Monday , March 18 2024
The Muslims

Music Review: ‘Fuck These Fuckin’ Fascists’ The Muslims

The Muslims, the all queer black and brown Muslim punk band, have just signed with Epitaph Records. After releasing three albums (The Muslims, Mayo Supreme, and Gentrified Chicken) and one EP, Inshallah: Tomorrow We Inherit The Earth, independently they have now released their first single with an established label, the sure fire hit, “Fuck These Fuckin Fascists”.

Okay, so “Fuck These Fuckin’ Fascists” isn’t going to be climbing the charts any time soon. But that’s consistent with who they have always been. The hard hitting trio from Durham North Carolina have spent the past five years doing their best to make racists, homophobes, and sexists  pop blood vessels with in their face music that challenges everything straight white America holds dear.

QADR (vocals/guitar), Abu Shea (bass), and Ba7Ba7(drums) formed The Muslims shortly after the Orange Tangerine Ball Bag became president of the United States in 2017. Each of their releases since then have been an assault upon the decency and family values that matter so much to supposedly everybody.

Even better (or worse depending on which side of the fence you stand) The Muslims defy expectations of who should play punk music. Black/brown people playing punk are few and far between – black/brown/queer people playing punk are even rarer. The mainstream expect African Americans and South East Asian Americans to fit into comfortable musical stereotypes. 

The former sing rap and R&B (if older they’re allowed to sing the Blues or play Jazz as long as they let white racists like Eric Clapton be the real idols) while the latter can do Bollywood and Bollywood influenced pop music. Of course that ignores the history of punk dating back to the 1970s UK where Poly Styrene fronted X-Ray Spex and the South East Asian Alien Kulture were integral in the fight against right wing extremism and the US where Bad Brains were formed in Washington DC.

Like the bands who came before them The Muslims aren’t shy and “Fuck Those Fuckin’ Fascists” is no exception. Its an unapologetic assault on racist/homophobic/sexist creeps. Not since Jello Biafra and The Dead Kennedys screamed out “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” has a band put themselves on the line this much in the war against the right in the US. 

If you want to know how effective the song has been just check out the vitriol the video has attracted online. The hateful rhetoric on their twitter feed is something to behold – and make you sick. I wonder if those complaining about the song realize they’re admitting to being its targets?

Musically the song is actually a lot more accessible than some of their harder core tunes – although it does get lovingly ear piercing at times. However, the lyrics and the take no prisoners attitude expressed by the song and the video will probably prevent it from receiving the airplay it deserves. Which is a not so subtle way of saying share the tune to death.

With the rise of extremism around the world this is not time for pussyfooting around with stupid ‘both sides need to be heard’ shit. (Ask Germany in the 1930s how well that turned out) “Fuck These Fuckin’ Fascists” is The Muslims throwing down the gauntlet and rallying the troops for the good fight. Join them and enjoy some great music and righteous anger.

About Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus is the author of three books commissioned by Ulysses Press, "What Will Happen In Eragon IV?" (2009) and "The Unofficial Heroes Of Olympus Companion" and "Introduction to Greek Mythology For Kids". Aside from Blogcritics he contributes to Qantara.de and his work has appeared in the German edition of Rolling Stone Magazine and has been translated into numerous languages in multiple publications.

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