If there's one band we never expected to hear doing Judas Priest, it's Propagandhi.

Not to worry, kids; Winnipeg's fiercest and most fearless political hardcore outfit haven't gone over to the dark side and traded in their skateboards for Harleys. After nearly a decade of spreading the word, touring the world and sticking it to the man, Propagandhi are still dedicated punk-rock skids, not wannabe Metal Gods.

But like the old saying goes: You can take the punks out of the Prairies, but you can't take the Prairies out of the punks. Deep down inside, it seems, guitarist Chris Hannah, drummer Jordan Samoleski and bassist Todd Kowalski are metalheads at heart. Presumably, that's why they included a cover of Venom's Stand up (and be Counted) on their 1998 collection Where Quantity is Job #1. And presumably it's why they insert the threatening chorus line from the Priest classic You've Got Another Thing Comin' into With Friends Like These, Who The F-- Needs Cointelpro?, one of 14 fire-breathing tracks on their relentlessly aggressive third studio album Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes (due in stores in a couple of weeks).

Then again, for all we know, kicking it on the Judas Priest tip could be some kind of a political statement. After all, in typical Propagandhi fashion, pretty much every line of lyrics on this 33-minute musical manifesto is dedicated to smashing the state, challenging authority and standing up for those who can't do it for themselves. When it comes to being mad as hell and not wanting to take it anymore, Propagandhi make Rage Against the Machine seem happy-go-lucky. The list of topics on Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes includes East Timor refugees (Mate Ka Moris Ukun Rasik An), corporate globalization (F-- the Border), the American militia movement (Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes), the FBI (the aforementioned Cointelpro), the Gulf War (Albright Monument, Baghdad), gender politics (Ladies' Nite in Loserville), organized religion (Ego Fum Papa: I Am the Pope), the justice system (New Homes for Idle Hands, Bulls-- Politicians), animal rights (Purina Hall of Fame) and, of course, the music biz (Back to the Motor League).

Compared to the vapid navel-gazings of typical pop acts, this disc is like a grad thesis. You half-expect it to come with footnotes. (Whoops, turns out it does. Not for the songs, mind you, but for the lengthy, painstakingly documented essays on U.S. foreign policy and domestic anti-terror tactics included in the extensive multi-media portion of the disc.)

Thankfully, though, Propagandhi haven't let the message overshadow the music. Matching the fierce urgency and intensity of their performance to that of their lyrics, Hannah and co. hit the ground running and never let up, burning through these tracks with unstoppable momentum. Every chord rung, every line sung, and every drum struck on this disc is played as if someone's life depended on it. Not to mention played damn proficiently -- all the years of touring have honed these guys into an ensemble as tight and terrifying as a riot cop's chokehold.

If you think you've already heard everything Propagandhi has to say, well, just like Rob Halford says, you've got another thing coming.

Track Listing 1. Mate Ka Moris Ukun Rasik An
  2. F--- The Border
  3. Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes
  4. Back To The Motor League
  5. Natural Disasters
  6. With Friends Like These (Who The Fuck Needs CoIntelPro)?
  7. Albright Monument, Baghdad
  8. Ordinary People Do F--ked Up Things When F--ked Up Things Become Ordinary
  9. Ladies Nite In Loserville
  10. Ego Fum Papa (I Am The Pope)
  11. New Homes For Idle Hands
  12. Bulls--t Politicians
  13. March Of The Crabs
  14. Purina Hall Of Fame