For those who do not recognise that these are the opening lines of Stiff Little Fingers song 'Here We Are Nowhere from their album Inflammable Material, released in the dark days of Northern Ireland's Troubles in the late 70s.
Then, Belfast's City Centre was surrounded by barriers that closed at 11pm, few bars were open, and apart from seeing punk bands and hanging out with ageing hippies there was little to do.
Now, in 2014, we have night clubs, more bars than you can possibly drink at, and all the beautiful people flitting around like moths to the false sun of pretentiousness.
But, there are still places where two fingers are thrust into the face of such conformity, in the same way SLF's Rigid Digits were in the face of the backward looking paramilitaries.
However, we now have punk and metal as the underground are keeping real, live music alive, and in a place where the disaffected and disillusioned can gather in unity.
Such unity was in clear evidence on Friday (30th May) at Belfast's Voodoo when a variety of metal was served on a platter of neck snapping delight.
Unfortunately circumstances conspired in a way that we missed out on openers Shrouded, but that still left us with three bands to savour.
Rabid Bitch of the North are enjoying something of a growth at the minute, with their cassette release of Defending Two Castles and their recently announced slot at Bloodstock.
Opening powerfully with 'My Misery' their sound has evolved to stand on the perch which merges the classic metal through to a more contemporary metal sound.
For a three-piece they do manage to produce a monstrous sound; with 'Green Eyes' , 'Defending Two Castles', and 'Us Against Them' stand out tracks.
However, at times the banter was lost on the audience and once or twice the performance was a little bit ragged. But overall Rabid Bitch of the North are ready - all guns blazing - for the next stage of the career, which Bloodstock just might kick start.
Scimitar are at a different stage of their career, growing up on stage, evolving their thrash sound. Where on occasions in the past Scimitar have been a little bit formulaic in their all-out thrash approach. However, it was a revelatory performance from the band; merging first generation thrash with some of the later thrash acts.
Straightforward, no nonsense, at times glorious, guitar sounds merging right into an overall attack that is tempered with a sense of humour (passing plastic scimitars to the crowd) and mock sword fights with audience members all worked to make a memorable performance. Scimitar's potential is getting more and more obvious.
Zombified have always been a potent force, delivering death metal with an edge and insight into the depths of humanity with an evil glint in the eye.
Pete Clarke has always provided the type of deep, deep growl of intent and the sound is always an all-out death assault. Sweet soloing from Jamie and Adrien and Chris and Gary's rhythm section marrying pace and precision. 'Outbreak', Murder' and 'Awakening' all outstanding.
Even Gary's destruction of the drum kit barely hampered the performance for the audience; even if the band were momentarily thrown off their stride.
It is a sign of a coherent unit that banter was quickly restored, and the musicianship peaked by the time 'Human Cull' came along.
Given the mediocrity surrounding a lot of death metal Zombified epitomise what can be achieved, an assault with subtleties in its diverse pace diving down to doom and rising to full-speed. Broken drums? No problem! Laying waste with an aural awesomeness? That comes naturally with the undead sound that Zombified produce.
Written by Jonny
Additional 'evidence' by Zakk
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