“A Simple Solution to a Complex Problem" was recorded by JACK ENDINO in ’87and released only as a cassette. The tape caught some attention in theunderground, and connected SUBVERT with bands like POISON IDEA, FINALCONFLICT, THE ACCUSED, CHRIST ON PARADE, and eventually made their way intoPUSHEAD’s top 100 of the 80’s. This 7” is the new remastered version of theDemo Tape and includes an additional Instrumental song “Noxious Tune” fromthe same session, which has never been released on vinyl until now. Thecover is a reworked version of an early Subvert logo with original art byNEKO CASE.Our take: A Simple Solution to a Complex Problem is a vinyl reissue of this Seattle, Washington band’s 1987 cassette. This is a new one for me; I’d seen Subvert’s name on flyers and heard their name in passing, but I can’t remember ever checking out the tape before. I think it’s killer, which is unsurprising given it touches so many other interesting things I love. The list of bands Subvert played with includes late 80s heavyweights (and personal favorites) like Poison Idea, Final Conflict, the Accused, and Christ on Parade, and like those bands, Subvert’s sound liberally mixes punk and metal, particularly thrash metal. It’s certainly of a piece with the above-mentioned bands, but it also reminds me of early New York hardcore, particularly Cause for Alarm, and Jeff said it reminded him of New York crossover (by which I assume he means bands like Crumbsuckers and Leeway), and I can see that too. Oh, and speaking of other famous things Subvert touched, A Simple Solution to a Complex Problem was recorded by Jack Endino (who recorded fucking Bleach!) and Subvert’s logo on the cover was drawn by Neko Case. Wild! Maybe some of you will find this too thrashy, but I think it shreds, particularly since the gritty, lo-fi recording keeps this sounding more like a hardcore record than a metal one. This version doesn’t come with the bountiful packaging you see on a lot of reissues these days, but the straightforward presentation suits Subvert’s music.
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