.

Переобуюсь, но! За супер сделанным на похуй мастеринге, скрывается чудесная агрессия и хардкор. Я прям включил и с первых нот мне плюют в ухо и я кайфую от этого. Очень удивлен, что такая почти андеграундая музыка тут, но это прям прибавило интереса

Панк мне тяжело слушать. Хотя здесь это было довольно прикольно! Прям с первых песен возникло ощущение, что мне даже не отвратительно! Звук конечно... оставляет желать лучшего. Особенно после только что прослушанных дважды The Smiths. С гитарами вообще что-то не то, они просто как будто войлоком каждую щель в частотном диапазоне заткнули. Поржал с композиции Spray Paint)) Я на неё очень рассчитывал, оказалось, что она идёт 33 секунды... Я требую расширенную версию из 66 секунд! Но если глобально, песни ж все одинаковые, где-то даже как будто рифы один и те же. И звучит это всё дело как мутная каша. Пару песен я оценил, но к концу меня уже начало даже слегка подташнивать от этой музыки. Тем не менее, это всё ещё не так плохо, как Smashing Pumpkins. Хоть и менее разнообразно.

Вообще норм альбом, но жанровое восприятие, соре

Risa Above has a cracking good riff and Room 13 work well within the theme. No More is different and again works well with the lyrics. The rest? Meh. Boy, we need a good record.

Well, a few songs in, I was ready to skip through the rest in a perfunctory way: definitely not my thing. But I was looking at the lyrics as I went. The sheer intensity and honesty of the songwriting was arresting, even if it's not crafted (nor set to music) in ways I would prefer.

I gave each track a score out of five & it averaged at 3, exactly. The band was generally terrific. Some great guitar licks. Highlight for me was definitely TV Party. Rollins killed it on that, as he did on Room 13, Six Pack & Damaged I - “My name’s Henry…” - an ominous intro to an illustrious career. I never saw him live with his band but I did get talked into a spoken word concert at the Enmore Theatre in 2010 - the Frequent Flyer Tour. It was okay, but I prefer his tv show, which was really good. And, above all, the night he hosted Rage & really gave it to Morrissey - do yourself a favour & catch that on youtube. As for this album, it’s really not my cuppa but I can see the point.

So many hardcore albums on this list! Really, hardcore is a bit of a niche genre, so we really don't need quite so many records. But, if you are going to listen to one hardcore album, this really is the one. Focused, aggressive, and pretty well recorded (for the time and budget, and certainly within the genre). Greg Ginn leads the band with (relatively) inventive playing, and a pleasing amount of noise. This is Henry Rollins' first album with Black Flag, and he is a charismatic and powerful vocalist, and can project both focused anger and sarcastic humour. Why anyone (including Black Flag) ever bothered recording another hardcore album, I just don't know. But, while I really would have loved to see Black Flag live in 1981, I do not need to listen to this, or any other hardcore albums, ever again.

Hostile, aggressive, and mostly tuneless. Give me The Replacements' take on punk over this stuff any day.

Favorite - TV Party.

One of the songs has the lyric “depression will kill me”, this cured my depression as this album is now what will kill me

3.75

I like a lot of music that has a streak of punk sound, but never really enjoyed taking the pure straight shot of angst that is black flag. Nevertheless I appreciate it and the ways it very probably influenced a lot of the thrashy bands I love. 🙇‍♀️

I’m pretty sure this is the band Jesse Pinkman played with. Was waiting for Fallacies to come up, but it must be on a different album.

Early 80’s punk classic that I couldn’t get into. Vocals weren’t my thing, some interesting lyrics, but not enough to keep me engaged

Ya, I can't do that.

A perfect soundtrack to me recreating Jackass stunts in my own home. Black Flag's music makes it seem sensible and like a good, mature way to spend my time. OG Punk Rock. Like.

Damaged is a quintessential hardcore album and one of the most influential punk albums of all time. The music is noisy, messy, and invigorating. The lyrics are at times funny, angry, anti-authoritarian, and surprisingly empathetic such as the track 'Life of Pain.' Black Flag is a conscientious standard bearer and this album is truly phenomenal.

My favorite of theirs.

I also need to belong.

There is no pink pop here. This is thrashy punk that emphasizes biting guitars and lots of crazy angsty energy from Henry. Props.

….Absolutely not for me.

