The North Carolina hardcore crew’s second EP finally sees the light of day!
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate nearly 40 years of a record that was never actually released in the first place. Long-disbanded North Carolina hardcore punks Subculture unleashed a beast of a debut in 1985’s ‘I Heard A Scream’, but this follow-up was shelved after the band broke up the following year. Apparently, rough mixes of the tracks on ‘Fred‘ circulated among tape traders, but now the record has been remixed and mastered for an official release – and it does not disappoint.
Touring with bands as diverse as Fear, The Vandals, NOFX and DRI, plus a few tips from their hometown heroes Corrosion Of Conformity, meant that although Subculture came from a hardcore punk background, they weren’t afraid to throw the odd metallic twist into the mix. Opening track ‘Willpower’ boasts some great guitar shredding and chugging riffs, before bursting into a 100mph hardcore rage; a trick that they repeat to thrilling effect throughout ‘Fred’.
At only 13 minutes long, this record doesn’t outstay its welcome, and why pad things out unnecessarily when the likes of ‘Victimized’ and ‘Bad Desperation’ are such an assault on the senses? Meanwhile, final track ‘KC’s Coming To Town’, with its nursery rhyme-esque intro, shows that for all the musical aggression on display here, Subculture weren’t without a sense of humour. No wonder they made such great tour buddies for NOFX in the late 80s.
Oh, and that title? Well, sadly, guitarist Fred Hutchinson passed away in 2023, and this record is a tribute to him. Suffice to say that he’d be thrilled to hear that his former bandmates have done his (and Subculture’s) legacy proud, and that the nearly four-decade wait was undeniably worth it.
‘Fred’ is released on black vinyl and limited edition green vinyl on January 24th via Sorry State Records – order it HERE.
- Willpower
- Young Frankenstein
- Victimised
- Triangle
- Bad Desperation
- KC’s Coming To Town
Follow Subculture on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Album review: War On Women – ‘Time Under Tension’
War On Women’s name is the band’s ethos straight from the get-go. For well over a decade, the hardcore group has stood at the frontlines
Album review: ‘Never Mind Brexit – Here’s German Punk’ – a Deutschpunk taster
A compilation of twelve the very best German punk bands, brought together on one record for the UK market, ‘Never Mind Brexit – Here’s German
Live review: Like morning coffee and weekly pizza: Los Fastidios never get boring!
Italian ska-punk veterans Los Fastidios return to Kulturrampe, Krefeld for another sold-out night packed with unity, passion – and absolute chaos from start to finish.
Album review: Forsaken Profits – ‘Road Rash’
As with many of the best crossover bands, it’s the frontman – one Tyler Capehart, in this case – who keeps them rooted firmly in
Interview: Alex chats with John Youens of London punks Slow Faction
John Youens is a busy man. Not only the lead singer and guitarist in London punk rockers Slow Faction, he’s also something of a studio
Live review: ‘Rock’n’Roll Mittwoch’ with Schnuppe at WP8 on 13th May 2026
With chaotic charm, sharp NDW-punk energy and plenty of humour, Cologne’s rising underground outfit Schnuppe turned a Wednesday night in Düsseldorf into a sweaty DIY
I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
