No Comply by The Degenerics: A Raw Blast from '97 That Still Kicks
Alright, buckle up. Let’s talk about No Comply by The Degenerics—a punk rock time capsule straight outta 1997, dripping with attitude and DIY grit. Released under Soul Rebel Records and Beer City Records (yeah, you know it’s gonna be good if beer’s involved), this album is a no-frills, high-energy punch to the gut that hardcore fans still geek over.
First off, let’s get one thing clear: this ain’t your polished, radio-friendly punk crap. It’s raw, unfiltered, and real as hell. Tracks like “Consumers” and “Human Race-ist” slap hard enough to wake the dead—or at least make you question all your life choices. And trust me, that’s a compliment.
Take “Consumers,” for example. This track hits like a brick through a shop window. Craig’s vocals are somewhere between a snarl and a scream, while Frank’s guitar riffs feel like they were born in some dingy basement after too many cheap beers. The lyrics? They rip into consumer culture with zero chill. You’ll find yourself nodding along, even though half the time you’re not sure whether you’re agreeing or just trying to catch your breath. Honestly, I couldn’t tell ya what exactly he’s saying in the second verse—it’s kinda buried in distortion—but damn does it hit home.
Then there’s “Human Race-ist.” Oh man, this one stuck with me because it’s got this chaotic energy that feels way ahead of its time. P-Nut on drums is going OFF here, pounding out rhythms so fast you half expect his kit to collapse mid-song. Paired with Pat’s basslines—which are groovy enough to almost make you forget how pissed off everything sounds—it’s the kind of track that makes you wanna kick over a trash can or two. Or maybe just scream into the void. Either works.
The production? Yeah, it’s rough around the edges—but intentionally so. Paul Sukovich handled both recording and mixing duties, and he nailed that lo-fi vibe without sacrificing clarity. Lacquer cut by M.J.R.? Clean work considering the chaos contained within those grooves.
What’s wild is how well this album holds up today. Listening to No Comply, you’d think these guys had a crystal ball pointed straight at modern society. Their takedown of greed, hypocrisy, and general human nonsense feels eerily relevant—even more than 25 years later.
So yeah, No Comply isn’t perfect. But honestly? That’s why we love it. It’s messy, loud, and unapologetically itself. And honestly, who doesn’t need a little more of that in their lives?
Final thought: If aliens ever invade Earth and ask us to explain humanity, we should probably just hand them a copy of this album. Then again, they might nuke us immediately after hearing it—but hey, at least we’d go out with style.
