The 1985 Listening Post - Spear of Destiny - World Service

Spear of Destiny - World Service

#317/952

August 1985

Spear of Destiny

World Service

Genre: Alternative

4 out of 5

Highlights:

Up All Night

This time around Spear of Destiny sounds like…PiL? I can’t really describe this record. I mean, I love it with all it’s percussive pounding nonsense and vocal self importance. Like the last SoD record, I am surprised that I never heard of them before AND, guess what gang? Seems like they are still recording.

Who knew?

I have no doubt that, for some people out there, Spear of Destiny is everything. They SOUND like they would be that for people. The sound of catharsis on record. 

It doesn’t always succeed (“Mickey”) but, even when it misses, it misses with aplomb and panache and bombast. 

I would have never heard Spear of Destiny were it not for this project. Or if I did it would have no context and I would not key in to what I was hearing. They are unique and special. 

 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJ7ztNazTVDXRdu8payyrdF0VSC7gipN

The 1984 Listening Post - Spear of Destiny - One Eyed Jacks

Spear of Destiny - One Eyed Jacks

#179

1984 Housekeeping

Spear of Destiny

One Eyed Jacks

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Rainmaker

Young Men

Don’t Turn Away

Liberator

That’s the great thing about this project. It isn’t about just going through the year and reviewing every record. It’s about finding the things I didn’t know existed, missed me, stuff I ignored or didn’t have the money to try. 

I loved The Alarm. How did I not hear Spear of Destiny? They take the mid-19th century American sound of conflict and somehow give it almost as much or more urgency than The Alarm or U2 and yet…where were they on this scene? This might sound weird but if Nick Cave fronted those bands it might sound a bit like this. Not in vocal style but in a heart wrenching, soul on fire way. “Turn Me Away” being the apex of this for me.

“Liberator” is what Violent Femmes’s Hallowed Ground could’ve sounded like if Gordon Gano was older and British. And that’s just side one. The second one is more reflective and less bombastic (if you can call “Playground of the Rich” anything but bombastic…) but it aims straight for the should and nails it every time. 

 I want Spear of Destiny to cover Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. And vice versa. 

This gets me right in my anarcho-patriotic heart. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJ7ztNazTVDxLeUm79DyySWabTBUh_I4