HED p.e.
are Back: Can't Silence the Voice of a Rebel
By Kim George
Hide your daughters.
HED p.e. are back…this time with a new
line-up, new label, new album and…uncensored.
2004 was the year of change for the Huntington
Beach, Cali band HED p.e. -professionally, personally and artistically.
They officially parted ways with their label of six years, JIVE RECORDS,
and replaced its guitar players and original drummer.
HED were quickly picked up by indie giant,
KOCH RECORDS and newcomers JAXON (guitars) and MOKE (formerly of the hard
rock band OTEP), joined the HED fold. These positive changes restored
some lost energy within HED and also gave the music a crisp perspective
and a fresh, new start.
Along with this newfound freedom, HED frontman,
Jahred, had time to nurture material he previously wrote for a side project
of his (that never materialized as a band) dubbed FENIX JONES. The
material Jahred created for FENIX JONES became what HED p.e. fans know
today as the highly anticipated new HED CD, Only in Amerika (also
known as “OIA”), which is scheduled to drop in stores February 22, 2005.
The union between HED p.e. and KOCH RECORDS
is one that fits like a glove…and it made perfect sense. Concurs Jahred
“I'm excited because I have the artistic freedom to do and say whatever
the fuck I want. This upcoming release is going to be all me because I
don't have any dude in a suit and tie cracking the whip, telling me what
to say and how to sing, shit like that. It’s nice to be at a label that
supports my vision, and my fucking rights under the first amendment!"
The production on HED’s fourth CD Only
in Amerika was swift and painless, albeit a bit of a budget shock from
what the band was accustom to on a major label. States Jahred “The new
CD was recorded true punk rock style. The only studio we used was to record
the drums. I recorded parts of the new album in my apartment and so did
the rest of the band. I mixed the CD myself in my living room. It made
my head spin, but I loved it!!”
Only in Amerika is comprised of
thirteen solid tracks. The intro “Foreplay” does just that --- it warms
the listener up for the rest of the CD, which is nothing short of a perfect
blend of hip-hop, crunk, punk and metal.
Fans of BROKE will get down with the tongue-in
cheek hip-hop joints like “Represent,” “War,” “C.B.C.,” “Voices,” “Wake
Up” and “Raise Hell," whereas the punk soldiers in the pit will gravitate
toward the heavier tracks like “The Truth,” “Chicken” and “Not Ded Yet.”
 One
thing is for certain: The new CD is not for the uptight, serious and easily
offended. The lyrical content of the new HED CD makes a whorehouse
look like a day in Catholic School. Only in Amerika addresses everything
from masturbation, underage sex and bondage. Jahred doesn’t stop there;
he rags on corporate rock, the FCC and censorship.
If Only in Amerika sparks controversy,
so be it; Jahred welcomes it. He interjects “Nobody gets that there is
a lot of humor in our songs, as well as a lot of anger. I love women, and
I think that our fans understand that. But it’s also important for me to
try and get people to wake up and reject all the corporate bullshit that
is shoved down everyone’s throat. And that what this album and our upcoming
tour is all about.”
Get ready to witness the power of hardcore.
CD Info
HED p.e.
– Only in Amerika
Label: Koch
Want More ?
About the author: Kim
George is a longtime antiMusic Network contributor and author of the new
official HED p.e. bio
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