The Allegiance - Don't Bother Me LP

In April 1988, a new voice of American skinhead rock emerged in Columbia, Pennsylvania: The Allegiance. Founded by Dave (vocals, guitar), Brian (bass), and Joe (drums), the band was a product of the local scene—raw, direct, and uncompromising. Joe also edited the fanzine "Boots Brigade" and left Warrior's Pride when drug use took hold there—a clear break from the debauched punk attitude that was becoming increasingly prevalent during those years. Dave and Brian had also previously gained musical experience in the street punk scene.

Although they initially considered adding a second guitarist, they remained true to their minimalist yet powerful three-piece setup. Their musical roots ran deep into the British Oi! and RAC movements: Skrewdriver, Condemned 84, Brutal Attack, No Remorse, 4-Skins, The Last Resort, Skullhead, Indecent Exposure, and the old Sham 69 shaped their sound – melodically stripped down, with a hard rhythm and a clear message. Their focus was on issues that concerned the working class: pride, heritage, and justice.

In the same year they were founded, they recorded two demo tapes: "New Noise" and "Is This Justice?", the latter with support from their friends, the Arresting Officers, in the background. Rock-O-Rama legend Herbert was particularly impressed by the second demo and offered the band a contract. The Allegiance first appeared on the compilation album "The Spirit of Oi! - American Style" (Oi!Core Records), followed by two albums on Rock-O-Rama Records: "Rough Justice" (RRR 80) – the remixed second demo – and "Don't Bother Me" (RRR 84), originally with the working title "We Pledge Allegiance."

A planned East Coast tour with the Arresting Officers in the early 1990s unfortunately didn't materialize. The second LP was the end of it: The Allegiance disbanded after the release of "Don't Bother Me" – but their legacy lives on in American Oi! and RAC to this day.