Contributed by Jonny Collins
Oh boy, I did not want to go with this theme, but I really could not ignore it. Following a horrific terrorist attack by Hamas, the IDF has been vindicated to commit war crimes and genocide against innocent Palestinian citizens in lands Israel is illegally occupying, our own senior politicians here and the US are refusing to condemn the actions of the Israeli government or call for a ceasefire, and even being complicit in the horrific human rights abuses and gruesome deaths by profiting off of the arming of the IDF to aid in committing these horrific acts.
And all while that’s going on, British Jewish people and Muslims are being subject to horrific abuse and hate crimes locally. The Tories are loving having this additional culture war facet to mobilize their fanatic supporters, while Keir Starmer refuses to take a stand for peace, going so far as to suspend Labour politicians attending and calling for peace at Free Palestine rallies.
This fucking sucks for everyone. What we’ve got now is essentially a proxy war between the US and Iran, Antisemitism being both weaponised as a culture war by a party who themselves have been elevating one of the most hateful bigoted politicians in a party characterised by hateful bigotry – and also a very real threat for British Jewish people facing violence and vandalism as a result of what Israeli politicians and military forces are doing. Jewish people are being used as a political football whilst innocent Israeli and Palestinian citizens are being slaughtered in record high numbers for a war that benefits no one except a select group of rich politicians. This whole situation is depressing as it is horrifying, and not exactly my lane to talk about, but also not something I feel comfortable staying silent about either.
There is no route to peace without Israel leaving their illegally occupied Palestinian land. There is also nothing to be achieved from allowing the antisemites to co-opt any of the free Palestine movements.
At the heart of all this is the suffering and abuse of human life, both in the middle of the warzones and by a culture war designed to rile up hatred between groups of people who I guarantee have more in common with each other than the people dictating these wars and acts of terror against innocent civilians.
So it is for that reason that I have gone for a playlist theme of Ceasefire and Peace – reprising anti-war sentiments, anti-occupation, anti-genocide, anti-apartheid, pro humanitarianism, and the like, not exclusively about the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the terrorism of Hamas and the IDF, although that is currently the largest and most horrifying example that inspires this much needed voice calling for peace, ceasefires, and an end to violence.
You can listen to the playlist in the following places, and I’ve included Bandcamp links where applicable should you wish to buy music direct. If not included, most of them can be found on Amazon Music or iTunes, should you wish to more actively support the artist than just through the exploitation that is the streaming industry.
- Deezer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTOOX3eYnLM
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6nM7GasjM1rMiQhpoyIBGA?si=1cf085ccb5814cba
- Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/da006877-d342-4570-b726-68f063ae9f3b
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGv_OFvoeqQvCdl0Q9fv9-jjykvqjRkqa
And if you want to read more of my thoughts about the choices read on:
1: Border Ctrl – 47SOUL ft. Shadia Mansour & Fedzilla
Semitics – 2020 – Electronic
https://47soul.bandcamp.com/album/semitics
“This border control
Contesting our soul
Taking its toll on us all
We gonna dissolve
This Mexico Bethlehem wall
If you hear us heed the call”
Starting off with a new band to me – the Palestinian/Jordanian collective blur hip-hop and electro with traditional Middle Eastern sounds and instrumentation to create a genre dubbed “Shamstep”. And this collaboration with Shadia Mansour & Fedzilla is all about the similarities between the plights of Palestine and South America from the oppression faced from Israel and the US alike.
The details are distinct and have their own nuances, but really Occupation is occupation, war is war, and whilst what’s happening to the Palestinians is uniquely extreme, record breakingly fatal, and has been going on for the best part of a century at this point, this kind of thing is happening in so many other places, and has done for centuries, and will likely continue to do so far into the future.
This sense of solidarity in that chorus “We gonna dissolve this Mexico Bethlehem wall, if you hear us heed the call” is such a powerful quote, and the sorrow filled pleading dirge of this song cuts deep. It’s like all good protest songs, encapsulating the severity of the subject of the protest, with just enough hope and motivation to call for solidarity and support in the face of an overwhelming force of, let’s not mince words, evil. It was Evil when the US used 9/11 as pretence to commit atrocities in Iran and Afghanistan, and it is evil now what the Israeli government is doing using an awful terrorist attack against them to enact Palestinian genocide.
So yeah, we love to hear this solidarity, and the stylistic blend is so gripping, definitely give em a listen.
