Subhumans — The Day the Country Died
First released in the early 1980’s The Day the Country Died is one of the cornerstone releases of the Anarcho-punk genre, as well as a stone-cold British punk classic. Here we have as either a Vinyl LP, or CD release of the album from Pirates Press Records- I’m reviewing the latter of the two releases.
The CD comes presented in a monochrome mini gatefold. This takes in the original album art- with the line-drawn cover illustration of a punk being shot through the head as he rages against the system. And on the back a band photo collage. Along with the CD, we get a mini poster of the cover artwork, and full lyrics with the release.
Subhumans were formed in the year 1980 in Warminster, Wiltshire. With its first line-up bringing together Dick Lucas-lead vocals. Bruce Treasure – guitar & backing vocals. Grant Jackson – bass, and Andy Gale – drums. The band initially ran was between the years 1980 & 1985. They released four studio albums- The Day the Country Died (1983), From The Cradle To The Grave(1983), Worlds Apart (1985), and 29:29 Split Vision (1986). And six EP’s Demolition War (1981), Reasons for Existence (1982), Religious Wars (1982), Evolution (1983), Time Flies... but Aeroplanes Crash (1983), and Rats (1984). Alongside the likes of Crass & Conflict, (The)Subhumans are seen as one of the most important/ influential of the early 80’s UK Anarcho-punk genre. And they had very much their own twist/ take on the genre- yes it was expectedly raging at times bleak- but there were traces of melody, humour, and playfulness in the band’s sound.
The sixteen-track album was recorded over five days in the summer of 1982- been first released on Spiderleg Records in early 1983, with it later being reissued by the band's own label Bluurg. I first brought & heard the album on cassette in the mid-’80s, and I’ve always had a soft spot for it. As it’s a wonderfully shambolic blend of anger, punchiness, and subtle humour- with moments of both rapidity, melody, and haphazard charm.
The sixteen tracks have playtimes between just over a minute and just over four- with a total runtime of thirty-four minutes. The CD presents the album in its original form- so no bonus material featured, but really I think this is for the best- as classic albums like this should remain the way they were originally intended.
The album opens with a drawn-out static hiss & whistling explosion before we’re into “All Gone Dead” with its blend of gunning guitars, battering to marching drums, sinisterly roaming bass line, Dick’s shouty lead vocals, and chanted ‘dead, dead’ backing vocals. As we move through the album we go from the chugging ‘n’ blunt stomp meets speeding Hardcore punk of “Mickey Mouse Is Dead”. Onto the slightly moodier “Subvert City” which opens with a blend of whistling wind sounds, and clean guitar/bass playing- before rising to smarting cymbal percussion, bounding bass work, and railing guitar work.
On the second half, we move from the mid-paced punk-lined melody of “New Age”. Onto galloping ‘n’ gunning “Zyklon-B-Movie” with its great horror movie gone real lyrics, and a nice chant-along chorus. Through the pogoing ‘n’ bouncing chaos of “Till the Pigs Come Round”. Simply put a truly classic punk album.
It certainly is great to see this classic getting reissued again. And really if you have even a passing interest in Anarcho-punk, or 1980’s punk in general you have to own a copy of The Day the Country Died..