In 1986, John Lydon let rip and roared, “Anger is an energy” in the cracking Public Image Ltd song, ‘Rise’. If proof were ever needed to support his claim, it would have been delivered in the shape of grime-punk duo Bob Vylan.
“This album is for the underdogs, the ones who come out swinging and those who refuse to be defeated in the face of injustice. It aims to remind listeners that anger is a fire that can be harnessed and used. The album creation started from a conversation with the sun, which is, after all, a big ball of fire that sustains life,” states Bobby Vylan, the engaging frontman of the band. Sun equals energy, which is Lydon being correct.
Their previous albums have certainly explored the issues within society and their causes. Topics such as racism, poverty, police violence, mental health, lopsided income distribution, toxic masculinity, and late-stage capitalism, to name a few, have all been examined by Bob Vylan. So, what issues and themes will be the focus of their ire on their new album, Humble As The Sun?
The album starts with its title track, combining a smooth melody and fierce lyrics. Bobby Vylan reveals that he refuses to be seen as some third-class citizen, instead preferring to be a beacon of hope to others. He shows that you can succeed and become whatever you desire to be. Just know that you must be prepared to fight for this in an increasingly unequal world.
An angry outpouring comes next in the form of ‘Reign”. This meaty slice of grime sees Bob Vylan in fine form. “Fuck Queen and Country/Livin’ in boxes, Lizzy lived comfy“, declares Bobby Vylan before delivering another punch about this issue. “Landlords are rinsing, we get freezin’/Drafts in the bedroom, mould in the kitchen, leak in the bathroom“, highlighting the huge chasm between the haves and the not allowed to have.
‘GYAG (Get Yourself A Gun)’ has a punk feel and details an alternative method to “Take Back Control.” “It’s cold out here, and the games being played aren’t fun/ Landlord just raised your rent, but get yourself a gun”—are we heading towards an uprising or moving to survival mode? Possibly both.
I’ve always loved ‘Eton Rifles’ by The Jam, especially the excellent Bruce Foxton bassline. ‘Dream Big’ has a similar bass sound and sounds superb. The track is a call to arms for those growing up in the brutality of modern Britain. It encourages people, especially younger people, to shun those who suggest keeping your head down and accepting the status quo. The song also contains backing vocals from Bobby Vylan’s daughter, nieces and nephews. Hopefully, they will heed his advice and dream big.
‘Hunger Games’ brings the focus back to the nation’s state. “Spin the wheel for the chance of a hot meal“, announces Bobby Vylan like a tacky game show host. However, this grime-rock song also offers hope to those struggling right now. “You are more than your take-home pay“, declares Vylan. “You are loved. You are not alone. You are going through hell but keep going“. This song issues a rallying cry for those getting any respite from the ongoing cost of living crisis, a culmination of enforced austerity, political self-interest and corporate greed. It is a banging track, indeed.
Sampling Fatboy Slim’s ‘Right Here, Right Now’ (who sampled Angela Bassett in the movie Strange Days), Bob Vylan cement their place in the world and stress that they are going nowhere in ‘Right Here’. As long as injustice is at play, Bob Vylan will use their voice. They are the right people, in the right place, at the shittiest of times.
“You turn your nose up and don’t fight for my cause/Yeah, OK, cool, but someday soon there’ll be no one to fight for yours”, states Vylan with the ghost of Pastor Niemöller echoing through his words. ‘Makes Me Violent’ has shades of Red Hot Chilli Peppers in its sound but carries greater lyrical muscle. As Bobby Vylan explains, “Makes Me Violent is a letter to England. A country that tells us not to be angry or violent but continues to carry out and allow some of the most violent atrocities in the world.”
This duo make it clear that when all avenues are explored and ignored, sometimes the only outlet left is an expression of anger and resistance. In a similar vein to the IDLES song ‘Model Village,’ Bob Vylan succeeds in taking it up a couple of notches with ‘He’s A Man’. This punk firecracker is an anthem all about the male gammonati and being a “proper” man (whatever the hell that is)—the sort of man who cries, especially on social media, when people call for change or for justice, and it doesn’t fit their narrow-minded view of the world.
This track contains some classic Bob Vylan lyrics. “Love’s a chicken korma but hates the hands that cook it“, proclaims Vylan, hitting the nail on the head of the contradictions often in play within the lives of these arseholes. I nearly choked on my coffee when Vylan decrees, “The G-Spot don’t exist mate, that’s just feminist propaganda“. It is a superb line that encapsulates the ludicrousness of those firmly in his sights.
“Sunday roast, choking down some gammon/All these rules, things he just can’t say, he just can’t understand them/Misses the days when he could count on Clarkson, May and Hammond“. It’s a tremendous song.
Three minutes of filthy noise is next up with ‘Ring The Alarm’. A tasty mix of grime and drum and bass sees Vylan going after the London Metropolitan Police. The album concludes with three minutes and 44 secs of punk-fueled, grime-soaked anger with ‘I’m Still Here’. Bobby Vylan screams in defiance, “I’m still here; they’ll never take me alive”, as, despite the challenges faced, both personal and societal, he still stands proud, strong and fighting.
I’m confident that Bob Vylan couldn’t give a toss about my review. They may get the tiniest grain of satisfaction knowing I like the album, but their goal is getting out their crucial message to stand up, fight and make significant societal and political changes. With Humble As The Sun, they should succeed with this ambition.
Although I do like a bit of punk, I’ve never really got on board with grime. I’ve not tried to learn more about the music or the artists who create it. That’s my bad. However, this duo has encouraged me to delve deeper and discover something new. I must also credit Bobbie Vylan for his part in creating this excellent album. Whilst Bobby may take a little more of the limelight as the frontman, Bobbie’s contribution is undeniably crucial to their success.
I certainly felt fired up after listening to this record. This may be the biggest compliment I can give. A band cannot change the world. What they can do is inspire individuals to get off their arses, get out there and make a difference in their neighbourhoods, no matter how small. All change starts by taking positive action. It also inspires others to do the same. Momentum builds, and bigger transformations become a reality. If you don’t feel wrath and empowerment after listening to Humble As The Sun, you must have listened to it wrong.
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