I’ll save you some time. Don’t bother reading any further than this statement: Cherry Red’s 2-CD digipack of Discharge’s 1981 Why EP and their 1982 debut album Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing is an essential addition to your collection. This 45-track compilation is a testament to the band’s unparalleled influence and legacy in the punk and metal scenes.

The seminal Why EP stormed to the top of the Independent Chart in May 1981. Every track here is a raw, powerful statement that captures the ferocity and urgency of Discharge’s early years, and serves as a powerful critique of war, societal systems, and the human condition. The horrors of war and the senselessness of violence are referred to in “Visions of War” and “Massacre of Innocents (Air Attack)”; “Does This System Work?” and “Mania for Conquest” criticize governmental and societal systems, highlighting corruption, inefficiency, and the destructive pursuit of power; “A Look at Tomorrow” expresses anxiety about the future and the potential for global catastrophe; “Ain’t No Feeble Bastard” embodies a spirit of resistance against oppression, celebrating strength and resilience. The addition of iconic tracks such as ‘Realities Of War’, ‘Fight Back’, and ‘Decontrol’ only amplifies the impact of this disc.

The band’s groundbreaking debut album Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing – a landmark in the punk and hardcore genres, known for its raw intensity and uncompromising social and political commentary – not only reached No.2 in the Indie Chart but also broke into the UK National Chart at No.40. Media response to this album was overwhelmingly positive. A poll by Terrorizer magazine listed it as the number one punk album of all time in, and in his 2002 history of heavy metal, Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal, David Konow called it the band’s “crowning achievement, a mercilessly brutal masterpiece.” Addressing the brutal realities of war and violence in tracks like “The Final Blood Bath” and “A Hell on Earth”, the physical and psychological devastation caused by conflict are forefronted, while the titular track “Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing” and “Cries of Help” critique societal apathy towards injustice and suffering, urging listeners to break the cycle of indifference. “Protest and Survive” and “I Won’t Subscribe” serve as calls to action, encouraging resistance against oppressive systems and the refusal to conform to societal norms. And whereas “Drunk with Power” addresses the corrupting influence of power and authority, emphasizing the moral decay of those who abuse their positions, “Meanwhile” and “Q: And Children? A: And Children” highlight the stark contrasts between different societal classes and the innocent victims caught in the crossfire of systemic violence and neglect, “The Possibility of Life’s Destruction” and “The End” reflect a deep existential fear and the potential for complete societal collapse, questioning the future of humanity. A powerful and uncompromising critique of war, societal apathy, and systemic corruption. With bonus tracks like the hard-hitting ‘Never Again’, ‘State Violence State Control’, and ‘Warning’, this disc offers a comprehensive look at Discharge’s peak creative period and its raw intensity and direct lyrics leave a lasting impact, challenging listeners to confront uncomfortable truths and take action against injustices.

For anyone who wants to understand the roots of hardcore punk and its lasting impact on the broader music landscape, this is an absolute must-have. This compilation encapsulates the raw energy and revolutionary spirit that made Discharge pioneers of hardcore punk. Their sound influenced not just their punk contemporaries but also two generations of metal bands, including heavyweights like Metallica, Anthrax, Sepultura, Soulfly, Arch Enemy, Slayer, Exodus, Napalm Death, Repulsion, Celtic Frost, Doom, Hellbastard, Hellhammer, Sodom, Sarcófago, Mayhem, Sunn O))), Queens Of The Stone Age, Machine Head, Prong, Dogstar, and Slipknot. Who can argue with that lot? Embrace the chaos, feel the power, and let Discharge remind you why they are legends in their own right.

But be warned: this is not nostalgia; this is not a trip down memory lane.

Why and Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing are now.

Reviewed by JG

• Buy it from Cherry Red here from 9 August 2024
• Follow Discharge here now

Disc One: Why

1. Visions Of War
2. Does This System Work
3. A Look At Tomorrow
4. Why
5. Maimed And Slaughtered
6. Mania For Conquest
7. Ain’t No Feeble Bastard
8. Is This To Be
9. Massacre Of Innocence (Air Attack)
10. Why (Reprise)

Bonus tracks:

1. Realities Of War
2. They Declare It
3. But After The Gig
4. Society’s Victim
5. Fight Back
6. War’s No Fairytale
7. Always Restrictions
8. You Take Part In Creating This System
9. Religion Instigates
10. Decontrol
11. It’s No T.V. Sketch
12. Tomorrow Belongs To Us

Disc Two: Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing

1. Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing
2. The Nightmare Continues
3. The Final Blood Bath
4. Protest And Survive
5. I Won’t Subscribe
6. Drunk With Power
7. Meanwhile
8. A Hell On Earth
9. Cries Of Help
10. The Possibility Of Life’s Destruction
11. Q: And Children? A: And Children
12. The Blood Runs Red
13. Free Speech For The Dumb
14. The End

Bonus tracks:

1. Never Again
2. Death Dealers
3. Two Monstrous Nuclear Stock-piles
4. State Violence/State Control
5. Doomsday
6. Warning
7. Where There Is A Will There Is A Way
8. Anger Burning
9. In Defence Of Our Future