Instigators – Phoenix/Shockgun reissues(Boss Tuneage)
Out 1st August 2025 – Pre-orders open
Re-release of two albums from the second version of Instigators ahead of live appearances including Rebellion. Also news of a remastered 1987 EP.
The Instigators’ debut album, Nobody Listens Anymore, in 1985 was a highlight of the tail end of the anarcho-punk boom in the 1980s. It spent an awful lot of time on my record player and is still a firm favourite, combining melody with strong messaging. However, with a change of rhythm section and new singer Andy Turner of Xpozez joining, they never quite gelled with me in the same way.
By the late 80s, Instigators had a reputation for intense live gigs, and I swear in about 1987, every single UK punk zine had a photo of singer Andy Turner 6 feet above the stage. This iteration of the band is due to play some live dates soon, including Rebellion festival, and, consequently, the albums released by Instigators Mk2 – Phoenix and Shockgun – have been given the re-release treatment by Boss Tuneage.
Listening back, you can hear the transition from anarcho punk to melodic-hardcore band. 1986’s Phoenix is a clear continuation from Nobody Listens Anymore with the same songwriting hand evident in the melodic guitar lines and uplifting tunes. The rhythm section’s moves are similar to the previous album. However, the vocal delivery changes the overall sound. Songs like American Dream (below) and Computerage are both still relevant nearly 40 years later.
“I raise the flag to another bodybag
Bow your head to the million young dead
The power of lies means another body dies
I wanna be free but the American in me
Keeps pushing me under and pushing me down”
These two and Dark & Lonely are particular standouts in what comes a close second to the band’s debut.
By the time Shockgun was released 2 years later, the Instigators had made a full change. There is a clear US melodic hardcore influence, with a similarity to what Soulside were doing on the other side of the Atlantic at the same time. Is it just me or do Andy’s vocals sometimes have an American twang to them? I find this record curious. Mostly it’s melodic hardcore but then opener Tricked and Abused reminds me of Iron Maiden. Something about Mass Insanity and Central Nervous System sounds like straight-up rock. Probably sacrilegious to some, but it’s what my ears hear. It probably explains why this album never grabbed me when it came out.
It seems I’m not the only one who found Shockgun a bit rocky, but apparently it’s a grower. Speaking to Tony of Suspect Device zine, he said of Shockgun: “Initially I was surprised at its relative rockiness, compared to previous releases, but it was Instigators, so I kept listening to it and it grew on me until I really liked it. I saw them on the Shockgun tour and the songs were very familiar and some of them became favourites. These days I don’t listen to it as much as their earlier stuff, but when I do I still like it and still love Tricked & Abused, Intolerator/Intolerhater, Run Don’t Walk and Situation Desperate.”
Fans of this later incarnation of Instigators will be flocking to catch them live and refresh their vinyl or fill gaps.
Available from Boss Tuneage
As this was being uploaded news reached me of a remastered version of the band’s 1987 Full Circle/The Sleeper EP, accompanied by recently recorded versions of each song plus Suicide Investigation Team from Shockgun. It is due out soon and the pre-order link is here: (pre-order) Instigators – Full Circle/The Sleeper 12″ (red vinyl) – Sanctus Propaganda
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Words by Nathan Brown. You can read more from Nathan on his Louder Than War archive over here.
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