2: Beds are Burning – Midnight Oil
Diesel And Dust – 1987 – New Wave
“The time has come, a fact’s a fact
It belongs to them, let’s give it back”
Next up is this 80s classic from Midnight Oil. I started listening to this song last year when I found a cover of it that I didn’t realize was a cover, and with minimal aesthetic changes, it easily sounds like a more modern alternative/post-punk political protest song. It’s definitely got 80s vibes but is kind of timeless too. (Which isn’t necessarily a great thing as it means we’ve hardly addressed any global issues for the last nearly 40 years, but y’know.)
Beds are Burning is actually written about Aboriginal tribes routinely being forced from their lands and their living standards being abysmal due to the treatment by the Australian government.
Whilst about Australia specifically, this is applicable to really any victims of settler-colonialism, certainly the US and Canada, and not at all dissimilar from the current situation in Palestine.
“It belongs to them, Let’s give it back”
“How do we sleep when our beds are burning”
“The time has come, to say fair’s fair, to pay the rent, to pay our share”
This is one of the most powerful songs from a privileged point of view about reparations of generations of settlers for the Native people of a land I’ve ever heard. And not to give fellow white people too much credit for doing what the colonised people have been saying and fighting for generations – but it is super important for people with that privilege and especially platform to be using their voices to amplify these calls, and Midnight Oil have been doing that, and calling out other atrocities and horrible political figures for decades now.
Seriously very underappreciated band with a cool back catalogue and seem genuinely pretty cool guys. If you like the New Wave sound with punk sensibilities in the songwriting and these guys aren’t on your radar, give ’em a listen.
3: White People for Peace – Against Me!
New Wave – 2007 – Punk
“Sirens filled the air, and the ground shook with war
Civilian casualties has been a cost that was predetermined
When interviewed for report, victims pleaded in frustration
Their claim, that this was a war without reason
And bureaucrats engaged in debate to try and reach a resolution”
This is a reprise from my anti-war playlist following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, and it’s just such a relatable song – encapsulating the futilities of protest music when lives are being sacrificed for no real reason on an hourly basis. Bureaucracy protecting corrupt powers and those with vested interests in the continuation of the conflict from facing any accountability or anyone making any viable changes or solutions.
Laura has really nailed once again the despair yet driving urge to do something, anything, singing out despite knowing its impact will be next to nothing, whilst there’s so little power we have in this moment to do anything, but being compelled to scream and try anything you can anyway.
Laura is such an emotive songwriter and performer, making bold statements in very few words, and this song is no exception.
4: Bulls On Parade – Rage Against The Machine
Evil Empire – 1996 – Funk Metal
“Weapons, not food, not homes, not shoes
Not need, just feed the war cannibal animal”
The band who needs no introduction – there are few themes where Rage don’t have you covered with at least one song. Bulls on Parade is possibly one of the best tracks and yet still underrated.
Heavy funky guitar work from Tom Morello as always, and Zack kills his verses with aggressive takedown of the desires to kill and conquer for their own gain that is present in the vast majority of our world leaders to a greater or lesser extent.
They work so damn well together for one of the most tightly written anti-war leader callout anthems that we’ll likely ever here. Incredible stuff, one of the best bands in the world.
5: No Fuckin’ War – Dicks
Peace? – 1984 – Hardcore
“Well are you ready for the army to rule your life?
Become a part of this depressing military might?”
I like Dicks. They’re a good band. I feel like this one speaks for itself, fairly unambiguously tired of constant wars and having their people used to slaughter others for the benefit of nobody but the decision makers more often than not safe and protected more than the people forced on the frontlines and kill for them.
The tone does not pull punches here. It’s slow but heavy, loud and strong, and very explicit in its views. We don’t want No Fuckin’ War
6: Too Many Puppies – Primus
Frizzle Fry – 1990 – Funk Metal
“Too many puppies are being shot in the dark
Too many puppies are trained not to bark
At the sight of blood that must be spilled
so that we may maintain our oil fields”
I think it’s time to admit that I might actually be a Primus fan. This is one of the songs that really put them on the map in their early days, a harsh critique of war and how soldiers are used as puppets to kill so that nations can make themselves richer off of oil.
Borrowing from great anti wars song past such as Pink Floyds “Dogs of War” with the puppy imagery being both a tweak on the word “Puppets” and also painting the hundreds of thousands of dead people as puppies as frankly that image is more jarring to most people than dead people. This song is very Primus, the riffs go fucking hard, almost like if Red Hot Chili Peppers decide to be more like Korn, except much better than both of those bands.
