Today, California punk band Human Issue release their debut album, In Flesh, available through Smartpunk Records. Staying true to the band’s original mindset, the record favors instinct over polish. Most songs land under two minutes, packing hardcore aggression, flashes of melody, harsh riffs, and relentless drums into a tight nine-track, fifteen-minute release. Drawing directly from the lives of vocalists Hunter Martinez and Matthew Watkins, the lyrics are confrontational and personal, delivered with unfiltered intensity.
Martinez shares on the records themes and lyrics:
“There’s a lot on this album touching and focusing on using coping mechanisms to get through day-to-day life. Whether it’s Trauma bonding, Drinking and taking substances, The over-use of technology in the palm of most everybody’s hands. Watching, observing, obsessing. Falling into a perpetual cycle of vices.
I’d like to say there’s a sense of hope or hopefulness in these songs. There’s dark subject matter but, through it all, I like to believe there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Or at least I try to. I’m not a pessimist. As dark as things are in the world, I still want to believe in humanity.”
In Flesh was produced by vocalist Hunter Martinez, Bryan Lothian (of A Global Threat) and Alex Jacobelli (Negative Blast), who also engineered and mixed, with mastering by Nick Townsend at Townsend Mastering.
Stream In Flesh HERE and purchase through Smartpunk Records. Alongside the album release, Human Issue have shared a music video for the title track, shot, edited and directed by Justin Eckley and Dylan Buck – watch it HERE.
Human Issue are gearing up an east coast headline run starting June 18th. This September they’ll support The Bouncing Souls, The Suicide Machines and Strike Anywhere on tour. You can find all the band’s upcoming tour and festival dates, including The Fest and Camp Punksylvania, below.
Human Issue is Hunter Martinez – Vocals, Matthew Watkins – Vocals, Sam Mankinen – Drums, Ryan Marino – Bass, Dylan Moore – Guitar, and Emmett O’Reilly – Guitar.
