The Business – Keep The Faith (Reissue and Remastered)

In the mid-90s, when a lot of the original Oi! bands had practically disappeared or changed their style, The Business really made a huge comeback with Keep The Faith, a truly hardcore street punk album that proclaimed who was the real and original working-class punk champion. Originally released in 1994 right after the band came out of a break, it reflects a moment when the band was changing but still very much keeping the edge of their previous work.

They slow down the frantic 80s Oi! pace and choose a heavier, more aggressive sort of American hardcore-inspired sound: bigger choruses, heavier guitar, rhythms that are suitable for both the terrace and the pit. The remaster here keeps that roughness but at the same time brings out the clearness. It keeps the spirit of the original recording but all the elements have been lifted into the brightest spotlight. Frankly, that's all the reasons why people love it and why it's getting more and more new fans.

The lyrics on this album are quite typical of the band: savvy to the streets, rebellious and deeply rooted in the life of the Britain's working class. Besides football songs ('Maradona' is a wild tribute/diss to the Argentine star), drinking songs and sharp social commentaries, the album features some very deeply felt moments. 'Holiday In Seattle' portrays Kurt Cobain's death as a raw, bitterly sarcastic commentary, far away from the usual punk sloganeering, it mixes a sense of compassion with that classic 'what the fuck' attitude. The songs 'Divide & Rule, ' 'Keep The Faith, ' and 'All Out' come with colossal, crowd-pleasing choruses.

The album runs for about 33-35 minutes with 13 tracks and throughout it, it does not wear out its welcome. It is a record that captures the spirit of the live show: one minute drinking songs, the other minute hardcore mosh-pit songs. Apart from celebrating the album's original qualities, this reissue also serves to introduce The Business to new generations who only know their 80s classics like Suburban Rebels or Saturday's Heroes. 

This remastered reissue would be a mistake to miss out on. No matter if you're a long-time follower or a relatively new enthusiast of street punk/Oi! Keep The Faith remains one of the most potent 90s works in the genre that shows that genuine working-class punk doesn't age, it just becomes louder.