I’ll bet you’ve never heard a Christmas album quite like this. The ten minute, five song ’Tis the Season to Praise Satan EP is sacrilegious, possibly offensive and yet is a barrel of fun. It’s the produce of Montreal punk band, the BCASA, which is an acronym for what the group used to be called, the Bill Cosby Anarchist Society of America, until the Cos’s legal team slapped them with a cease and desist order. (And, of course, that may have turned out to be not necessarily a bad thing, considering all of the rape allegations that America’s Dad is facing right now.) Plus, all of the sales from the EP, whatever you may think of songs such as “Santa Killed JFK” or “Jesus Was Black (And Reagan Was the Devil)”, is going towards charity: Until Christmas Day, the proceeds will be directed to the Sun Youth Organization, a group that, among other things, gives food and presents to lower income families in the Montreal area for Hanukkah and Christmas. (After Christmas, the album becomes free for Grinches.)
The BCASA is actually making a name for itself in the Montreal scene, as they have a whack of songs that praise the artistic merits of, well, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So, certainly, they are a fun, carefree outfit. That carries over to this Christmas EP. Despite the vitriol and spit of the lyrics, they seem to be delivered with tongue stuck firmly in cheek. And, of course, the sound is a throwback to ‘80s political hardcore, with the Dead Kennedys being the most obvious influence. Essentially, those who will enjoy this EP are those who don’t mind getting run over by Santa’s sleigh, before being pulled behind it and dragged for a few kilometers in the frigid ice and snow. There’s a real power to the material that punches you in the face as a present. These guys certainly have the punk swagger down pat, in other words, but it’s nice (not naughty) of them to be so generous with the sales from this album. Put quite clearly, even if you absolutely hate punk rock and your heart is two sizes too small, buy this short album. Every red penny is going to a great cause, and this is the perfect gift for the anarchist in your family. Plus, remember: Satan is just an anagram for Santa.