Album Notes

Amadán is an Irish-Gaelic colloquialism for fool or idiot, and a Pacific Northwestern colloquialism for the Irish punkrock institution that attacks the senses from all six sides and routinely orchestrates chaos out of throngs of expectant fans.

Victory. Weird word. Victory has the tendency to conjure up images of streets lined with throngs of grateful, flag-waving civilians or smoldering hills occupied by clusters of ragged, battle-weary soldiers. This is, however, not the term's only derivation. Slightly contrived, victory implies a completed step in a process, success in an endeavor, or mastery of a piece of a puzzle. Victory, interpreted this way, indicates a new beginning, a tying-up of loose ends, and the start of the next challenge. Victory is not just surviving a Monday's work, but leaving for the day having done it well. Victory is that feeling after your third punk rock show ever-emerging shirtless and sweaty onto the street at two in the morning-with a lifetime of shows to come. Victory is punching the starter with greasy, busted knuckles and finally hearing the bike roar to life. Victory is getting your degree and anticipating the next step. Victory is moving away from home. Victory is turning a page in your life and taking a chance on anything to escape oppression of any kind. Victory is the period at the end of a sentence, the approach before the climb, the taste of blood before you swing back. We, for six, have been on this edge for the last two years: professionally, personally, and recreationally. These twelve songs, were, for the most part, written since Sons of Liberty was released, and this album has given us a chance to not merely stretch our arms and play to the breadth of our abilities, but also to document the last several years of our lives. This album does not have a militant theme, nor is it a nod to current American politics-if anything, it's a stab at them. This album is not idealistic, it's realistic. This album is a personal statement. It's about taking challenge, oppression, and adversity head-on. With Hell-Bent 4 Victory!, we create an opportunity to represent (as accurately as is possible) the integrity, chaos, diversity, musicality, and energy that defines our live shows. On Hell-Bent 4 Victory!, we can rest for a moment, turn the proverbial page, and look to impending personal and professional battles. Of Hell-Bent 4 Victory!, we say simply this: Come on in. The troops are restless...