Tätä levyä on tullut kuunneltua vuosien varrella! Nyt huomasin, että ollaan saman ikäisiä. Eilen pohdittua: jos Black Flag teki tän jutun näin hyvin 41 vuotta sitten, niin miksi yhä vain on bändejä, jotka haluavat kuulostaa juuri tältä? Varmaan siksi, ettei mikään olisi hauskempaa, kuin olla Black Flagin laulaja. No, ehkä vielä astetta hauskempaa olisi olla Melt Bananan laulaja. Meinasin pihistellä tähtiä ja antaa vain kolmosen, mutta kyllä tälle on annettava vähintään yhtä hyvä kuin Abattoir Bluesille, eli se neljä.

Katse peiliin ja hampaat sisään! Bändin vaikutusta ei voi kiistää mitä tulee punkin kehitykseen, mutta mites tää maistuu? Tykkään tästä pidättelemättömästä ja raa'asta ilmaisusta mikä bändillä on. Kyseessä toki bändi joka oli ensisijaisesti livebändi hurjine keikkoineen. Ehkä tässä kuulee sen että koitetaan äänittää jotain niin pitelemätöntä ettei se aivan onnistu. Tämähän lienee eka levy jossa Rollins on laulajana ja se tietysti eroaa edellisestä huippuhienosta Morrisin sungaamasta EP:stä, mutta en kyllä osaa sanoa kummasta soundista tykkään enemmän. Tykkään itse enmmän My War -levystä, mutta kyllä tämäkin on ansainnut 4 tähteä minun mittapuullani. Punkkia arvostelen varmaan rajummin kun muita genreä. 4/5

Edelleen kokonaiset punk-albumit on vähän haastavia, vaikka ekat 5 biisiä olin jälleen ihan jess jess tätä lisää. Pitää olla jotain fugazimaista epäpunkkia seassa, että pysyn innostuneena loppuun asti. Tosin eihän tätä varmaan äänitteiksi ole alunperin tarkoitettukaan.

Äärimmäinen levy! Voimakasta HC:tä ja vedettynä sillee että bändistä otetaan ihan kaikki irti. Olis ollu siistiä nähdä nää livenä aikanaan! 4/5

Nur gut so meins, eher Punk und sehr generisch

An important album in the world of independent music and hardcore punk, I acknowledge, but it can be grating to listen to after a while courtesy of Rollins' vocals. Certainly worth a listen, but this just isn't my jam.

Un dolor. Casi le pongo un 2 porque me empezó a gustar una canción, pero luego me di cuenta de que esa canción ya no era de ellos, sino era sugerencia de Deezer :D.

Not the biggest fan, sounds fun though

You can tell exactly who made this list. The album picks skew to certain eras and genres. Not a fan of this one, cool cover though.

3.25

Clearly a very influential hardcore punk album. Love the explosive energy, but after a few songs it all just sounds a bit samey. Maybe if I was still an angry teenager I’d love this.

Each song is an explosion of angst and dissatisfaction. I can see how music like this led right to crazy screamy metal like Slayer. Favorites were TV Party and Life of Pain

OH YEAH!!!!!! That clears your sinuses. I remember listening to a punk playlist from America and was a little underwhelmed. There was some great pop and garage rock, but it lacked attitude. Then I heard this cacophonous blast of guitars, drums and angry vocals. Just when it couldn't get any better they threw in these shouted extras from the rest of the band. It won't call it harmonies or a chorus, it just sounded like a bunch of blokes with beers telling from the front row. Then I realised they were singing about getting pissed (drunk) and I knew I'd found something special. A great thing about Black Flag is that they've moved on and showed all their musical influences in later albums. This album is a fantastic blast of anger and confusion.

No redeeming qualities at all in this. One star is generous.

One star for keeping it to 30 minutes long.

I was expecting to hate this. So extra star for the surprise, and I could see myself jumping around to this after drinking a 6-pack.

Henry Rolling FTW 😎 I liked it a lot.

A massively influential album, but sounding a bit dated now. The mix of hardcore punk tunes with random party tunes is a little confusing at times haha

Cack Flag

Hardcore punk classic. Prettty essential, if only for "historical" reasons. There are not many albums in that overall genre in Dimery's list anyway (Minor Threat's *Out Of Step* is included, and I think Bad Brains are, too). So it would be a crime to take *Damaged* out of it. Number of albums left to review: 729 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 133 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 65 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 74

Awful

Five years late, and thereby a little laughable - punk had a very short shelf life and this was released after it had passed it's listen by date. If it had been released when the band was formed, in 1976, then it would deserve to be here, but as a mediocre copy of british punk, it should be consigned to the bargin bin

What would hardcore be without this album? Would hardcore even be a thing?

