Subhumans were, between 1980-85, one of the most prolific and original of the evolving UK punk scene; they were based in Warminster, Wiltshire and the lineup was Dick Lucas on vocals, Bruce Treasure played guitar, Phil Bryant on bass, and Trotsky on the drums. Dick had previously sung for The Mental, who released one EP and embodied the 'cant-play-will-play' early punk 'anyone-can-do-it' attitude. Bruce had been in the Stupid Humans, also based in Warminster; these two met at an Angelic Upstarts gig in 1980, and when their bands split they got together to form Subhumans.
Musical influences were a mix of Sex Pistols, Damned, and similar punk originators, and prepunk bands like King Crimson and Frank Zappa, which led to a style of punk more intricate in its structure than their contemporaries, without losing the base energy and dynamics of punk. Dick's lyrics, at once socially aware and heavily critical of social norms, placed them in the anarcho-punk area of the ever-expanding UK punk scene of the early 80s, alongside Crass, Antisect, Conflict, and Flux of Pink Indians, who released the band's first 3 EPs (Demolition War, Reason For Existence, and Religious Wars) and their first LP The Day The Country Died.
In 1983 they formed their own label, Bluurg Records and released their second full-length effort From the Cradle to the Grave which included a 16 minute track of the same name that had the music press calling for a redefinition of punk. Remastered and reissued on 180g vinyl with booklet and poster.