Kalistani Major History

[Doc]

AnarchRock Debut Album hits 38 in Hot 100
"No Values" first Hardcore Punk album to chart
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 8, 5344


Sulari band AnarchRock scores highest chart position for a Hardcore Punk Record

The Sulari hardcore punk quartet AnarchRock's debut album "No Values" was the 38th most popular album in the Republic this week, according to KRTVN Radio 1's National Album Poll, which compiles various measures, including album sales, radio airplay, TV video play and streams/downloads. "According to the poll, music from 'No Values' spun more than 18,000 times this week, making it the 38th most popular album in the Republic," said Chart analyst Megan Thomas, of KRTVN Music 1.

Normally, Number 38 is really nothing to write home about. Debut albums have certainly charted higher, and even the album's label, Last Chance Records, which has specialized in niche genres and underground bands for decades have records that have made it much higher in the charts over its more than 250 year history. The amazing fact about "No Values" is that it is a hardcore punk album. No album of this subgenre have gone so high in the flagship weekly poll. "This is certainly the highest chart position for any album of the Hardcore punk genre, and certainly opens the door for other similar bands to achieve a more mainstream success in the Republic," said Thomas.

The success of "No Values" has as much to do with its nihilistic, anti-authority, pro chaos lyrics as it does with a slow but deliberate corporate reorganization at LCR that has expanded its distribution model from a sort of DIY ethic, where hand pressed EPs and Singles are sold at shows, and bootleg cassette tapes are curated for true fans into a more widescale distribution model. The change in company structure with an increased focus on national distribution allowed the punkrock soundtrack for the feature film "Kidnapped!" to become a fan favorite, which still consistently sells more than several hundred copies a month and higher than average streaming spins, even 4 years after the film's release.

"LCR has been hampered primarily by their artists," said Thomas when describing "No Values"' success. "Most bands who record for LCR want merch to sell at shows. And LCR is happy to record and press physical media for them to stock their merch tables. But that translates into hundreds or maybe a thousand records sold. It's a DIY ethic that pervades the scene, which keeps LCR making enough money to stay in business, and gives bands the freedom to set their prices and make money on their records. I think AnarchRock decided that they were sick of being hungry all the time."

Lead singer Hank Kemmerer agreed. "Did we lose some fans when we decided to stop being completely underground? Sure. But when I saw our first check from sales, I about sh-t my pants... No kidding. We talk about anti-authority and all that. But that don't mean we have to live on Ramen all the time. I mean, like rich idiots with no talent regularly sell like 50,000 records. And they suck worse than we do. That pop garbage that people in other parts of the world dig? The f--k? And those people can afford to eat three meals a day? Seriously?"

Kemmerer was explicit that the band was not selling out. "Making money to pay rent is not the same as selling out. Our next record is already being written. It's called 'Kill Landlords'. And its dedicated to all those bastards who make money off others without doing sh-t for it. We're gonna turn my apartment into a commune."

With the success of "No Values" LCR is planning to expand its footprint in Kalistan and in Northern Seleya and Western Dovani markets, to see if punk ruck can't attract new fans outside of the punk clubs and moshpits of Sulari, Dana and Kaliburg.

The first video, as such, from "No Values" is called "Your Abuse" and can be seen here.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8RJNk43ELs]