Somehow, there remain people who do not consider the atrocities in Palestine as a genocide. You can’t even rely on either major political party to stand up because they’re so well-funded by the occupier that they are willing to turn a blind eye and pretend it isn’t happening. It’s hardly new to Palestinians, and their perseverance carries them.
“Between the Sword and the Neck” is the fourth record from DC-based NØ MAN, and their amalgamation of punk and hardcore with a metallic edge long has roused their audience to wake up to what’s going on in this world and show resolve, or the Arabic word sumud. Vocalist Maha Shami, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, weaves in lines from some of the country’s poets, and the title is a line coined by Ghassan Kanafani, meaning the state of negotiations between oppressor (Israel) and oppressed (Palestine) and the impossibility of a true peace that’s beneficial. Joined by guitarist Matthew Michel, bassist Kevin Lamiell, and drummer Pat Broderick, Shami uses her words and delivery to light flames of rebellion, celebrate her people’s strength, and also give tribute to other major voices in the music scene. It’s a jolting piece of work landing at a most critical time.
“In Spite” opens paying homage to two powerhouse vocalists in their own rights, Kat Hidalgo of the HIRS Collective and Jenna Pup of FAIM, who both appear on the song. Screams belt and stomp, the pace bruises, and the jab of, “When the motherfuckers come to take everything, what did you say? What did you stop?” hits home. “Zoo” rips in and rampages, speed lashing, Shami wailing, “Pick a side! Work your fingers to the bone,” that aims at capitalism’s face. The power rushes melodically as the pummeling takes its toll on your chest and lungs. “Moan” is grimy as hell, vocals driving, sinking into murk that rises to your ankles, guitars slinking. The playing bursts as the atmosphere boils, the energy smearing soot in your face. “Pregnant Hearts” enters amid a thumping bass and throaty wails, Shami blasting, “Say the words, make lies true, life is death and murder means rescue.” The tempo trudges and scars hearts, feeling punchy and catchy at the same time. “They Have Names” carries a lot of weight both musically and thematically, mourning the loss of Palestinian lives during the occupation, and the last half of the track features friends and families of the fallen reading their names. It’s sobering and powerful. On the way there, the band explodes with rage and power, Shami blasting, “Butcher of Beirut doused with moral rot, heirs to war criminal cravings and imperial thought,” which is not subtle nor should it be. The darkness spreads to the end, where the tributes rise above the horror.
“Murmur” starts with static-rich beats and icy playing, howls carving with the bass trudging alongside. The playing burns into a fury, frying minds and then slowing into strange sounds causing commotion. “Run Faster” is a crusher with sludgy intent, screams belting as the intensity ramps up dangerously. “Turn a blind eye, no one will notice, look the other way, lucky to have them but I’m so fucking lonely,” Shami calls as guitars darken and the tempo wrecks, smashing everything into dust. “In Tongues” features lines from poets Kanafani, Mahmoud Darwish, and Fadwa Tuqan, as well as singing from Shami’s daughter, and it starts clean before taking on extra fuel. Screams power as the fight gains steam as Shami howls, “I’ll sing a song the dead won’t hear, set my breath on fire resurrect reappear.” The sound gets grungy as melody clouds, and the words land like lightning bolts. “ نزيف على الورق” features Shami’s mother’s voice and poetry, strengthening even more the sense of family and community bond. Guitars cloud overhead as the oncoming downpour threatens, and that comes in the form of closer “Blood and Paper” that melts into form. “You’ll hear my screams, you’ll hear my sorrows, you’re haunting me raping, stealing my wishes,” Shami fires, the playing driving, the words haunting. The band adds muscle, providing a solid foundation as Shami concludes, “They will come with glory, rise like the stars and take back what was taken from you.”
“Between the Sword and the Neck” forces you to confront violent realities, genocide, and the lived experiences of those who lived through these events. But there’s hope and honor here, which NØ MAN deliver in spades, and if you’re not on fucking fire emotionally when this one’s over, you are on the wrong side of the fence. This is righteous music for horrifying times, a show of strength and resolve that refuses to bow to the oppressor.
For more on the band, go here: https://nomanband.bandcamp.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://iodinerecords.com/products/no-man-between-the-sword-and-the-neck
For more on the label, go here: https://iodinerecords.com/
