This mini LP was released in 2023 as a collaboration between Try And Stop Me Records and Mister Face Records. Intimidation is a four-piece band hailing from New Jersey and western Massachusetts, USA. They seem to come from the same tribe as bands like Violent Way, Restraining Order, Klaxon, The Stress, Maniac, or Battery March — operating somewhere on the border between Oi!, streetpunk, and hardcore. At least with Restraining Order and Maniac, there appear to be personal connections, though the exact details are unknown for me.

Intimidation’s sound will appeal to fans of tougher, ’84-style Oi! blended with hardcore elements — though it leans more toward Oi! and streetpunk overall. The vocals are raw, sometimes bordering on fast-paced recitation, particularly in the opening track Switchblade Knife —  killer song and easily the standout of the record.

The LP features six tracks in total — five original songs and one cover: Fight to Live by Blitz. Each track is well-structured and brings something slightly different. For example, the guitar solo in Hunted (On the Run) fits seamlessly into the song’s atmosphere, and the gang vocals in Total Aggression add extra punch.

Lyrically, the songs revolve around violence, misery, and the desperate realities of life — struggles against society, poverty, and hopelessness. A recurring theme is resistance against authority, particularly the police and the state.

The title Total Aggression perfectly captures the overall mood of the record. These are songs for the ones society chewed up and spat out. The energy is raw and relentless — and Switchblade Knife is a perfect anthem for channeling your rage.

TOP TRACKS: Switchblade Knife, Total Aggression

BANDCAMP: https://intimidationoi.bandcamp.com/album/total-aggression

SPOTIFY: https://1url.cz/9Jacf