Conflict - To A Nation Of Animal Lovers

CONFLICT -

TO A NATION OF ANIMAL LOVERS

Concerning itself also with the issues of animal rights and vegetarianism was the next 7" single release by Conflict on the Corpus Christie label, which found them finally coming into their own on both a musical and ideological level. With the added bonus of Steve Ignorant on shared vocals, To A Nation Of Animal Lovers was Conflict fulfilling all their earlier promise of being a uniquely important Punk band.

Containing three tracks, the first - entitled Berkshire Cunt - was almost typical blazing Conflict fare but enhanced ten-fold by the addition of Steve Ignorant whose voice when joined with Colin Jerwood's worked amazingly well. Spitting out the words at breakneck speed, taking turns with each verse then coming together for the chorus, the twin vocals delivered a thought-provoking description of the 'art' of fox hunting and the violent hypocrisy of those involved: "Civilised, upright citizens grin as the dog's teeth tear at shrieking skin. 'This ain't savagery, it's jolly old culture', as they stand and wait for death like vultures. She laughs at the bloody furs flying, re-applies her lipstick as the animal's crying. He claims the tail as privileged prize and kicks the mangled corpse aside."

Raining fire and fury upon the hunt participants committing murder in the name of sport, the aristocracy are named and accused of building their lives and their wealth upon a pile of bodies - "Slaughtered animals, slaughtered squaddies."

The second track, entitled Whichever Way You Want It, was Conflict bringing under control their usual storm of bluster and rage, and then riding the thunder. Led by the superb guitar playing of Kevin Webb, the noise pours out from the song like fire from a flame-thrower, kept in check by spine-tingling, piercing fret work. Elevated and pushed along by the suddenly enhanced and advanced drumming skills of Paco and complimented by the bass playing of Big John, it was the perfect vehicle for the ferocious anger of the lyrics describing and condemning the goings-on in an animal research laboratory: "While the guard stands bravely at the gate with guard dog by his side, the same breed of animal is butchered inside. What a fucking waste of money, what a fucking waste of time. A fucking waste of human knowledge, what a fucking way to die."

The third and final track, Meat Still Means Murder, revisits the song of (almost) the same name that appeared on Conflict's début album. Accompanied this time by Steve Ignorant and a near-chorus of angels, the song reiterates the heartfelt passion Conflict have for the subject of animal liberation, leaving the listener in no doubt as to their sincerity: "You moan about the seal cull, about the whale slaughter but does it really matter whether it lives on land or water? You've never had a fur coat, you think it's cruel to mink. Well how about the cow, pig, sheep? Don't they make you think? Since the day you were born you've never been told the missing link. Your blood, their blood serves the same. Serves the fucking, fucking same."

Conflict possessed a no-holds-barred, in-your-face attitude epitomised by the way they would never back down when fighting erupted at any of their gigs. This same attitude was in evidence on the sleeve of To A Nation Of Animal Lovers, where photographs of still alive animals tied-down by string with their innards hanging out were displayed in all their gory detail. And where the Subhumans on their Evolution EP had printed the addresses of where to buy cruelty-free cosmetics, Conflict not only printed the addresses of various protest groups such as the ALF who could assist in stopping animal abuse but furthermore they printed the names and addresses of people and companies directly responsible for that abuse.

Conflict had come of age.