I have to hand it to the legendary Subhumans for dropping an absolutely amazing release this year titled Crisis Point.
It’s been over 10 years since the band even dropped a studio release and since the mid-eighties before that.
Was I concerned about this? Not really, but I would be lying if I told you I thought I would be enjoying it nearly as much as I do.
Honestly, had one of these new songs dropped on a playlist somewhere, I might have took it in and moved on thinking it was just something from their past, but luckily I was made privy to the album thanks to Pirates Press Records and have been listening to it on repeat for months now.
Dick Lucas sounds the same when “Terrorist In Waiting” started, which is a good thing in my book, as honestly did the band. Sometimes things are best left unchanged and the Subhumans proved this to me just one song in. It was fast, angry, and exactly what I needed.
Tracks like “Follow The Leader” kept on with the band’s ethos I’ve appreciated for easily 30 years now and seemingly fit so well with today’s clamored current events.
“Strange Land” wasn’t anything I haven’t heard before by the band and was a nice reminder why I even became a fan in the first place. It reminded me of something that should have been on the Repo Man soundtrack. This track was just great as was the following track “99%”.
“Poison” wasn’t catchy, calling for attention, or anything of that nature. It was an anthem of sorts for those who want to listen and take the ideology and make their own judgements. This is what I have always loved the most about this band.
“Thought Is Free” closed out the album and is honestly about as classic sounding as something that came off of their debut release. I was amazed listening to this track knowing it’s 2019 and this band that has been around almost all of my life sounds almost exactly same and carries that same energy. This song alone blew me away. I loved everything about it.
It’s not a rubber stamped statement toward a seasoned band. There really are not many acts out there that I can say have been able to do this. What is “this” you ask? Keep their roots, stick to their sound, and haven’t a care about results.
My hope is that the younger generation will pick up this album and it opens up doors musically enticing them to sit back and get lost in this band’s impressive catalog.
This isn’t meant to say you hanging punkers out there won’t appreciate this.
If you once listened to The Day Country Died and have the slightest hesitation to hear new music by them, don’t be a fool. Get on it now. Thank me later.