Ehh

A punk album that felt a little like the Ramones but updated for a modern audience. It was pretty good and I'm glad I could hear it because I've heard black flag mentioned so many times, including on the Atari's Boys of Summer "out on the road today, I saw a Black Flag sticker on a Cadillac."

My punk experience is admittedly low (and hardcore punk even lower than that), but my understanding and impression is that this album is a pillar, one of the goats. Not at all difficult to hear why. I've heard it before, and I'm a big fan of this one. Opens with a true classic in "Rise Above," and just maintains a caustic edge throughout. It's angst and rage expressed with frightening, piercing clarity. You know these guys hate everything. My absolute favorite track has to be "TV Party," not just because of how funny and angry it is about the stupidity of television watchers, but because it's a genuinely catchy song, which makes you think if these punks were stupid sheep instead of the free-thinkers they are (please bear with my layers of irony here), they could make a decent rock record for the masses to swallow with ease. But they aren't that, man! They're fucked up in the head, they wanna smash mirrors and kick fire hydrants or whatever. I love it, what a rush. I can only imagine how liberating it would have been to discover this album as an angsty teen in the early '80s. Shout out Henry Rollins for this one. Favorite tracks: TV Party, Rise Above, Six Pack, No More, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Life of Pain. Album art: Iconic for sure. Rollins punching a mirror, what more do you need? It gets everything across, this album sounds like a group of guys trying to shatter the world as we know it. 4.5/5

An essential for anyone who wants to get into hardcore. Not only is the energy unmatchable but the classic tracks just keep on coming. Honestly one of my favorite albums. I keep returning to it.

I'm probably being a bit harsh here

I really wish I’d heard this back in ‘81. I didn’t know how to express these feelings although I definitely recognize them and might have done so back then. This is so damn raw, but so authentic and real. Great shit.

I don’t like metal

Look, I’m a metal head, I enjoy punk, thrash etc. I’ve heard of black flag - and I get the message. The lyrics are good, the idea are good, but the music and mixing is terrible. You thought Metallica St Anger sounded tinny?! Wait till you hear this. It sounds like it’s being played through a telephone. The other problem is, there’s just no contrast. No light and dark, it’s just full on hard punk from the get go with no let up - and frankly, it loses effectiveness pretty quickly.

This is an unrelenting and angry collection where this listener can seriously empathize with the title.

Hardcore punk led by Henry Rollins. Good, not great.

Solid 4, possibly could have sneaked up into a 5.

No offense to Darby Crash, but this sounds like a more polished Germs. It's angry and free, with Henry Rollins saying whatever comes to his mind. It's anthemic with plenty of lines to scream along to, a bit of order among the chaos of spoken word lyrics. "TV Party" is the best example of this, with the clear back vocals, chants, and clapping. His lyrics are unexpected and fun cause you never know when he's done. There are breaks where you think the song's over but then he just keeps going. But the greatest strength of this album is the distortion-heavy doom-like instrumentation. Each songs starts off almost sounding like a Black Sabbath song, but then speeds up out of control, and the crashes really set this apart with chaotic bangs. Out of 15 songs, only 4 of them are over 2.5 minutes (and only 1 of them are in the first 10), so it really flies by and keeps it interesting thinking what the hell he's gonna complain about in the next song. Loved every song, but the energy dies down in the last third (which does fit with the slow and eery starts of "No More", "Life of Pain", and "Damaged I"), which is why I see so many other bands like Minor Threat just settle with EPs.

Powerful, fierce hardcore punk, a classic among classics. Pissy, hard driving, badass, and also just a lot of fun. This is an album that grabs you from the first riff and and does not let go. I love how they burn though 15 songs in 35 minutes, like a freaking brush fire. Fave Songs: Rise Above, Police Story, Room 13, What I See, Damaged I, Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie, Life of Pain, Padded Cell

I haven’t listened to Black Flag since High School. I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I did back then.

