The Last Internationale: We Will Reign Review

   I have never bought vinyl in my life. I believed that music should be listened to, not kept locked in a box under your bed… So why did I by The Last Internationale’s debut album without thinking twice? Well, their CDs sold out in about 30 minutes from the merch table, but they were THAT GOOD. I got the record, and had it signed by Delila Paz and Edgey Pires… and then got the disk the next day.

   It isn’t often that an opening band makes competition for the headliner… the headliner in question here being THE Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin… These kids from New York gave the Golden God himself a run for his money. I was truly astonished by the sheer presence and musicianship held by the three members, Dilila Paz on vocals and bass/guitar, Edgey Pires on lead guitar and backing vocals, and Brad Wilk (Yes, from Rage Against the Machine) on Drums.

   When the three and a temporary bassist came on stage, the usual hum picked up, and the quieter cheering that opening bands commend began. Of course the first words I could make out around me had to do with the sex of the leading lady. I would say musician, but apparently that doesn’t matter when a woman walks on stage. Hey man, I’m just here to rock. On a side note, I must say that very many people in the crowd were very unpleasant and rude. The Last Internationale, 6/5 stars… the audience…

-3/5.

   That doesn’t matter because I had no capacity to think because my brain was splattered all over the inside of my skull…These guys rocked the house. People were excited, especially the kids out there. They actually drew in the audience. You weren’t there to see The Great Robert Plant… no, forget that old relic for a minute! You were there to see The Last Internationale. I sure didn’t care that they were ‘and opening band’. They are Rockers in every sense of the word. These are people who have the blood of rock and roll in their veins, and the air of solid rebellion in their lungs. Punk kids trying to make a fuss? Go jump off a bridge, man! The Last Internationale are rebelling against a corrupt system. From their name to their music and current logo, they are the voice of rebellion.

   The first song of their album IS that. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Indian Blood. It doesn’t get any more self-explanatory than that! This dig starts off with a powerful flush of drums and a simple bass riff accented by a few powerful strums of the guitar. Delila Paz’s powerful vocals take us back to the time of Ann Wilson and Joan Jett. Deep and soaring, yet still feminine in its suburb masculinity. The chant of Blood! and the descriptions of a divine revolution engross the mind. Taking from the rich and giving to the poor, destroying the world of man and rebuilding our depleted forests.

   There is a quitter build up that leads to the songs dramatic climax. I listened to this song over and over again while writing, and EVERY single time I got a chill that could freeze that could send someone into cryogenics… It is the quiet before the storm. You can only imagine what is going to happen next as the children of the revolution plot. They break free once the tension is just right. The climax tells a story all on its own, so simple in every way, no lyrical content, only constantly rising vocals. You can see the revolution appear in this smoke, the blood, the loss, and the victory.

   The next line is like the beginning of a new life. “Wake up Love! I want some action!” It’s all said and done with. You are now a part of the revolution. A reprise of the chorus suggests that once the revolution has taken place, you have to maintain, before the fight is lost and a world of Capitalism and hatred arises once more.

   The next jam is the album’s title track, We Will Reign. It’s a softer piece with a powerful chorus. The song is the perfect sequel to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Indian Blood. The lyrics portray a world that needs to be rebuilt, and the passion that rests in the creation of a society that we could one day reign. It is the birth of the revolution and the revelations that come with it. Teamwork, desire, and passion. Something we don’t have in our world today.

   Wanted Man is another tingler. A heartfelt blues with a touch that can only make contemporary. It is slow, but each note has meaning. The beat is strong, like the heartbeat that flows through the collective audience. The moral of the story: Get in my way, and you will not make it out on the other side. The song is a beautiful tribute to the persistence of the fight.

   There is no hold on the 4^th of the album. Killing Field is the one I remember the most from their performance. It has a rift that can burrow into your brain and lay eggs. This is a tune that packs a punch… with brass knuckles. The lie of choice here is “You Think that Flower Power will make them stop… Bang Bang Bang! Baby, Here come the cops!” Now that is a big difference from our daisy toting hippie forefathers! The song just SOUNDS rebellious and powerful. Edgey’s solo is wild and loud. It’s a face-melter, bro. That’s all there is to it If there is one thing (and there is by far NOT.) The Last Internationale is good at, it’s sounding rebellious.

