The Exploited: Punks Not Dead/Troops Of Tomorrow, Expanded 2CD Edition – Review

The Exploited are the epitome of elegance, subtlety, and refined musical sophistication. If you’ve ever craved an album that feels like getting repeatedly punched in the face by an angry person with a mohawk, then the Expanded 2CD Edition of Punks Not Dead/Troops Of Tomorrow, is your dream come true!

Punks Not Dead. The title alone is a stroke of irony. Each track is a meticulously crafted barrage of ear-splitting noise, like a jackhammer on steroids. The guitars? They grind through your brain like sandpaper on a chalkboard. The vocals? Pure poetry if screaming every thought you have at the top of your lungs is your thing. It’s like a bulldozer serenade. And just when you think you’ve survived all the chaos, “Troops of Tomorrow comes along and doubles down.

The expanded edition delivers more of everything: more volume, more distortion, and more reasons to question why you didn’t listen to smooth jazz instead. The additional tracks and live recordings generously offer even more of the same—because clearly, The Exploited believes that you can never have too much of a bad thing. Lyrically, this album is a treasure trove if your idea of subtlety involves shouting the same three words repeatedly until they lose all meaning. Wattie Buchan’s vocal delivery is nothing short of an auditory assault, where every line feels like a personal attack.

Themes of rebellion and anger are conveyed with the grace of a bull in a china shop. It’s like being caught in a tornado but with added immersive chaos. The live recordings on this expanded edition bring the raw energy of a mosh pit right into your home, complete with the sound quality of a recording made inside a tin can. It’s as if they wanted to ensure that no moment of this sonic onslaught was wasted on the triviality of clarity.

In conclusion, if you’re seeking an album that will test the limits of patience, sanity, and possibly your eardrums, The Exploited‘s Punks Not Dead / Troops of Tomorrow Expanded 2CD Edition is your perfect match. It’s a classic that will leave a lasting impression—mostly because you’ll be questioning why you ever thought listening to it was a good idea.

Score 2/10, but only because it exists, which is an achievement. (but if you DON’T have the original albums buy it)