Audio Mixer: Mario J. McNulty.

It's heartening to see a post-millennial punk band upholding the legitimate politicized anger--and defiant hope--that stirred the original class of '77 and the hardcore bands of the mid-'80s. And although the band's music sounds current, with hints of thrash and other more recent sounds, their overall vibe is an homage to the simple, powerful, message-heavy music of their forebears. Anti-Flag's ninth studio album includes intense jeremiads about consumerism, the dismal economy, the greed behind both, the never-ending war in Iraq, and the bright flashes of optimism that reside in all of us. Stand-out tracks include the hardcore-ish "No War Without Warriors (How Do You Sleep)" and "On Independence Day," which shows off bassist Chris #2's chops.