   Battleground is a huge change from the sick riffs and head banging jams of before. I don’t mean this in a bad way at all, but if there was any song that ended up on the top 40, it would be this one.

 I say that with the ignorant masses that create the top 40 in mind. This song could sound pop-ey if it was taken out of context… As Radio often does. It is an emotional Electric-Acoustic. Hold your ground here, people. Literally. Delila shows off her pipes here for sure. This song is one of those jams that you just have to get people together for. It requires companionship. It brings even I, the well-known introvert, out to see the world. It is a happy song. This might return us to our hippie forefathers by the sense of unity the song projects.

   Now we have a Cover on our hands! Baby It’s You is a cover of the Shirelles 1961 tune, but you might know it by The Beatles or Smith. A great song to follow Battleground up with. Come on now, You can’t even tell it’s a 60s cover! They put their mark on it for sure. It belongs to 2014 now! Rock organ, a sick beat, those vocals, what more do you want from this thing! Not a headbanger, but for sure this is a hip shaker!

   Track seven is Devil’s Dust. A bluesy folk tune here. Coming from an old Coal Town, You hear the stories. You could work an entire lifetime and still die in the same old camp. You work hard, you break down for what you want and need, but the company never seems to have enough to go around. I think back to the Ludlow Massacre here. 35 miles from here is the site, and you can only think about how many people died for wanting more for themselves. That’s what it is. Uncertainty in this life. This song is still heartfelt and brilliantly gorgeous in its hopefulness   

   I’ll Be Alright. Another one I remember from the show. It’s slow, it’s quiet. I love the tone of the guitar here. Everything comes together perfectly to create the feeling of a wandering soul. The vocals fly above everything else here. It is light-hearted and free, even though the subject matter is dark. It is the type of freedom that doesn’t come without sacrifice and hardship. You’ll be ok on the other side.

   Let’s rock back on over to the blues here, because that is what Fire is. Prisons, railroads, jail, that’s where you are here. And you thought the Blues were dead. Nothing captures the angst, sorrow, and raw emotion quite like the Blues. Fire is emotional. You can whisper it, you can scream it, and it will never lose its power and will. You feel it.it is a simple song that just wraps it all together to form something new to our generation: The Blues. What is this thing you speak of?

   This is another from the show that stuck out. A terrific dedication was given to those of the Jefferson County High Schools, who staged walkouts due to curriculum that would force patriotism and fight civil disobedience. Irony, Far out, man. Along with this great tribute was Edgey. “We won’t stop until Capitalism is abolished!” Hell yeah dude! Opening bands usually don’t have balls because they are on egg shells, but, hell, I screamed.

   So, back to the tunes in less than 60 seconds! Back to the Revolution here! This song has fight here! The kind of thing that grabs you by the wingding. We won’t be trapped by the false ideals that are forced down on us! We have to be the change we want in the world! Here we get back to the likes of Life, Liberty, and We Will Reign. 1968 is a reprise for the tales of the Revolution. The drums got my attention here. I love the fanfare that rests on the bridges. A pretty bangin way to end the album here! You want more after that.

   I was glad that I went and got that Album. I lived meeting Edgey and Delila. They were the nicest, down to earth guys. They were willing to hug us greaseball rock fans, after all... which is the grossest and coolest thing you can do, really. I have that CD for practical use (I have it in my purse right now… Can’t do that with a Record!) and my treasured signed Vinyl hanging on the wall in a dollar store frame, right next to my guitars and poster of Jimi.

   Thank you guys for bringing true rock to us, and I want to see you guys get somewhere! You are the Voice of the Revolution. Best album I’ve heard that has come out in my lifetime.

   -Cheyenne Kline; Photos Courtesy of www.facebook.com/thelastinternationale
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