Volume Rules

This was the considered sub-title to Species Deceases. You have to love that.

Clocking in at only 16 minutes, Species Deceases works like few other EPs do. All four songs are bursts of angry energy directed at a world being modernized, a possible nuclear holocaust, and the wastefulness that is warfare.

And in an uncharacteristic fashion, Midnight Oil set aside all of the prevelant technology of the time (digital recording, synthesizers) and just played loud guitars. This is not dumb punk, though. Far from it.

Species Deceases can serve as both an introduction to Midnight Oil's mid-80s period and something to round out a collection. It may be short, but it's all good.

Is a pity that they are only 4 songs

Great moment of inspiration of the Oils, previous to their successful Diesel and Dust. If you are getting into the Oils, buy this one, but be aware that there are only 4 songs (good grief).

"I just want to walk through paradise..."

This is a veritable powerhouse of an EP! Four loud, fast, strong tracks that combine to make a very memorable record. Released in 1985 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, "Species Deceases" is the Oils' most focused work. It's almost a reaction to their previous record, 1984's "Red Sails in the Sunset", which was the exact opposite - abstract and unthematic. "Species Deceases" is more like "10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1", which also had a theme (the nuclear issue), but, with just four songs, this is more compact, sharpening the focus. The issue? Basically, don't mess with the planet; delivered through subjects of environmental degradation, multinationals, military aggression, war, and the reminder of history. The EP opens with an amazing sonic combination of "Progress" and "Hercules". The first has a great rhythm, with growling guitars and equally growling vocals from Peter Garrett. "Hercules", with its fast driving pace, is an energetic number and (deservedly) a live favourite. This song makes reference to Hiroshima, or, to be more correct, the annual striking of the bell in Hiroshima Park which occurs on every anniversary. The following song, "Blossom and Blood", takes a more direct look at Hiroshima, incorporating the famous anti-nuclear slogan "Never again" into the lyrics. This song also has great guitar work (what Midnight Oil song hasn't?) and interesting vocal effects (particularly in the "All people with dreams..." and "Whatever you've done..." verses). The final song, "Pictures" took a while for me to get to like - initially it seemed just all over the place - a mess of music. But now I think it is up there with the best of Midnight Oil's classics - perhaps their most definitive call to arms. (The video clip is tremendous - if you have a chance to view it, do so. It's simply a montage of, as the song goes, "pictures of the world", but its effectiveness is due to its simplicity. I think the video actually warmed me to the song). "Species Deceases" is once again proof that Midnight Oil have a point to make without being preachy or grandstanding. It also rocks hard and fast.