While some punk bands cover current world affairs — like, say, Iran’s Islamic fundamentalism — in their topical onslaught, only this powerful San Antonio hardcore outfit can lay claim to an actual Iranian (along with two former Butthole Surfers) in its lineup. The 7-inch EP offers such topical tone poems as “Blow Up the Embassy.” Die for Allah (the cover of which represents Ayatollah Khomeini) boasts such blistering speed tunes as “Life Inside Iran,” “Iranians on Bikes,” “Die for Allah” and “Chant,” which is recited in Farsi.
In danger of running their joke into the desert sand, the Fearless ones broaden their horizons a little on Holy War. So while “Faction,” the anti-Iraqi “All in a Day’s Work,” “Kneel to No One” and the title track continue the frenzy of fanatical nationalism (just how serious are these guys?), other songs (“Burn the Books,” “Dogsperm”) hie to more familiar hardcore concerns. In any case, the noisy playing is first-rate punk.
Relegating the late Iranian leader to a dignified back cover portrait but dedicating the album to him, FIFH sharpens its political focus on the metal-geared Foolish Americans, attacking Salman Rushdie, George Bush and Americans (for looking down at Iran).
In 2002, by which time such sentiments as “Die for Allah,” “A Martyr in Every Home” and “Pushing Armageddon” had taken on a lot more consequence for Americans, Boner packaged the band’s three longplayers onto a single CD — 30 tracks in all.