United Nations Have Returned with the Most Jaw-Droppingly Chaotic Album of the Year

Photo by Pablo Van Winkle

I’ve always teased the dudes in United Nations about being a Reversal of Man rip-off band—mainly because their 2008 debut LP sounded an awful lot like ROM’s screamo classic, This is Medicine (which is a good thing). But United Nations’ long-awaited new album, The Next Four Years, has taken my big, fat joke-making mouth and shut it right the fuck up.

Not only has the supergroup of intergovernmental button-pushers managed to finely tune their sound and distance themselves from their powerviolent peers, they have gone full AWOL. The Next Four Years completely tears everything in its path to shreds, leaving a trail of charred bullshit hardcore bands in its wake. Right from the start (as you can tell from the album’s opening track "Serious Business" below), United Nations sound less like they are making an album and more like they are intent on scorching the entire earth. There are so many layers of brutal, cathartic assault to be found on this album that if the “real” United Nations ever thinks of legally pursuing this band again, I hope these songs make them realize that they are clearly dealing with a bunch of psychotic lunatics and shove their lawsuits up their own bureaucratic asses.

It’s difficult to pinpoint what specifically is going on during these 11 songs. Their infinitely textured audio carnage makes describing them feel like giving the police a report on a 70 MPH car accident. In a way, you should expect nothing less from a band whose mysterious lineup has once touted members of Thursday, Converge, and Glassjaw. But this is unlike anything you can prepare for. The Next Four Years is unparalleled in its chaos—an unrepentant and unstoppable destruction machine. I would tell you to brace yourself but there’s no way you can.

Pre-order the album IMMEDIATELY from Temporary Residence Ltd right here. It will be unleashed on July 15. Catch United Nations on tour:

8/2/14 - New York, NY - St. Vitus

8/3/14 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle

8/5/14 - Boston, MA - Great Scott

8/6/14 - Montreal, QC – Il Motore

8/7/14 - Toronto, QB - Sneaky Dee’s

8/8/14 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick Lounge

8/9/14 - Chicago, IL - Township

8/11/14 - St. Louis - The Demo

8/12/14 - Newport, KY - Southgate House Revival

8/13/14 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern

8/14/14 - Pittsburgh, OH - The Smiling Moose

8/15/14 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar

8/16/14 - Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel

8/17/14 - Asbury Park, NJ - Asbury Lanes