MUSIC NEWS: Anti-Flag Release ’20/20 Vision’ Deluxe Edition & Beyond The Barricades Documentary
Anti-Flag have released a digital-only deluxe version of their twelfth album 20/20 Vision, which was released earlier this year via Spinefarm Records. Titled 20/20 Division this new version of the album features five additional tracks.
“To say this year hasn’t gone according to plan for anyone may be one of the greatest understatements of all time,” the band states. “But through it all, the sadness that overwhelms in the world during a global pandemic, the constant pain American justice systems deliver on a daily basis, and the fear that comes along with watching our planet squeezed like a lemon for profit, we must actively choose optimism over cynicism.
“It’s hard. It takes work. But if you look for it, hope is still there. In the face of neo-fascism, relentless police murder, the still-burning forests, people are becoming activated, taking note of those who perpetuate this pain, and standing on the side of freedom. This record was a warning of the path we were on — but with an underlining hope that this all could change. In an effort to continue to be a member of the countless activists, artists, and communities calling for social, racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice, we wanted to refresh our conversation with 20/20 Division and these five new songs. With the election looming, we have to remain vigilant. Voting is only a VERY SMALL act that we can participate in to reduce harm. But when partnered with strikes, boycotts, protests, and more, this is how WE WILL win and the soundtrack to it all just got a little larger.”
Alongside the release of the deluxe version of the album, Anti-Flag have also released their Beyond The Barricades: The Story Of Anti-Flag documentary. The film follows the story of the band, whilst looking into the trials and tribulations of playing politically charged music over the last 25 years. It also features interviews with the band and contemporaries including Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Billy Bragg, Greg Barnett (The Menzingers) and more to tell the story of Anti-Flag.
“It’s hard to sum up the life of a band in an hour and a half,” says frontman Justin Sane. “We started Anti-Flag out of a passion for punk rock with the belief that punk music had the power to change people’s lives and have a positive impact on the world. With this documentary, we hope people will see that while life may not be as straightforward as that idealistic philosophy, it isn’t so far from the truth, either. Regardless of what others take from Beyond The Barricades, for us, the experience of looking back on the history of Anti-Flag — sometimes good, sometimes bad, and sometimes unbelievable — leaves us grateful to have had the opportunity to live a very rare and at times extraordinary life as part of this punk rock band.” Now available on Vimeo and Amazon, fans can purchase a DVD version from HERE ahead of its release on 6th November 2020.
You can stream Anti-Flag’s album 20/20 Division HERE.
