Catalan punk band CRIM are back with their fifth proper studio LP, Futur Medieval, distributed in the USA by Pirates Press Records. It takes a special kind of band to maintain the combination of longevity and creative spark to still be going strong on their fifth album. It is this kind of persistence that has built CRIM into perhaps the most internationally noted band from Catalo- nia. CRIM attracts attention from all over the world to the intensity of their scene with their dark brand of streetpunk, sung in their native tongue. On Futur Medieval, CRIM juxtaposes violent imagery of the Middle Ages with that of contemporary society, commenting on a potential future where, despite technological and industrial “progress,” humanity has regressed into barbarism. The spectacularly evocative cover art could at first glance be mistaken for a medieval battle scene...until one looks closer to note the presence of drones and giant robots among the fray. On singles such as “Res de Nou” (“Nothing New”), “Carnets de Punk” (“Punk Cards”), “Combats d'Autoesgrima” (“Fencing with Yourself”), and the title track, CRIM’s trademark combination of gritty, driving streetpunk, shout along choruses, and catchy guitar hooks is in fine form, as the band thematically navigate issues of identity, self-sabotage, and what it takes to survive in a world that can be harsh and bleak. Closing out the album is a cover of "Presó Mental" (“Mental Prisoner”), the 1989 hit by Catalan darkwavers Kitsch. CRIM have built an international fanbase far beyond those who speak their language by tapping into universally recognizable themes paired with irresistible music. No matter whether you understand the language or if you need to translate the lyrics, from the moment you drop the needle on this record, it will be abundantly clear that Futur Medieval is CRIM at their finest. SIDE A 01. Ésser de Llum 02. L'Aula dels Dofins 03. Futur Medieval 04. Combats d'Autoesgrima 05. Res de Nou 06. Festa d'una Persona SIDE B 07. Carnets de Punk 08. Depressió sota el Capó 09. Nihilisme Pop 10. Si Jo no fos tan Idiota 11. Sota de Tot 12. De Guix i de Ciment 13. Presó Mental Pressing: 500 units
