Northern Liberties – Secret Revolution (released 2005) Worldeater Records – Punk and metal experimental group Northern Liberties are back with a smashing album, that in my mind is perhaps the band’s best effort to date. “Secret Revolution” features the usual mix of bass, percussion and vocals, with added effects to make every track different. Additionally the lyrics are a bit more clarified and less ambiguous, something I found hard to follow in previous releases. Now I can see that the band is a bit of socially aware, a bit of politically charged and a bit romantic. The romantic part being that they apply themselves differently that they do with the political and social stuff, Northern Liberties actually offer somethign less motivating and more inviting. Songs like “Love Dove” and “Monument”, with their impassioned prayer for the subject, show the lighter side of the band. Other tracks, like “Midnight Train To The Dogfood Factory”, “Mainframe” and “Autopilot” feature Northern Liberties social awareness and motivational side of the sound and message. Incidentally, these are also some of the faster paced songs on the album, which only helps underscore the message the band is delivering on each one. Taken as a whole, the album doesn’t come across as an experimental album at all, it’s very well structured and in tune with a tight message that presumably is what the band was looking to spell out for listeners. I’ve been enamored with previous efforts from Northern Liberties, although I haven’t always understood their motivation; on “Secret Revolution” however, I think I am finally seeing the light. This release is groundbreaking for me to understand the inspiration of the band and I’m certain it will open the doors of the mind for others as well. A great release, that also features some hidden and hard to find material from the band. “Secret Revolution” is for fans of underground social change music, punk metal and well thought out experimental, Northern Liberties latest release is not to be missed.
-MG