Whetting The Scythe

Kraut rubbed a lot of people the wrong way when they came out. Perhaps it was the associations with MTV, their being ball-washed by Steve Jones, or the fact they had names like Davey Gunner and Johnny Feedback. I don't know, but I think as fine an album as An Adjustment To Society is, their sophomore LP for major label in disguise, Enigma Records, is infinitely more interesting. Whetting The Scythe came out in 1984 to mixed feelings and critical disinterest. Well fuck you, I like this album quite a bit. Okay, probably a bad idea to start your album with a luke warm cover of the old Larry Williams hit "Slow Down," I mean the Beatles kind of fucked that one up for everyone, right? However songs like "See It Clear," "Strongest Man," and "Juvenile Justice" are pretty solid numbers that kind of show an original and mature approach to hardcore that doesn't come off as ridiculous as , say Bad Religion's attempts to "progress." You get a couple of speedy rippers in the form of "NGRI" and "Flossing With an E String," and a couple of throwaways with "New Law" and "Pyramids." The album comes to a close with "Backstabber" a more emotive, almost Post Punkish tune with some "We used to be bros and then we grew apart" type lyrics. For all their posturing early on, Whetting The Scythe feels pretty sincere, which for a young punk band on their second album, is pretty unique. I know this album will never enjoy any sort of retro-cool by any means, but I love it so and will stand by it to the bitter end, which for Kraut came soon after this release.

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