Vatican Commandos Why Must I Follow Apr 2026

Before he was a global electronic icon, (Richard Hall) was a suburban teenager shredding guitar in the Connecticut hardcore scene. "Why Must I Follow?" is the blistering opening track of the Vatican Commandos’ debut 7-inch EP, Hit Squad for God , released in 1983. The Sound of Darien Hardcore

: The lyrics, written by Chip Moody with music by Jim Spadaccini, channel classic punk defiance against societal norms and blind obedience. Vatican Commandos Why Must I Follow

Clocking in at roughly , the song is a rapid-fire example of early American hardcore punk. Before he was a global electronic icon, (Richard

: Typical of early '80s DIY punk, the track features a "muddy" and "shoddy" production style that critics at Maximum Rocknroll described as an "intense thrash attack". Clocking in at roughly , the song is

: While Moby was famously "kicked out" of the band after this EP, his punk roots heavily influenced his later production philosophy, where he maintained a preference for the "raw energy" and "atmosphere" of early recordings. Legacy and Reunions

: The band’s first releases were on the indie label Pregnant Nun Records, later becoming "holy grail" items for hardcore collectors. "Why Must I Follow?": The Track Breakdown

Though the band disbanded in 1985, their influence persisted. Vatican Commandos - Why Must I Follow? - SoundCloud