Negative Approach – Tied Down (Touch and Go 1983)

Negative Approach’s Tied Down is a raw, blistering assault that defined hardcore punk’s primal fury. Released in 1983 on Touch and Go Records, this 15-minute classic captures the unrelenting energy of Detroit’s most ferocious hardcore band. Forty years later, the rage hasn’t cooled—Negative Approach are still on the road in 2024, bringing their signature snarls and angry-faced intensity to packed venues.

Frontman John Brannon’s vocals on Tied Down are a force of nature—abrasive, guttural, and unapologetic. Tracks like “Hypocrite” and “Evacuate” barrel forward with relentless aggression, while the title track pounds out a defiant anthem for the disillusioned. Brannon’s raw fury, paired with Rob McCulloch’s scorching guitar riffs and a rhythm section that hits like a freight train, makes this record essential listening for anyone who craves unfiltered chaos.

The sound of Tied Down is stripped to the bone, its production raw and immediate. It feels less like a studio recording and more like being thrown into the middle of a riotous basement show—a feeling that remains vital even decades later.

Now, in 2024, Negative Approach continues to tour with the same uncompromising energy, proving that their fury isn’t a relic of the past. Seeing Brannon’s intense, angry-faced presence on stage is a reminder that the raw power of Tied Down still resonates, as fiercely alive as the day it was unleashed.

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