AOS3 were special. Their name comes from 4 symbols (anarchy, peace, yin & yang, ohm). They sang about socio-political conspiracies, and their mailings were signed "Adam Weishaupt" who was the founder of the Bavarian Illiuminati. This album was out of the Monmouth based Words of Warning stable (Blaggers ITA, Dub War, Gunshot, King Prawn).

This, their first album was a Ska/Punk classic when it came out in 1993, and still is. Their follow-up album ("Diversionary Tactics") was a less skank-heavy, more straight-ahead Punk effort. But for Ska loving Crusties, this album's more alternative Reggafied rhythms were genius (especially live).

The album kicks off with "Warrior Nation" which is as relevant today as it was when it was recorded, chanting as it does, about global war for multi-national corporations. Speaking of relevance, track 2 ("Bushes on the Golf Course") still raises a chuckle ("transatlantic emergency lights the white house telephone, but Bush is on the golf course stoned out of his mind"). "Scary times are never Dull" is another album highlight with it's rocksteady Ska bite that just makes you want to dance. And don't get me started on the dubbed up indignance of "I never knew there was so much in it" for dance along catchiness.

This album is still available on CD from http://www.wordsofwarning.com/ for the knockdown bargain price of £3.80 incl. P+P. So if you like your Ska with an adventurous and conscious edge, what you waiting for....?

9/10 in 1993, 9/10 in 2005

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