You can see the influence of their riff work on the alternative music of the 90s, and honestly, I don’t think anyone’s done it as well as they have. With the possible exception of Rage, who are I think sonically distinct enough to fall into their own category despite some crossovers stylistically.
It’s also another song that’s kept itself very heavy but at a marching pace, not too fast, mimicking soldier’s marches and hammering home the horrors of what these “puppies” are doing to others and having done to them. Everything about this song is carefully crafted to drive home its message and few can match their impassioned disdain present in this track.
7: Wasted Life – Stiff Little Fingers
Inflammable Material – 1979 – Punk
“Stuff their fucking armies
Killing isn’t my idea of fun”
Yeah, there’s gonna be a couple of Irish songs on here too (see if you can guess what the second one is). Stiff Little Fingers are one of the best at what they do, politically charged Irish punk, raw production that captures the vibe but also still good enough to showcase the melody and hooks without compromise.
Whether wars motivated by religion, commodities, or plain evil, this track stands up to all of them and serves as a raw and authentic tirade against them. Essential Punk classic here.
8: War – Linkin Park
The Hunting Party – 2014 – Alternative Rock
“Victory decides who’s wrong or right
It will not cease
Only grow
You better be prepared to fight
And it will not apologize
For laying down your life”
Linkin Park’s penultimate album is a fun mix of the alternative Metal that made them famous, collaborative and more pop oriented songwriting that kept them relevant and a legendary name throughout their career that was tragically cut short, and still a hotbed for experimentation and exploration into styles they were lacking. War is a straight-out punk track. Just crossing the 2-minute mark and jam packed full of commentary about the nature and impacts of war on a people.
Linkin Park tends to be a more introspective band, but on this one they don’t hold back and honestly go toe-to-toe with many of the punk greats.
Excellent riff work, Chester really nails the vocal balance of more distorted screaming and yelling and pitch perfect notes that categorize his works and make him one of the most versatile and perfect vocalists we ever had the pleasure to release music for us to help shape our lives and provide comfort in the darkest times.
If you’re still dismissing Linkin Park as a joke band in 2023 and making jokes about the formula of Hybrid Theory and Meteora, you are missing out on a whole heap of cultural brilliance that is the entire works of this band. So huge, yet still underrated, and this track is a perfect fit for this list.
9: Zero Sum – Nine Inch Nails
Year Zero – 2007 – Industrial
“Shame on us, doomed from the start
God have mercy on our dirty little hearts
Shame on us, for all we’ve done
And all we ever were
Just zeros and ones”
Probably the weirdest song on this list, in true form for Nine Inch Nails – whether this can be described as music, or an ambient soundscape underneath poetry is debatable. But what isn’t is its raw power, and the understated ambient backdrop enhances the atmosphere and meaning of the lyrics tenfold.
“Zero Sum” refers to the mathematical theory of Zero-Sum games, which dictate that one person wins everyone else loses and the combined value of the losses are exactly in proportion to the win. Therefore, nothing is ever actually achieved in this game, and wars are a prime example of these games.
Zero Sum describes an apocalypse, vague about whether divine retribution or human-triggered – but either way it feels very pertinent with the acceleration of violence and destruction these last few years. The end result is the same, whoever “wins” whatever war they are waging, humanity loses. It is a futile activity that is arguably not even a zero-sum game, as the losses if anything outweigh any gains. I’m not going to pretend to know the specifics needed to resolve any of the conflicts waging around the world today – but I can guarantee a ceasefire is absolutely essential in that resolution. Israel need to withdraw from Gaza, and only then is there any hope to work towards an actual resolution that doesn’t lose more lives than it saves.
10: Our Solemn Hour – Within Temptation
The Heart of Everything – 2007 – Symphonic Metal
“If we can’t restrain the beast which dwells inside
It will find its way somehow somewhere in time
Will we remember all of the suffering
‘Cause if we fail it will be in vain”
I’ve actually never quite got Within Temptation in the past. Whilst I love dramatic symphonic metal as much as the next dramatic goth – they just never quite clicked for me.
That being said, this is the first song I’ve heard by them where all the pieces fit, and I love what they’ve done with it. Our Solemn Hour is loud, bombastic, dramatic, emotive, and arranged to perfection, with symphonic backing being an incredible tool to convey the solemnity of the hour in question. The solemn hour actually comes from a Churchill Speech when he became Prime Minister in the heart of the second world war, in case there was any ambiguity as to what this was referring to.
