Bill Crooks - Vocals
Les Evans - Guitars
Rob Nicholson - Bass
Scott Peterson - Drums
Influences
"It was CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER along with bands like D.R.I., ACCUSED, AGNOSTIC FRONT, C.O.C., THE CRUMBSUCKERS, SLAYER, HELLBASTARD, NAPALM DEATH etc. that in the mid-80s turned a world of metalheads onto hardcore and a planet of punks onto metal."
~inmusicwetrust.com
Sounds Like
"Along with D.R.I., C.O.C. and the contributions of punkers like Discharge and The Exploited, Cryptic Slaughter built up the genre of "thrash" music from haphazard crossover to a science of more terrifying, instantaneous music."
~anus.com
The original Speedcore merchants, Cryptic Slaughter dealt a West Coast hand into the late 80's Crossover movement, a movement that saw the normally warring armies of punk rock and thrash metal finally come together into a unified front bent on exposing social injustice and political hypocrisy. Powered by a previously unimagined sense of informed aggression, the band's uncompromising political stance and lightning-fast tempos ultimately proved too harsh for mainstream tastes, but their status as underground legends remains unquestioned.
Vocalist/bassist Bill Crooks, guitarists Les Evans and Adam Scott, and drummer Scott Peterson first met while playing on their High School soccer team, and formed Cryptic Slaughter in 1984. Adam Scott was soon on the outs, but the remaining trio still managed to cut their five-song Life in Grave" demo by May of the following year. Its sheer speed and unbridled ferocity quickly made it a favorite conversation piece on the all-important underground tape-trading network -- a worldwide phenomenon that had already launched dozens of successful acts before them -- and eventually landed Cryptic Slaughter a contract with fast-rising independent Metal Blade Records.
Issued in 1986, the band's debut album Convicted introduced new bassist Rob Nicholson (freeing Crooks to focus on his rabid vocal delivery) and somehow crammed fourteen tracks into a violently giddy, adrenalin-charged half hour, every single cut spewing a torrent of anti-establishment bile and fury. Follow-up efforts like 1987's Money Talks and 1988's Stream Of Consciousness added only the smallest of sonic refinements, and kept the group's ever-expanding legion of fans happy by staying true to their original, raw and frenetic style.
Cryptic Slaughter TRIVIA:
* Napalm Death covers "Lowlife" on their 2004 album, Leaders Not Followers: Part 2.
* Bass-player Rob Nicholson, aka Blasko, used to play with Rob Zombie, Danzig, Prong and now plays bass for Ozzy Osbourne.
* Powerviolence band Spazz covers "M.A.D" on their 1997 album "La Revancha"
* The song "Lowlife" is featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Project 8.
* A "Convicted" album is seen being handled by Johnny Depp in the 21 Jump Street pilot.
* Cryptic Slaughter is featured in the book Sound of the Beast, the Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal.
* "Money Talks" is the featured album in Decibel magazines Hall of Fame feature. April 2007.
* "Money Talks" is featured in the SPIN Magazine column "Essentials". July 2007.
* Cryptic Slaughter gets a "shout out" from some punker in the film Decline of the Western Civilization: Part 2.
~ Cryptic Slaughter "Money Talks" 1988/Balboa Theater, L.A., CA ~
"Glorious Times: A Pictorial of the Death Metal Scene (1984 - 1991)" is now available to pre-order for a limited time directly from the editors after which it can be purchased (at a higher cost) through cm distro.
Extremely limited - each book will be hand numbered.
Think of it as a family photo album for the death metal scene of that era. Inside the book you will find many never before seen pictures coupled with personal tales (personal memories and stories, not the same crap that's been retold in interview after interview) from the bands, 'zine and other notables of the era.
A book like this has never been made before and may never be made again so get it while you can.
For a brief time the book will is being made available for the rock bottom price of $36 us dollars (for north american orders, postage included) and $39 us dollars (rest of world, postage included), make payments through paypal to glorioustimesdeathbook@gmail.com
After a brief period the rates will rise to match what CM distro will charge, so be sure to place your order now at this discounted rate. wholesale rates are available for orders of 5 or more, if interested send an email to glorioustimesdeathbook@gmail.com to inquire about those rates.
Hey compadre queremos reeditar todo el material de audio y de visual (posters, tickets) que hizo esta divertida banda de Punk-Oi!-Hardcore entre 1987 y 1999. Los mismísimos TOY DOLLS de Barcelona!!!
As responsible and privileged members of this society , let's make a small contribution to help ameliorate starvation in third world countries and quell this growing concern of an impending Food Crisis
Buy our 3-track demo of absolute shitty thrash metal at 6 Singapore dollars or 4 US dollars or 3 Euros. Trades are welcome as well, but write first and please don't rip us off!! Contact us at xanadoosg@hotmail.com or just drop us a message on our Myspace. Wholesalers contact us for special rate
Online Now!
