A Country Fit For Heroes – Volumes 1 & 2 is a definitive compilation album that captures the raw, uncompromising sound of the UK82 and street punk movements of the early 1980s. Originally released as two separate vinyl EPs by the legendary independent label No Future Records—Volume 1 in January 1982 and Volume 2 in 1983—the collection was later packaged together for modern CD, vinyl, and digital reissues. The album serves as an essential time capsule of British working-class youth culture, delivering 23 tracks filled with fast tempos, aggressive vocals, and politically charged, anti-establishment themes that defined the underground punk scene of the era.
The compilation is highly revered by collectors because it preserves rare, alternative, and raw demo versions of tracks by both scene icons and incredibly obscure regional bands. Featuring energetic contributions from the likes of The Violators, Attak, One Way System, and A.B.H., the album provides a comprehensive look at the DIY network that sustained punk rock after its initial late-70s wave. The cultural impact of the compilation remains so enduring that its title was later adopted by punk-rock historian Ian Glasper for his definitive book detailing the history of the 1980s UK underground punk movement.
