Bokassa
Let’s Storm the Capitol

I stumbled across Bokassa on tour supporting Therapy? and their mix of heavy rock and punk caught my attention. With this in mind, I went and found their latest single to find out more.

Firstly, ‘Let’s Storm the Capitol’ itself is at the more general end of their spectrum. The band have this broad span that touches classic hard rock at one end, and punk revival at the other. You’ll often find a mix of all the styles in a single song, big chunky riffs to kick things off and chugging verses that break into a punk chorus.

The unifying force of the songs is the growling vocal, which anchors the different song chunks. This single benefits from creative drumming in the verse and a strong hook like in the chorus with the ‘I guess I’m dying tonight’ line.

There are two flips on this record. ‘All Out Of Dreams’ chugs along nicely and the riff is a big hook, while ‘Garden of Heathen’ (featuring Lou Koller) is a pacey track with chunky riffs and an almost folksy twist to the chorus.

There are certainly elements of classic rock here. Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and Metallica are merged with Rise Against and Rival Schools in a semi-alliterative musical Magazord. The bonus the punk end of their style brings are the hooks and chorus lines, with the lyrics stretched all the way between.

You need to try Bokassa on to see if they fit – but give them a shot to see if this strange hybrid is something that provides delight for you.

Let’s Storm the Capitol Video

Watch Bokassa – ‘Let’s Storm the Capitol’.

Let’s Storm the Capitol Lyrics

Heed my warning
There’ll be no mourning here alright
We’re not conceding until they’re pleading
Reignite

I guess I’m dying tonight
I guess I’m dying tonight
I guess I’ll die for a cause I can’t remember
But our foes must be dismembered
I guess I’m dying tonight
I guess I’m dying tonight
I guess I’m dying tonight

Were self-made shoguns
Mini-me Joe Rogans, born of spite
We’re Trojan Horses
Disguised armed forces, born to fight

I guess I’m dying tonight
I guess I’m dying tonight
I guess I’ll die for a cause I can’t remember
But our foes must be dismembered
I guess I’m dying tonight (x7)

And when the regent’s back in power
We’re the ones whos wanted for arrest
And when there’s no one to devour
Were the ones they all seem to detest
So now I’m down with the rest

I’m down I’m down I’m down with the rest
I guess I’m down with the rest
I’m down I’m down I’m down with the rest
I guess I’m down with the people telling me to go that way
But I always preferred to go my own way
I’m down I’m down I’m down with the rest

Written by Fenton on 3rd December 2023

Steve Fenton writes in our music, words, and culture categories. He was Editor in Chief for The Mag and covered live music for DV8 Magazine and Spill Magazine. He was often found in venues throughout the UK alongside ace-photographer, Mark Holloway. Steve is also a technical writer and programmer and writes gothic fiction. Steve studied Psychology at OSC, and Anarchy in the UK: A History of Punk from 1976-1978 at the University of Reading.

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