SOA - No Policy

Review by Kristine Fagersten

No Policy by SOA: A Riotous Blast of Punk Chaos That Still Kicks Ass Let’s get one thing straight—1969 wasn’t exactly the year you’d expect a punk rock firecracker like No Policy to explode onto the scene. But here we are, talking about SOA (Soldiers of Anarchy, maybe? Or just Some Outrageous Assholes?) dropping an album that feels more like a Molotov cocktail than a collection of songs. Released under Dischord Records, this gem is equal parts Hardcore Punk fury, Punk/New Wave swagger, and good ol’ fashioned teenage rebellion wrapped up in 30 minutes of pure chaos. The band pulls no punches with their lineup: Wendel Blow on bass, Simon Jacobsen smashing drums like his life depends on it, Michael Hampton shredding guitar riffs sharp enough to cut glass, and Henry Garfield screaming his lungs out as if someone lit his mic stand on fire. Producer Skip Groff keeps things raw but tight, while Don Zientara engineers the madness into something listenable without losing its edge. And let’s not forget Tina Angelos for snapping photos so gritty they look like they were taken during an actual riot. Now, let me tell ya about two tracks from this beast that’ll stick in your brain like gum under a desk. First up, “Gang Fight.” It’s the kind of song where you can practically hear the fists flying and sneakers squeaking across pavement. Hampton’s guitar work here is gnarly—like a rusty chainsaw cutting through soggy cardboard—and Garfield’s vocals sound like he’s calling out play-by-play commentary mid-brawl. You won’t forget this track because it makes you wanna grab a trash can lid and join the scrum. Then there’s “Lost In Space,” which sounds like what happens when Pink Floyd gets drunk at a backyard punk show. The song starts off all wobbly and disorienting, like you’ve been spun around ten times blindfolded, then slams into a wall of distortion-heavy riffs. By the time it ends, you’re left wondering whether you should call NASA or just headbang harder. Either way, it’s unforgettable. Tracks like “Warzone” and “Riot” keep the energy cranked to eleven, while “Girl Problems” throws in some sass for good measure. Even repeats like “Blackout” and “Gonna Have To Fight” don’t feel redundant—they just remind you how much SOA loves punching you in the face with repetition until you love it too. Here’s the kicker: No Policy isn’t perfect. Some songs blur together faster than spilled beer on a sticky club floor, and yeah, the production is rough around the edges. But honestly? That’s part of its charm. This album doesn’t care about being polished; it cares about kicking down doors and leaving chaos in its wake. So, what’s the takeaway here? Maybe it’s that SOA knew something back in ’69 that we’re still figuring out today—that music doesn’t need to be pretty to be powerful. Or maybe it’s just proof that sometimes, the best albums come from bands who act like they’ve got nothing to lose. Whatever the case, listening to No Policy feels like finding an old mixtape in your uncle’s attic—it’s messy, loud, and kinda smells funny, but damn if it doesn’t make you grin. Oh, and one last thing: If anyone tells you punk died decades ago, slap them with a copy of this record. They’ll thank you later.

Artist: SOA
Album: No Policy

1981

Rating: 4.75

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
Video
Images
Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
Formats
Companies
Credits
Notes
Barcodes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

Download

Filename: soa-no-policy.zip

MP3 size: 54.6 mb
FLAC size: 467.6 mb

Download

Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Gate Crashers	1:3
Gonna Have To Fight
Riot	0:41
Black Out
Draw Blank	0:36
Girl Problems	0:48
Public Defender	1:12
Lost in Space
Gonna Have to Fight
Lost In Space	0:43
Gang Fight	0:59
Gonna Hafta Fight	0:43
Warzone	0:51
Blackout	0:44

Video

S.O.A. - No Policy 'EP'

Images

Catalog Numbers

Dischord 2, No. 2
Dischord 2

Labels

Dischord Records

Listen online

online luisteren
lytte på nettet
lyssna på nätet
écouter en ligne
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
escuchar en línea
ouvir online
online anhören

Formats

Vinyl
7"
EP
45 RPM
Green Transparent
Repress
Third Pressing
Test Pressing

Companies

Role	Company
Recorded At	Inner Ear Studios
Mastered At	Nashville Record Productions

