Toprot ‎"Straight Outta Moerwijk" 2019***

I've said it before, I like all anarcho-punk bands, so Toprot couldn't be an exception. Granted, these young guys from The Hague got their name from a disease affecting cannabis plants and identify themselves as "drunk punk" rather than anarcho-punk, probably to avoid sounding too serious, but they're also closely tied to an anarchist squat in Den Haag Moerwijk called De Samenscholing, and engage in political activities (playing benefits in support of refugees etc). The 7' EP Straight Outta Moerwijk seems to be their first release, at least according to discogs. They sing in both English and Dutch but there is no lyrics sheet included, so I'll be damned if I know what about - other than their apparent disdain for yuppies, hippies and hipsters. I personally find the anti-hippie sentiment too 1977, even punk guru Jello Biafra now agrees that the hippie movement left an overal positive legacy. Hipsters yes, they are a modern plague. As for yuppies, before coming to The Netherlands I'd say that they were an 80's thing. In Greece wearing a suit and tie at work is like wearing a Burger King uniform, you can't wait to get rid of them. In Holland, though, young people wear their suits and ties proudly even when they're not obliged to, and actually study "finance" and "business management" by choice, not just because they suck at everything requiring a modicum of ability. Back to the album at hand, the music is your typical fast-and-furious hardcore punk: 6 songs within 10 minutes, roughly recorded and played with an amateurs' enthusiasm though not amateurishly. If you like 80's punk like Black Flag, Exploited or GBH this may be something for you - the closing tune "Shiver For Ma Livah" even has a bit of oi!-like chorus thing going. If you'd like to know more about the band, check their facebook site

*** for Against Hippies, Vies Pijn En Dronken, A.B.A.B, Vuiluh Hipsters, Die Yuppie Die, Shiver For Ma Livah