Acerbic, visceral, seemingly chaotic and yet very intentional. If you aren't listening close, you may not catch that nearly the entire album is a tongue-in-cheek cautionary plea to not waste your life away.

Leider viel zu roh für meinen Geschmack.

One song was enough..

I sometimes regret not going to them concert when they came to Brazil.

Rise Above could be one of the best songs ever written. This is by far the best Black Flag album and the one of the grand daddies of the punk/hardcore genre.

Rollins gets the glory (deserved) for his explosive delivery, but Ginn and Dukowski were the fuel. Nobody plays like Ginn, not before and not since. Frantic, raw, but with one goofy tune for comic relief, this record was huge for me. Ramones were my intro to punk, Black Flag was the immersion into hardcore.

This is a great album. I've listened to it lot over the years. Good energy and Rollins at his best. It also has a bit of levity that the bands later records lacked.

It's at the top or near the top of the list of best hardcore albums of all time. And rightfully so! I completely get people who don't like this type of music (my wife being one of them, she was NOT happy with me when we listened to this one in the car) but for those of us who do, it's a classic album. Although as I'm now in my 40s and sitting down and watching TV with a beer in hand is my idea of a good time, TV Party isn't the anthem it was when I was in my teens.

There are some places and Times where I could dig this, but it's not many of them...

punkzao, nao é o som que eu mais curto ouvir mas maximum respect

Yeah yes shout shout. Great band great message great sound

Raw and shouty hardcore, just like it should be

I thought it was going to be manufactured pop punk metal for some reason, and was pleased that it was raw and fun and I could make out some of the lyrics. TV Party was a highlight.

Hardcore! A younger angry me would have enjoyed this very much, the older mellow me less so. I get it, and appreciate it being on the 1001 list. Hot heavy, messy, shouty hardcore punk!

Great album, no holds barred fun and the antithesis to the cause-driven hardcore that dominates the genre. That being said, the production is pretty ropey, with the drums sounding particularly naff. Ginn's guitar does sound feral, the bass is nice and raspy and Rollin's vocal delivery flawless - though the levels and compression makes for a difficult listen. This does feature some of my favourite songs, namely: Police story, depression and rise above.

Pretty good punk album

Definitely a classic. Just not sure if it’s the classic for me… there's no denying that Henry Rollins is incredible, but Family Man is a little more my speed personally.

Influence on music: 5 stars How much I personally enjoy it: 3 stars at most, I like punk but not so much hardcore. Average: 4 stars

ну а какой оценки вы хотели?

The good thing about this album is that it's only 35 minutes and 3 seconds. Sounded like a standard punk album. A couple songs on here that aren't too bad; I liked TV Party, even the highest played song Rise Above didn't hit with me. Overall, wasn't my thing. 2 stars.

I like a couple of the songs but the others are soooo angsty

Hardcore punk. Demasiado iguales todas las canciones. Ni fu ni fa.

Un dolor. Casi le pongo un 2 porque me empezó a gustar una canción, pero luego me di cuenta de que esa canción ya no era de ellos, sino era sugerencia de Deezer :D.

I like some of the bands they clearly later inspired, but it's a bit raw and samey for me. 2/5

Respect it for its commitment to an energy and sound, but it quickly wears me down and I want to change the station.

Ground zero for hardcore punk. Used to listen to this in high school quite a bit.

Apparently one of the first hardcore punk bands. These lads are definitely ratchet. I imagine many fist fights broke at their old shows, has that "u fuckin w0t m8" energy for sure. I get the legacy which would be 4-5 but enjoyment it's just ok for me.

This one wasn't nearly as bad as I'd expected. I usually hate punk rock, hardcore even more so. But this was at least listenable without skipping more than two or three tracks. That's quite something! I guess it's because the guitars are actually quite good. Not good enough to enjoy the music, but good enough to not hate it. That's something.

Black Flag’s Damaged is like the pilot episode of your favourite TV show. The cast is missing a key member or two, the writers haven't found their stride and it was shot independently before being picked up so the whole thing feels raw - but there's a foundation for something great. The proto slacker tunes like Six Pack and TV Party experiment with apathy to subvert the overly serious conventions of the east coast scene - laying a foundation for bands like Descendants to follow. More influentially Rise Above can be credited as being one of the first hardcore jams, a genre I still love today. That's about where the good things end for me. This album was abrasive to the point of being unlistenable, especially the second half. Sometimes, playing as hard and as loud as you can works, but mostly it doest.

