This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“It’s not about a cool Web site … (or) acting like a rock star at night,” primal-screams Alle Rajkovic, neatly — if loudly — summing up the stern philosophy of Raised Fist.
So what is it all about for these Swedish hardcore punks? Well, as near as we can tell from their intense third album Dedication, it’s about passion, fearlessness and, above all, uncompromising integrity and individuality. Straddling a point between the anarchic fury of punk and the complex ambition of metal, the quintet show off their awesome musical chops (drummer Oskar is particularly wicked, though guitarists Marco and Daniel are no slouches either) and their songwriting prowess on 11 oughta-be anthems that never sacrifice brain for brawn. “Dedication is essential to succeed,” presumes Alle. In that case, these guys are already at the top of the heap.