Credits

Role	Credit
Bass	Wendel Blow
Drums	Simon Jacobsen
Engineer	Don Zientara
Guitar	Michael Hampton
Lacquer Cut By	JE
Photography By	Tina Angelos
Producer	Skip Groff
Sleeve	Chris, Mike
Vocals	Henry Garfield
Mastered By	JE

Notes

Recorded in December 1980 and January 1981.
Printed lyric insert included.
First pressing of 1,000 copies on green vinyl.
Track B5 "Gonna Have To Fight" is listed as "Gonna Hafta' Fight" on center label.
© ℗ 1981.
Third pressing of 1,000 copies: Black vinyl, Black Flag bars on Henry's arm, band name on labels below Dischord logo.
"Gonna Have To Fight" shows as "Gonna Hafta' Fight" on centre label.
Mastering company and engineer uncredited, identified by the matrix etchings.
Re-press of the first green vinyl first press
A fold-out insert with lyrics is included. It also comes with a small DISCHORD label ad for upcoming LP sampler.
test pressing of 1st press with handwritten dust sleeve.

Barcodes

Matrix / Runout (Side A): NR - 12554 - I JE WHO'S GAY?
Matrix / Runout (Side B): NR - 12554 - II JE BILL AND JAY! .... AND PROBABLY IAN
Other (Printed On A-side Label): NR12554-1
Other (Printed On B-side Label): NR12554-2
Matrix / Runout (Label Side A): NR12554-1
Matrix / Runout (Label Side B): NR12554-2
Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A): NR - 12554 - I JE WHO'S GAY?
Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B): NR - 12554 - II JE BILL AND JAY! .... AND PROBABLY IAN

About SOA

State Of Alert (aka S.O.A.) was a hardcore punk band formed in 1980 in Washington DC by vocalist Henry Garfield (aka Henry Rollins) along with Wendel Blow (bass), Michael Hampton (guitar), and Simon Jacobson (drums), the latter 3 being former members of a local band called The Extorts (Extorts vocalist went on to join ). The band played a handful of local shows and put out a 7" EP before disbanding in 1981 when Henry left to join .

Name Vars

S.O.A
S.O.A.
SOA

Members

Ivor Hanson
Wendel Blow
Michael Hampton
Simon Jacobsen
Henry Garfield

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *No Policy* by SOA is a raw blast of punk energy, but get this—it wasn’t actually released until 1981, even though it was recorded way back in 1969. Yeah, it sat on the shelf for over a decade before Dischord Records finally put it out. Wild, right? It’s like a time capsule of hardcore punk from the early days of the genre. Plus, Henry Garfield, who handled vocals, later became better known as Henry Rollins, one of punk’s most iconic figures. So, this album’s got some serious underground cred.

Comments

dittsch777

2025-03-17

State of Alert were a short-lived band that launched the career of Henry Rollins. Their only release, No Policy, is a generic miniature (just 8 minutes) brand of Hardcore Punk as it could have been done only in 1981. Worth only for historical reasons.

dayanamonje123888dbd1bc8

2025-03-17

The 4 dislikes are bootlickers

enigdot

2025-03-17

Henry era un niño

carolinagardedeus

2025-03-16

Nothing is better than a young Henry Rollins

silviagrv00

2025-03-15

yeah"!!! really a good job with the lyrics...thanks from south italy

kleddon

2025-03-15

Wow, I really like this EP. Sound is a lot more like Minor Threat than I expected, being more familiar with the demo. I can't believe I never heard this before wtf! I used to stare at this ep at bionic and now im like why didnt i just buy it back in the day? You know, back when you had to go record stores? What a trip. I fuckin feel old as shit now though. Fuck all you internet cunts.

sove625

2025-03-14

StraightXEdge.What about BeerOEdge.....

smalltowncromptons

2025-03-14

fuking awesome

itsmazaba

2025-03-13

rollins is a legend no matter what band hes in, we must remember that if it wasn't for him and ian MacKaye that speed/thrash metal would probably still be called that but may not sound like early hardcore but refined musically