The Men - “Bataille” from Leave Home
I’ve always appreciated punk bands that push the boundaries of the genre, while retaining the raw urgency that still make it so appealing to me as I wade in the twilight of my 20’s. Though I never cared much for Fucked Up, I was (and still am) excited by the way they continue to push the envelope and challenge their fan base both new and old. I get a similar vibe from The Men. Not so much in that they are trying to push buttons and leave people guessing what their next move will be, but that their evolution from writing noisy, blown out hc/punk songs into writing complex kraut-heavy punk songs was almost a given.
“Bataille” was the first song that surfaced from The Men’s Sacred Bones debut and while not as raging as some of the other tracks on the record, it has a super catchy riff that reminds me of something John Reis would have written. They don’t delve too deep into psych territory here, but there are leanings that indicate the possibility further into the record.
This is a great song. Definitely one of the finest on an excellent record. I can’t wait to get a real copy.
