The Canadian band though has ties to Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles label as well as some shifty eco-terrorists up there in the northwest. I suppose someone in or related to the UK band blew something in political protest, but Gerry Useless got popped for plotting to rip off an armored vehicle in order to finance future disruptive endeavors.
Either way, the music that the Subhumans worked out is and was tied to some ’77 style stuffs as well as an early hardcore sound, but hardcore prior to the genre turning into proto-metal wankery. The groups first full length - Incorrect Thoughts – came out in ’81, but was able to eschew most of the ‘80s styled nonsense that would plague punk during the decade. The album does at points sound like a hard rock record – “Slave to My Dick” being a culprit. That being said, some tracks are reminiscent of the Wipers. I’ll peg it on the fact that the northwest of the US is pretty much the same as the western portion of Canada. But, “Firing Squad” begins with a bit of Wipers sounding guitar before moving into something akin to US Chaos (and if you don’t know who those folks are, find out.)
None of that really matters, if you’re into the music. It is easy to figure that the sturdier portion of the Subhumans’ catalog is represented by its singles that predate the full length. Collected on Alt. Tentacles’ compendium Death Was Too Kind are no less than four singles from the band and some tracks that haven’t been included elsewhere.
The band’s avowed classics – “Death to the Sickoids,” “Oh Canaduh,” – are here as well as some of the songs that would be re-recorded for the first full length. In the versions here, not only is the production different, but the approach to each of those aforementioned songs.
“Slave to my Dick” doesn’t include the cheese ball floor toms to the extent that the album version does. And while the US Chaos check is still appropriate, “Firing Squad” comes off a bit poppier here. I suppose it’s not better or worse, just different. Of course, considering that the versions on the compilation were recorded by the Subhumans up to four years earlier than the album tracks makes the difference, but either way, it’s all gravy.
It’s surprising that the Subhumans have remained a relatively low profile act here in the States, though. DOA, who sprouted from the same scene, are a virtual house hold name – if you live in a “Punk House.” And I’ll venture to say that the Subhumans were a bit more palatable and perhaps even a better band. It’s a different music for a different kitchen (that reference just came out, sorry). But with the band reformed and touring up there in the frozen north, hopefully, they’ll receive a bit more attention.