the syndicate “the seemingly hopeless state of affairs” cd package

this hardcore punk album explored the notion of being “bound” by self and society. the visuals develop a metaphorical narrative around the threads of activism, struggle, and undying hope. hand-generated scratchboard typography combines with high contrast photos to convey the aggression and urgency of the band’s personal, yet political, messages.

the three components comprising the “s” of syndicate monogram represent each band member, all working together for a common cause, having equal and full control of their output and destiny, much like the definition of a syndicalist [worker owned and managed] organization. the form is heavy and solid to reflect the nature of the music, with the stencil lines subtly alluding to punk aesthetics. red and black are colors symbolizing anarcho-syndicalism.