U.K. Subs

Among the most important bands of the second wave of British punk, the U.K. Subs had been around since the scene's early days. But as the first wave began to crumble, the group got tougher and faster, and rose to fame as their peers were burning out, breaking out in 1979 with Another Kind of Blues. Their signature sound was stripped-down and anthemic British punk, coupled with ranting vocals that merged anger with dark humor. They grew faster and leaner with time (as on 1986's Huntington Beach), and a metal influence edged into their music in the '90s (see 1997's Riot), but for folks who wanted their punk simple, forceful, and full of shout-along choruses, the U.K. Subs reliably delivered throughout a long and eventful career. For a concise introduction to the band's history, 2021's Punk Rock Anthology 1978-2017 does the job well.