Subhumans - Demolition War

SUBHUMANS - DEMOLITION WAR

Spawned and incubated in the market town of Warminster, in Wiltshire, the Subhumans had gained the attention of Flux Of Pink Indians who having taken their cue from Crass were starting up their own label - Spiderleg Records. Having already released two posthumous singles by their former incarnation The Epileptics, the Demolition War EP by the Subhumans was Flux's first venture into releasing material by other bands and a more thrilling début would be hard to imagine.

Comprised of six dizzy bursts of frantic energy, Demolition War absolutely exploded with youthful enthusiasm underpinning a seriousness of intent. Right from the word "Go!" as shouted by vocalist Dick Lucas in opening track Parasites, it was apparent that the Subhumans were somewhat different from other Punk groups. Whether that difference was due to the impact of Crass upon their musical tastes or due simply to their Wiltshire roots, the end result was joyfully exhilarating.

Displaying their political sentiments immediately with such lines as "The government are real good to us, they crowd in their shelters and let us die," and "A choice of three for democracy and they're all parasites," the Demolition War EP was like a jet fighter plane roaring along the runway before launching into the stratosphere with the final song on the record entitled Human Error.

When The Clash unleashed their version of Junior Murvin's Police And Thieves upon the world in 1977, little did they know that not only were they building a bridge between Punk and reggae but were also creating a template for how reggae could be played by white rockers. That template was given a punkier, more metallic twist by Stiff Little Fingers with their version of Bob Marley's Johnny Was which likewise was to be a huge influence upon many other bands.

The track Human Error by the Subhumans was another turn of the screw, upping the tempo to ska level and adding Punk thrash guitar to again create something entirely new. This particular song was a signpost pointing to a future direction in which a whole wave of people and bands would one day take, not least Dick Lucas himself, reflecting the well-known anarchist adage 'If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution'.

In the meantime, however, it was enough to have Dick informing everyone that "There are no patriots no more, who's gonna fight in the Third World War - not me!" and declaring "Our society - what a drag! Our society - what a fucking drag! RIOT!!!"