Human Missile Crisis and the jammy prog punk provocation of "Liquor Store Stories"

 

"and it will start with a bang / the sound is heard ten miles away..."

I had a weird sensation while listening to the massive punch and swagger of "Liquor Store Stories" by Dartmouth, Nova Scotia based Human Missile Crisis. Not only is the title amazing and sounds like an anthology series on Hulu, the crunchy assaulting guitars, the nimble hyper bass lines, atomic drumming and strident vocal scowling aesthetic had me thinking of a 70's Mod revival rock band instead of a punk outfit, namely, the iconic JAM. Maybe it is the major 7th and miner chords I think I am hearing, maybe it is the vocal countenance that does have a heavier sort of iteration of Weller, and maybe it is the fury of the bass and drums, of everything really. And it also might be the sense of talking about the inner workings of home towns.  

Now to be utterly square with you, press notes indicate that this track is:

[...reflecting on a toxic relationship tearing apart and finally breaking down but still both parties refuse to let go...]

But as we all know, songs are sonic Rorschach tests and this one has a big opaque splatter for me. 

By the way, sonically, I also thought of an amalgam of early punk like the Buzzcocks and more current bangers like Prince Daddy & The Hyena.

Anyway, dig this track and will be interested to hear what the boys think of the JAM comparison, as odd as it might seem to be.

-Robb Donker Curtius

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2uxXcWx6P9FcomQh1tgCn7

https://www.instagram.com/humanmissilecrisis/

https://www.facebook.com/missilecrisis

https://humanmissilecrisis.bandcamp.com/track/humble-creatures


Hailing from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Human Missile Crisis makes punk-infused garage-rock. Longtime friends and perennial band mates, the trio has been melting faces in bars and all-ages venues since 2019. With a live set that's loud and energetic, the HMC party is a show you won't want to miss.