Human Conflict Number Five is the debut EP by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, released in 1982 by Mark Records. While the EP also contained the band's own Christian Burial Music imprint, the label itself was fictitious.
Bar this version of "Tension", all the tracks on the EP appear in remixed, remastered and resequenced form on the 10,000 Maniacs compilation CD Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983 (1990).
Background
10,000 Maniacs formed out of an artist cooperative in Jamestown that met in a rented warehouse called the Broadhead Mills, as well as at the Jamestown radio station WJWK. The band, who first performed under the name Still Life, performed their first gig as 10,000 Maniacs on Labor Day of 1981. The band's first composition was "Tension", which grew out of an English class assignment by singer Natalie Merchant.
The EP was recorded at State University of New York, Fredonia by Bill Waldman, and sessions commenced on Valentine's Day 1982, The band's drummer during this period was Jim Foti, who played on the recordings.