Tumult

While awaiting the release of "Dignity Of Labour," The Ex returned to the studio in early 1983, this time with a new collaborator - The Mekons' Jon Langford - assisting with production. Originally released in April 1983, just a month after "Dignity Of Labour," "Tumult" signifies a significant evolution in The Ex's sound. The album kicks off with "Bouquet Of Barbed Wire," which emerges fiercely from post-punk atmospherics with Terrie Ex's icy guitar, Bas Masbeck's steady bass, and the cascading tom-toms of new member Sabien Witteman. Tracks like "Fear" and "Survival Of The Fattest" showcase the band's distinctive angular style and rhythmic core. Thematically, the songs on "Tumult" touch on various familiar topics such as animal rights, squatters, the working class, punk's attraction to radical chic, and the rise of nationalist sentiments. G.W. Sok's vocals are both impassioned and sardonically witty throughout. "Tumult" stands as a pivotal moment in The Ex's early career, serving as a roadmap for their development. Over the next 18 months, the band would undergo lineup changes, welcoming bassist Luc Klaasen and drummer Kat Bornefeld, whose dynamic rhythms continue to drive the group today. The album remains a compelling and distinctive artifact of early '80s DIY exploration. If