Total Chaos always came across as a band who were more concerned with the number of studded spikes in their leather jackets than finding an identity for their sound. For example, on their first two albums, they had this early
Discharge-meets-
the Exploited-meets-
Motoerhead thing going on. Then with their third record,
Anthems from the Alleyway, all of a sudden
Total Chaos turned street punk, like they wanted to be
the Business or something. Now with
In God We Kill, there's another new lineup and a new label, but it seems as if
Total Chaos couldn't decide on which musical direction they wanted to take. On some songs they're an Oi! band, on others they're an early U.K. thrash-punk outfit. But any which way you slice it, there is a thick Brit-punk influence present; lots of anti-religious, anti-nationalist, anti-fascist ramblings, but also the occasional vocal harmonies and piano incorporated here and there, which is a first for
Total Chaos. A decent effort for a band that was past their prime after their first album,
Pledge of Defiance but at least
Total Chaos are still there fulfilling that stereotype of punk rockers who scream for anarchy without doing anything about it. ~ Mike DaRonco