The song then kicks into the familiar themes of horror and futility that indefinite wartimes inflict on a people. It is simultaneously a battle cry, as well in acknowledgement to their own failures, and how important learning from past mistakes should be to prevent suffering like this occurring again. (Spoiler alert, we didn’t learn and it’s still happening.)
“Can we break free from the chains of never-ending agony?” is a great closer to the chorus. These restrictive chains, these endless cycles, they need to be broken, insurmountable a task though that may be. And this genre and this artist really do put the Solemnity appropriate into this dirge, making them a perfect band for this mood and theming.
11: War Pigs – Black Sabbath
Paranoid – 1970 – Heavy Metal
“Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor.“
What more is there to say about War Pigs? A timeless anti-war anthem, this year covered by T-Pain, of all people, and actually that cover is brilliant and very nearly made the playlist over the original. It retains the raw heaviness, but the vocals have a booster injection of soul emoting in a way that Ozzy, groundbreaking though he was, would’ve been incapable of lending to this song.
Both versions are great. I went for the original just to maintain some credibility with the 2 people who occasionally read these things, and also because credit where it’s due, Black Sabbath, heavy metal pioneers and horror fanatics crafted a lyrical tone perfect for the subject matter. This masterpiece features some timeless riff work from the strings, a satisfying driving drumbeat, and clearly concise lyrics calling out politicians waging wars for profit and sending their own impoverished citizens to die for them. A sentiment that has been expressed multiple times in Metal since, and being an early example of Metal’s power to make impactful statements when it wants to, and my god they clearly did.
12: How Many Tears – Halloween
Walls of Jericho – 1985 – Power Metal
“So, stand up for our human rights
Push back this pest of hate
Raise you voice pass on the light
Unite! It’s not too late.”
Germany is another place that appears frequently when looking for anti-war songs, I wonder why?
Halloween are another band who only occasionally click for me. Generally it’s their later stuff that I vibe with more, but this long Power Metal ballad on their debut, shaky production aside, is on par with their very best later output. I don’t know enough about this bands fanbase to know if that’s a hot take or not, but I’m sure I’ll find out if it is soon enough after posting this.
This song definitely focuses more on the melody and instrumentation, being actually quite lyrically short, and not the best English. But the message of humanitarianism, anti-hate, a desire to end cruelty and violence, asking how many tears need to be shed, how many lives need to be lost before we can stop this madness.
It’s a very earnest song, which doesn’t always seem to be the case with this genre, but when it is, and you can look past the cheese, what you have is an incredible Metal masterpiece worthy of being in conversation with War Pigs when talking about songs of this theme.
And it’s not often I can unironically include Power Metal songs in these playlists, so I’ma do my best when I can.
13: Shellfire Defense – Sodom
Better Off Dead – 1990 – Thrash Metal
“Prevent agreements between nations, no democracy but more genocide”
Another Germany based band, this time the thrash metallers known as Sodom. Thrash is a brilliant genre for showcasing the brutality and horror of War. Sodom write about this subject a lot as clearly, they have seen the impact it can have on a nation, even decades after the fact.
Shellfire Defense utilises the genre’s machine gun approach to riffs and rhythm to great effect here as they condemn the genocidal death brought about by warring nations unable or unwilling to use diplomacy to come to an agreement.
This should never be an option, it should never come to this, and the fact it does so often, and we keep letting it is disgusting.
14: Fixed Frequencies – Propagandhi
Potemkin City Limits – 2016 – Punk
https://Propagandhi.bandcamp.com/album/potemkin-city-limits-2
“Don’t lecture me about plundered soil
While you loaf upon your father’s spoils
We want nothing more than what you already have”
Getting onto the last 4 now – I always try and save my favourites for the very end. Fixed Frequencies is one of the few examples of western Punk bands tackling Israel and Palestine publicly, and doing it incredibly well.
They’re an outspoken opponent of the Israeli apartheid state specifically, and its occupation of Palestinian lands, and this band very creatively uses a Zionist POV to call out hypocrisy of North Americans criticizing Israel from their own settler-colonial state. This is incredibly clever as it not only illustrates what the Israeli state is doing is horrible and inhumane, but also the complicity and benefits many of us reap from our own homes in colonised states, and the only thing missing is that Zionists don’t have the same mythos and accepted propaganda to justify their invasion and occupation of stolen land and more importantly the people it displaces and murders.
Not the easiest song to listen to, but a very important one, calling out colonialism wherever it happens, and the parallels between them all. A crime committed in many places at many different times, yet so alike in their destruction, segregation and genocide.
