LP Reviewed in Record Mirror, 10th May, 1980

UK Subs | Brand New Age | (Gem) 1980 | AS TIME progresses, I become ever more convinced that punk was always very close to basic heavy metal; it’s just never been hip to admit such a thing.

However sacrilegious that statement may seem to both Priest/Rush diehards and conversely Upstarts/ Rejects followers the appearance of an album such as ‘Brand New Age‘ merely underlines the truth of this sentiment.

Take, for instance, the opening headbutter here, “You Can’t Take It Anymore“. Starting up with a confident, repeated bass line from Paul Slack, the number then develops into a glorious Sabbath-style primitive riff with Charlie Harper‘s modern-day vocals stretched out menacingly over the thick-set instrumental mix.

As good an opener as you could wish for, but that’s only the beginning, because after attacking the title track and its successor, ‘Public Servant‘, with real gusto, the Subs then deliver ‘Warhead‘, their last single and about as friendly as a hug from an angry Yetti at feeding time.

UK Subs | Brand New Age | (Gem) 1980

But the best is saved for the starting track on the second side. The song is called ‘Emotional Blackmail‘ and it comes across as a lean, hungry piledriver very reminiscent of Motorhead in their grimiest biker mood.

Music to kick headlights in! Overall, perhaps, the most important point to emerge from ‘Brand New Age‘ is the mature progress made by Harper’s heroes, because they’ve learnt that going around, dissipating your energy like so many ducks on a botulinus trip is terminal; it may seem like fun for the instant but it will very quickly leave you with a long-term lease in the rock ‘n’ roll graveyard of forgotten relics.

Far better to channel all your driving force into one considered direction as the Subs have done here.

This lot do have a bright tomorrow. Can anyone say the same for the Cockney Rejects? (Malcolm Dome) + + + +