Boring, repetitive, ugly noise. The instrumentation on songs such as "TV Party" and "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" would at least be tolerable if it weren't for the thoroughly grating vocals. If this is what anarchy sounds like, I'd rather just be a conformist. Out of the 10 albums I've listened to from this site so far, this is the first I can not imagine revisiting a single track from. This particularly nasty brand of hardcore punk is just not for me. Standout tracks: None

I hate the singers voice so much Im sure this is a great album that was influential and helped grow punk but I am not a fan of punk so I give this a 1/10

Sounds like it could have been written and performed by a British punk band. I like it.

2.5/5. Difficult one for me to enjoy. I think if I was in the mood, this would be great, but after listening to it all day - nothing stood out to me. Maybe another day, it will be awesome.

mean to nardwuar

Peak Rollins and BF

Not my type of music.

Undeniably essential, classic, and historical hardcore. Black Flag 🤩

Despite them inventing it, I have never considered Americans to have ever really understood punk, or the potential of punk. Except for the Stooges and a fistful of others, American punk bands have never seemed that interested in the aesthetic liberation punk has offered. The Ramones, for instance, arguably limited punk by establishing a mannerism of punk, whereas the Sex Pistols concocted a philosophy of punk that emboldened a thousand and one British weirdo acts to philosophise further and stretch the possibilities of what music could be, from ABC to XTC. Or we have Nirvana trying to put punk's experimentalism at the centre of the American mainstream, but only resulting in so many whining gits writing so many feeble grungy dirges about stubbing cigarettes out on their wrists. No scene demonstrates this blinkered American take on punk than hardcore. Rather than exploring what they could do, the hardcore formula of "rough punk, played fast and heavy" not only became the creed of American punk for a decade, it became the standard definition of US punk: I once read an American review of Never Mind the Bollocks that insisted it wasn't a punk album because the songs were too long. That's the sort of warped mindset we're dealing with here, kids. (By the by, this pitiful American reverence towards the supposed edicts of a genre extends far beyond punk. How many rhythm and blues acts, pop groups, jam-bands and rappers act as if avoiding deviation from their genre's standard makes them the true inheritors of the craft? And will they ever realise that nobody cares?) So I worry that perhaps I'm approaching this album with a mild prejudice, which is that whenever I listen to hardcore punk, I feel disappointed that they didn't follow the British example of rejecting every example, and instead they just played a bit of punk. This is not to say I dislike hardcore punk: I don't. But it occasionally feels like the teenagers lobotomised themselves. Anyway, Damaged. It's a good hardcore punk album. Some of the tracks are a bit humorous, to its credit. I don't see this as a crippling existential howl at all, I see it as a good hardcore punk album. There are hardcore albums I prefer (e.g., Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables), and ones I like less (e.g., Milo Goes to College). Is there much more to say than that? Maybe you could say phrases like, "Oh, but they added mini guitar solos to the repertoire of punk," but that just means you're a trainspotter. Actually, I'll run with that. If your favourite form of punk is hardcore, you're basically a trainspotter of punk, writing down the BPM in your notebook as you slamdance. The reason you're straight-edge is because you've a thermos of weak lemon drink made for you by your mum. This album gets a clear four, but giving it a 5 marks you as spotty and bronchial. Also, I was reading about Black Flag before writing this review. After this, they turned to the Grateful Dead for inspiration. As much I should cherish such growth beyond hardcore, I'm not exactly squealing with glee at Black Flag harking to the Grateful Dead. Is there any better point to illustrate that hardcore punk is punk for trainspotters?

Fucking classic album. High replay value.

I like early Black Flag, but I've always thought Damaged marks the point where they stopped being good. But I haven't heard it in a long time, so I listened to it again today, and my opinion didn't change. There are some decent songs here, but even those come with caveats. Rise Above is nice, but it sounds very similar to We Must Bleed by the Germs , which is a much better song (and band). Six Pack is fine, but I prefer the EP version. On the other hand, there are some pretty fucking bad songs here, like TV Party. What were they even thinking with that one? I also didn't like the long and/or slow songs like Damaged I and II that were pretty hard to listen to and are a sign of what was to come, which was nothing good.

