Subhumans - Crisis Point
Angry, cutting punk rock that is unafraid to take a shot at today's climate of distrust
UK's Subhumans have never been one to rush out releases. True to the point that prior to their new album Crisis Point, their last full length was 2007's Internal Riot, and before that, 1986's 29:29 Split Vision. But this lack of regular output has nothing to do with the band's lack of work, far from it, Subhumans of course, share members with long-running punk/ska outfit Citizen Fish and reggae/ska band Culture Shock, and when Citizen Fish/Culture Shock are busy, as expected, Subhumans are not so much. 2019 however, seems like a good time for anarcho-punks to speak up and speak out, something Subhumans have called their bread and butter since their formation all the way back in 1980 (they still have one of the best punk rock logos in music history). Their political commentary has found itself some new fire and Crisis Point is what you expect from a Subhumans record- angry, cutting punk rock that is unafraid to take a shot at today's climate of distrust, violence, fake news, and rights and freedoms.
The album's tone is set early, with the opening cut "Terrorist in Waiting" proclaiming that "everyone's a terrorist in waiting", backed to blitzing riffs, machine gun percussion work and Dick Lucas' British snarl that eschews vocal melodies for the more dangerous, poetic slam deliveries. It's the working formula for Crisis Point, one that's been the Subhumans modus operandi since their inception. Crisis Point has songs about conspiracy theories ("Fear and Confusion"), political imbalance ("Follow the Leader"), and climate and societal pollution ("Poison"), all wrapped in the kind of production aesthetic that is quintessential punk. Not to say the production quality is tinny, or lo-fi, but it doesn't fall victim to the production malpractice of making everything loud for the sake of making everything loud. Instead, it sounds crisp- and tracks like the chaotic "Strange Land" and the rock n' roll infused "99%" sound all the more biting.
In today's glossy, overproduced landscape of streaming music, it's great to hear a record that you can be listened to as a whole without it needing to be some overcooked concept album. It is this no BS, no frills, authentic approach to songwriting that makes Crisis Point a welcomed addition to the Subhumans discography. It doesn't deviate too far from anything they've done in the past but the record has both the lyrical and musical content to rile up the listener. Most importantly, it still has all the fire and anger they've shown through their long running history. Even with such long gestation periods in between releases, there is very little diminishing of returns. And while the album is best digested as a whole because its songs are the parts that make the sum great, Crisis Point is succinct, pissed off, and relevant.