295) Subhumans - The Day the Country Died

Subhumans have been around since 1980, although they did split in 1985 and didn’t return until 1998 and have only released two albums since the turn of the millennium but can be often seem on the live circuit.

The Day the Country Died was their debut album released back in 1982 and although released five years after many classic debut punk albums this is considered a punk classic.

Opening with a bomb dropping before we go All Gone Dead with guitar and drums and a spoken word shouty vocal, the kind I like before launching straight into Ashtray Dirt which is not for me.

This record is loosely based on George Orwell’s novel 1984 as Britain is a bleak place three years into Thatcher’s reign. I am too young to remember these times but certainly remember Thatcher and the damage she caused in Scotland. Subvert City picks up this theme all windswept and acoustic guitar for the first minute before the band back Dick Lucas over shouty backing vocals, worth a listen.

Micky Mouse is Dead stomps from the start before launching into an insanely catchy riff of a song, sadly about the loss of innocence of childhood.

Lead singer Lucas lyrics are there to be analysed as he depicts the times the UK was living in and you can’t argue with the ferociousness of “We’re the minority, got something to fucking say,” on the track Minority and the song No opens with a brutal opening lyric.

Zyklon-B-Movie is more playful, still played at one hundred miles and hour and penultimate track No More Gigs is a great song although I have no problem with people buying Bowie records.

I enjoyed this, glad I listened, certainly had its moments and if you like hardcore punk this is for you.

6/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Micky Mouse Is Dead