Very refreshing

It might be an important artifact, but overall just didn’t age well and didn’t connect with me

Visto con la perspectiva de los años, se hace durillo de aguantar. Aunque eso no quita que sea absolutamente rompedor. Personalmente, prefiero My War, pero Damaged es el principio de muchas cosas.

Cool zu hören. Beachtlich für die 80er

Ich muss mich mit Punk auseinandersetzen! Das ist der Anfang und während des Hörens habe ich schon eine leicht verbesserte Wahrnehmung festgestellt. Über wohlwollende 3 kommt es aber noch nicht hinaus

Punk albums are a mixed bag. I like the raw element to them, but production always seems lacking, even when intentionally rough sounding. I want to like it more, but it's just good.

Some great riffs, and a shit voice

Too shouty

A little too manic for me, needed a bit more of a hook

Thought I wouldn’t be into this but I was

Very nice punk album

Like the vibe and the gravelly Henry Rollins take on Punk Rock. That said, no winners here IMO. ROUNDING UP

Not usually a fan of older punk, and hardcore is hit or miss, but this goes hard and I get why people become such big fans of the genre. 4.5 for me but can't push it to a 5.

I don't think I've ever heard a full track from Black Flag. I was interested in finally hearing something from this band just because they are Black Flag, but after listening I'm confident in why I haven't listened to the band before. The guitars are grinding noise, and the vocals are raspy shouts. I don't know when you would decide to listen to this music. I could skip it.

rise above rise above

Nope

3.3 + A lot of fuss has been kicked up about these guys and I dutifully gave them their due. I read Henry Rollins’ memoir “Get in the Van” and listened to their records. To me, it’s another case of a band’s backstory being more compelling than their actual output. Not that this record is bad. I appreciate the DIY aesthetic and the guitar work is on point. But as a personality, Rollins is pretentious and abrasive and defaults to a holier-than-thou mindset. All this would be fine if he had the vocal chops to back up the attitude. Though he grunts clearly and enunciates his words to make his meaning understood, I find the message two-dimensional (see “TV Party”). While I like their story, their work ethic and their branding, Black Flag’s music is overrated.

3 na szynach

At least it was quick.

Nope nonsense thrash metal

Brabo!!

Surprisingly fun! Top tracks: Rise above, What I See, TV Party

Loud and obnoxious 2 🌟

At the risk of hurting my punk cred, I didn't really get the big deal about this, not compared to other classics like the Clash or the Dead Kennedys.

This LP should be used as a form of birth control. ‘Cause no one is going to want to conceive and give birth to a bunch of kids as, well, damaged as Black Flag. ‘It feels good to say what I want. It feels good to knock things down. It feels good to see the disgust in their eye. It feels good and I’m gonna go wild (‘Spray Paint’).’ With a brutal rhythm section, the whirling dervish trio of drummer Robo, bassist Chuck Dukowski, and rhythm guitarist Dez Cadena barely hanging on to the beat by the tips of their fingers and playing as if their lives depended upon it, supporting the manic maniac lead guitar playing of Greg Ginn, and the psycho desperate vocals of Henry Rollins, 'Damaged' is a parent’s worse nightmare come true. Perhaps a synopsis of the song’s themes, in order, might be the most helpful way to communicate what the listener is in for: Side One: 1) Rise Above… the shitty status quo. 2) Spray Paint… the walls of the stupid society. 3) Six pack… beer helps, more than women. 4) What I See… is all fucked up. 5) TV Party… and beer is preferable to being outside. 6) Thirsty and Miserable… and always wanting more, beer. 7) Police story… we fought the law, too, and the law won. Side Two: 1) Depression… got a hold on me. 2) Room 13… is keeping me alive. 3) Damaged II… and my stupid illusionary feelings. 4) No More… I won’t take it. 5) Padded Cell… which is the wretched plane earth. 6) Life of Pain… complete with aching muscles from digging your own grave, and taking my feelings with you. 7) Damaged I… aahhhhh. Whew, that last one, in particular, features Rollins’ vocals that can best be described as ripping raw bloody flesh off the bones with one’s teeth. When he sings(?) ‘aahhhhhh…’ it sounds, 'he' sounds positively demented. Which is why Black Flag and 'Damaged' is probably best approached and handled: with extreme caution, and from a distance, close to the exit door in case of the real possibility that someone, maybe the whole band, snaps. And they’re very, very close. Like a pack of cornered rabid raccoons. But one would need to be a little feral to pull of this kind of hardcore punk and ‘free’/avant garde jazz hybrid. Several of the songs featured changing time signatures, free time signatures, and physically abused time signatures. Loose, seriously loose, but not sloppy, per se. This LP has been heavily rehearsed, especially for punks, but afterwards spun around and pummeled by the members of the band like a bat to a piñata, until all the musical candy comes gushing out from the bowels. If you like that kind of thing in your music, and I do, then you’re in for a good time. And don’t blink or you’ll miss it. I don’t think there’s much of middle ground here. You’re either gonna dig this, or run away with both hands tearing at your hair and screaming bloody murder; which, coincidentally is what those of us who do love it are doing in the mosh pit ourselves anyway, so it doesn’t really matter, does it? It all boils down to the same reaction. The only real reaction to Black Flag.