15: Zombie – The Cranberries
No need to Argue – 1994 – Alternative Rock
“It’s the same old theme, since 1916
In your head, in your head they’re still fighting
With their tanks and their bombs, and their bombs and their guns
In your head, in your head they are dying”
I feel like everyone saw this coming. This is the song of the Irish troubles, the mournful grungy tones of The Cranberries reflecting on the death and destruction this seemingly endless and unresolvable conflict is causing on everything around them.
At the heart of all these conflicts is an unacceptable human cost, and it happens time and time again, and it is well documented not just in songs like these how utterly heart shattering that feels to be stuck in the middle of. Another short song lyrically, but not a single word is wasted, and the composition is perfectly arranged for the unique tone its created.
(12tone has done a deep dissection of how the music works to drive the message home as well if you’re interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY8U6imi7F4)
I’m not a music theory expert so if I repeat what he says, I’ll butcher them, but if you want to get a deeper understanding of just why this song and its message are so immortal that’s a good place to start.
16: Mutiny in the Common Soldiery – The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing
This may be the reason why The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing Cannot be killed by Conventional Weapons – 2012 – Crust Punk
“I’ve got more in common with the bugger on my bayonet
Than the toff who’s telling me to stick it in his guts”
The penultimate song is one of my favourite war songs of all time, and it focuses entirely on the working classes who are used by politicians and world leaders to further their own vested interest at no regard to their own life.
Mutiny in the Common Soldiery starts by satirizing the hypocrisy of the Church condemning murder but waging holy wars full of them in the name of God, then details a soldier’s tale of being made to fight and commit horrible acts, before breaking and turning on his commander upon realizing that his real enemy are the people making him kill.
The repeated two-line chorus is so powerful and such an important point to remember throughout all this. Every single citizen of Israel and Palestine, indeed every single citizen in any waring faction has more in common with one another than they do for their elected politicians, monarchs, commanders, leaders, etc.
Never forget who your real enemy is. If in doubt, chances are, it’s the people asking you to kill and commit human rights abuses on their behalf.
17: Stalemate – Enter Shikari
A Flash Flood of Colour – 2012 – Electronicore
“Money is made while bombs are dropping in Afghanistan
And white phosphorous falls in Palestine
Pouring weapons out at a reckless pace
Arming anyone who wants a taste of disgrace”
And finally, wrapping up with a song from my favourite album that I nearly forgot until the very last minute. A Flash Flood of Colour is in many ways the album that radicalised me. It was my first exposure to unapologetically political lyrics in alternative music (at least knowingly) – and I fell in love with it immediately. The creative blending of post-hardcore guitars and vocals with drum and bass and the newly emerging dubstep to create an unforgettably heavy album in every sense of the word.
Stalemate, similar to Zero Sum actually, uses the concept of Stalemate – i.e. a state in which nobody can win – to reflect on war, destruction, genocide, and how it enriches the richest people of our society whilst feeding into an ever impenetrable endless cycle of hate and violence that will just make those few even richer and richer.
This softer Shikari song has a slow build, despair tinged with hope chorus, and lyrics that cut straight to the point without any innuendo.
We’ve been in stalemate for a long time now, humanity keeps losing, surely it is not worth the richest 0.01% profiting more off of war bonds and arms sales, profiting off of the efficiency of mass murder and genocide.
There’s the playlist, which was difficult to write, and probably to read as well, so well done if you made it this far, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it.
If there is a throughline to this playlist, is that the enemy is not who you think it is. The real enemies are the people who want to make damn sure you think the enemy is more people like you, rather than them. Free Palestine don’t use or allow antisemitism in an attempt to achieve that goal as that does not help anyone, and join the calls for a ceasefire today. Too much life has been lost, too much blood has spilled already. This needs to end, it needed to end a long time ago.
Usually I promote upcoming shows at the end here, and I will still do that. But over the past few weeks, we have been donating funds to the British Red Cross Gaza appeal, who are doing incredible on the ground work to protect and help the most directly impacted people and, once we get a ceasefire, will be instrumental to rebuilding and healing the wounded of both nations. If you’d like to donate as well, you can do so here: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territory-appeal#form-donate-module
I will still promote our upcoming shows as if you’re reading this far you probably like what we do and will want to see something a bit more light hearted – all of our upcoming live shows can be found here: https://www.outsavvy.com/organiser/blizzard-comedy
And if you’re not Manchester based, or are otherwise unable to get to any of our live shows: Follow us on Twitch.tv/blizzardcomedy and @BlizzardComedyChannel on YouTube to see our past, present and future Live streams, including recordings from our live shows.
