'Penetrating': The Gay Agenda delivers hardcore punk magic in a provocative, unapologetically queer release
The Gay Agenda, San Diego's 'homo riot hardcore punks', are celebrating Pride Month 2020 with the most unapologetically gay release of the year, 'Penetrating', out now via La Escalera Records.
Beginning in early 2017 as a trio with vocalist David Hurtt, guitarist Matt Penning, and drummer Luis Imperator, the group was rounded out when Garrett Ficacci joined on as their bassist. The Gay Agenda soon set out to make a spectacularly controversial statement that was undeniably queer, with everything from their name to their releases to their outfits and stage sets being unquestionably and unapologetically gay.
Following the independent release of their self-titled EP in 2018, which Maximum Rocknroll Magazine declared to be "unrelenting from start to finish," adding that it "embraces both spin kicks and gloryholes," the band embarked on a slew of successful shows over the next two years that built a reputation of chaos, debauchery and fearlessness, all while providing a strong voice for the highly-underrepresented queer punk community.
After their jam-packed touring schedule eased up, the band began working on their follow-up in 2019, the much-anticipated full-length release, 'Penetrating'.
Recorded entirely live in one take, 'Penetrating' blends punk and metal into punishing queercore chaos. The band cites everyone from Limpwrist and The HIRS Collective to Napalm Death, Tragedy and Disrupt as musical influences, so it's easy to see why Brooklynvegan would describe their latest offering as a "serious rager" and a "gnarly, whiplash-inducing hardcore." The provocatively titled album with equally provocative tracks like 'Power Bottom', 'Dick Print', and 'Cartilaginous Perspective and Studies About the Micro Anatomy of a Blow Job' is loud, rough, and bold in its stance, with each track being even more hard-hitting than the previous, culminating in the stunningly chaotic closing track 'Masculinity Is A Prison'.
The 11-track album includes the song 'Homo Riot' featuring punk and noise rock legend Justin Pearson while the vinyl version of the release features an additional surprise: a pummeling cover of Icelandic artiste Björk's classic track, 'Army Of Me'. Originally released in 1995, 'Army Of Me' was inspired by Björk's brother's destructive behavior and has the singer telling him to stand up and regain control over his own life. The singer additionally explained that the song was built on the idea of tough-love, sharing in a 1995 interview with Q Magazine, "Imagine you're in a club full of heavy metal types and grunge people; 'Army of Me' is like someone's granny blasting out over the PA and saying, 'Snap out of it! Stop whining! Wash your hair! Smarten yourself up!'"
While Björk herself has built a career off an experimental style that features everything from electronic, art pop, trip-hop, and avant-garde music styles, 'Army Of Me' had a more industrial rock sound to it, and has been praised for having a rather dark sound and theme. Since its release, 'Army Of Me' has been covered, remixed, and sampled hundreds of times. The singer herself orchestrated the 2005 'Army of Me: Remixes and Covers' album which featured a collection of seventeen remixes of the track. Proceeds from the album were donated towards the United Nations Children's Fund. And now, the song finds a place in queer history as a hardcore punk rock tune.
Speaking about the decision to cover 'Army Of Me' vocalist David Hurtt states, "The idea of covering 'Army of Me' came from our drummer Luis. He identified with the song's message of reaching your personal limit while dealing with someone who is selfish, constantly complaining, and pushing you to the verge of exploding. He foretold, "This is going to sound kick ass on the record" and took the reins on the composition."
Stream 'Penetrating' on Bandcamp. Order the limited edition vinyl version HERE.