Not for me.

Hard and rude. One of the first hardcore bands.

No thank you

Fast Angry Punk. Pure classic for the genre.

Brilliant. An American classic.

Nope, too weak

This was a very angst-y album, Porto-thrashy. This reminds me of my music taste a couple years ago, I was into thrash and this reminds me of the likes of Anthrax but it doesn’t really speak to me now. If I listen to thrash these days it has to be when I’m in an increasingly specific mood. The guitar on this album was nice. I think I’ll go for a very middle of the ground 2.75 stars here. It’s like thrash metal - it’s got the raw power which attracted me the but not as much technicality which appeals to me now.

Yea no miss me with that

YESSSSSSS!!!!! Rise Above punches people in the face. TV Party is funny. This is a decent punk record and you can hear the seeds of something more approachable and also the start of the more modern hardcore movement. But as an album on its own? not my favorite punk record.

A real slobberknocker. Funny, hateful, even sad. Who doesn't feel a twinge of sympathy when Rollins garbles something like "… I'm confused, confused... don't wanna be confused... Don't even feel a thing, no... I don't wanna see... But you can't make me long for your life and security"? I checked my book and, yep, Chuck Eddy approves. Though he notes they went rapidly downhill from here. Anyone listening to this with two ears and a brain could tell you that was the only place they were ever heading.

Hardcore punk classic and fun to rage out with

Well, it was fun. My punk tastes centre around The Sex Pistols are early The Clash. American punk tends to be fast & thrashy, and I just can't get into it. But this meandered between the two - particularly "TV Party". Didn't add but didn't dislike.

Awesome 80s punk.

Still raw and impactful after 40 years.

Good discovery of punk ancestry.

The more albums I listen to, the more I realize I like what I like already. Old grump I guess.

Punk.

Can't really remember it. Sowwy

Omg….. han va fräck (!!!!!!) me Nardwuar!!!!

I love this s*** man… shout-out to punk music

Går hårt...

Not a fan of punk music. It was OK.

no interest in this one

Well that’s 35 mins of my life I won’t get back. I thought public image ltd was bad, this seems to have taken that art form to whole new depths, words fail me. Again, in order to appreciate the good you have to sample the bad, and that’s what this is, the new low point

Gimme "If you need a hero, just look in the mirror", well that's a lie, you just discover that after being broken. Fall into pieces but not from a puzzle, it's a damaged person who can't control its feelings and emotions, lost all the way down, confused and wasting the energy in poison. It's the contrast of working in who you're interested to look like or being yourself for a single little time, media telling the standards and stuff like that, well we consider that differently. But as life's not a bed of roses, use its perfume and hang out with your friends, raise your black flag for the first time, as in 1981 the band took that attitude, leaving a legacy for generations. B-

Great hardcore punk album. One of the best.

While I like punk "in general", and respect what Black Flag did, hardcore punk is just a bit noisier than what I like. Gave it some more listens, and starting to like it more, but definitely a harsher sound. 3

Chaotic and fun. Also really effing dumb. I understand that this is the point, but it also doesn't make me like it any more than I do. Best track: TV Party

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Rise above, Tv party, Room 13

No thanks 🤷🏼‍♂️

Introduced the world to the madman known as Henry Rollins. A lot of noisy punk, with some sludgey riffs happening later in the track list. I think the recording holds back just how truly chaotic this must've been to hear live. Favorite tracks: "Gimme Gimme Gimme", "Six Pack", "Damaged I", "Padded Cell"

Loud and obnoxious 2 🌟