Upinatem - "Democracide" CD

1. No Longer Relevant
2. A More Deserving Place
3. Screwed In The Worst Way
4. PNAC's Bitches
5. Government's The Problem
6. We Remain Unimpressed
7. Dick Cheney's Audacity
8. Circling The Drain
9. Loyal Bushies
10. I Doubt Your Commitment To Sparkle Motion
11. Democracide

Released on December 19, 2008, Democracide is a fiery punk record from Boise’s long-running trio Upinatem and issued through 1332 Records. A band that first formed in 1995, Upinatem harnesses the raw energy of the skate-punk scene and channels it into a tight, politically charged 24-minute ride. The album strikes fast and doesn’t wait for anyone to catch up. Stylistically, Democracide comes charging out of the gate with fast, no-frills hardcore punk, lean, aggressive, and totally unapologetic. 

That distinction, singing over screaming, sets the band apart, giving their messages greater clarity and staying power without softening their edge. There's a melodic accessibility woven into the chaos, but the intensity never wanes.

The themes explored across Democracide are deeply political and rooted in outrage.  These are protest songs, built for confrontation. Rather than wallow in vague political frustration, Upinatem names names and pulls no punches. They call out neoconservatism, American imperialism, and the commodification of democracy itself. Yet, the delivery isn’t didactic or preachy. It’s honest, urgent, and fiercely grounded in punk’s DIY ethos. The band seems to say: “If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.”

Despite its brevity, Democracide makes a lasting impact. Some listeners may wish for a longer runtime or more variation across tracks, but the focused nature of the album is part of its strength. It’s not meant to meander. It’s meant to punch you in the face, wake you up, and then leave you reeling. The production is stripped down and unpolished in the best way—raw and direct, like a band playing from the back of a garage in a town that forgot it had a punk scene.

Democracide is both accessible and rooted in the DIY tradition that fuels its content. In short, Democracide is a blistering punk statement from a band that refuses to water down its message or its music. It's a perfect listen for fans of politically driven punk who prefer melody with their mayhem and conviction with their chords. Upinatem doesn’t reinvent the wheel here—they strap it to a Molotov cocktail and launch it through a plate-glass window. This is punk for the fed-up, the furious, and the fiercely woke.