It’s safe to say that 2020 was a tough year for everyone. With the world essentially shut down trying to contain the spread of COVID-19, life got put on hold. One such even that got paused was Canadian punk band Belvedere‘s 25th anniversary as a group. All of their plans got put on hold unfortunately, but their 26th anniversary is starting off in the right direction. On May 14th, Belvedere released their sixth studio album, Hindsight is the Sixth Sense, on Thousand Islands Records.
This time around, Belvedere takes aim directly at capitalism and corporations. They don’t pull any punches either. Songs like “Good Grief Retreat” focuses on corporate greed and how the average worker is taken advantage of within the capitalist system. The song touches on all the hurdles the average worker has to overcome, and pleads for a better system to emerge, and for the workers to come together to force that change.
Lead singer Steve Rawles sings:
And we say now
It’s time we took a leap of faith
And erode their streak
No shelter anymore
With no divide, unite as peers
The corporate veil should disappear
This theme of taking things back and uniting continues on songs like “Comrade” and “Elephant March.” It’s safe to say all 13 songs on the album have a certain element of “damn the man” to them. It’s the perfect rallying cry for the oppressed and misrepresented. Speaking of “Comrade,” it’s one of the highlights of the album for me, as it features a guest appearance by Roger Lima of Less Than Jake/Rehasher fame.
In terms of lyrical content, Hindsight fits in with the likes of Propagandhi and Good Riddance’s best offerings. The pandemic, while delaying Belvedere’s anniversary, has caused a spotlight to shine on income inequality and the wage gaps in the world. What Belvedere sings about on this album was already important, but in a post-pandemic world with major job and employment concerns, Hindsight becomes that much more important.
If, for some reason, you’ve been living under a rock and aren’t familiar with Belvedere, think of them as a mixture of Propagandhi, Millencolin, and Bad Religion. Melodic hardcore punk with a political and sincere edge. Belvedere newcomers Dan Wollach and Ryan Mumby also add a new dynamic to the band’s sound. They’re definitely welcome additions to the group. There’s something in Hindsight for old fans and new fans alike. Definitely worth a listen, as the album is musically solid and (unfortunately) topical regarding the world around us today.