The Crucified

Description

The self-titled debut album by the American metal band The Crucified was released on Narrowpath Records in 1989, distributed by Pure Metal Records. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Greg Heil at Casbah Studios in Fullerton, California; with the band co-producing (as well as mixing).

Those of you who thought Sandi Patti’s last album was a trifle too soft will love this album! On second thought, let is be said that this debut album from Northern California’s hardcore thrashers will appeal to the narrow segment of the album-buying public known as “moshers.” This album rips through 14 high-speed songs in the time span of 41 minutes and 50 seconds.

The hard-core punk scene, which The Crucified has been playing in and ministering to for the last four years, calls this kind of music “crossover,” because it mixes thrash heavy metal and hard-core punk. This match seemed unlikely two or three years ago, because of the open animosity between metal-heads and punks. The advent of thrash and speed metal has brought the two styles closer together.

A lot of the songs here, like «Your Image», are very enjoyable due to the deep grooves cut by bassist Mark Johnson, drummer Jim Chafflin, and guitarist Greg Minier. Vocalist Mark Salomon sings with tons of passion and guts, yet it may be too fast for most to decipher. Fortunately, a lyric sheet is provided.

The messages here are about as potent as the music played. One look at songs titles like «The Pit», «Back to the Cross», and «Diehard» leave no doubts to the serious nature of the lyrics. «One Demon to Another» paints a Frank Perretti-style picture of the fate of one who decides not to accept Christ. «A Guy in a Suit and the Pope» comments negatively on Rome’s papal figure and the television evangelist who begs for money. “I’d (gladly) tie a millstone around your neck”. Living up to the punk image, The Crucified can’t be accused of not speaking their mind.

Fans of The Lead and Believer will think this is the best album they’ve heard this year, because it represents this genre so well. The other 90% of the Christian music-buying public may not be able to swallow it. [Doug Van Pelt, CCM, July 1990]

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LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “The Pit” – 3:12
A2. “Die Hard” – 2:56
A3. “Your Image” – 1:24
A4. “Getting A Grip On Things” – 3:22
A5. “Hellcorn” – 3:22
A6. “Rise” – 3:55
A7. “One Demon To Another” – 3:10

Side Two
B1. “Unity” – 3:28
B2. “A Guy In A Suit And The Pope” – 1:42
B3. “Back To The Cross” – 3:43
B4. “Confidence” – 2:37
B5. “The Insult Circus” – 2:50
B6. “Thread” – 2:28
B7. “Crucial Moment” – 3:28

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Narrowpath. Re-issued in 2013 by Veritas Vinyl, Vinyl Remains and the band, as a Limited Edition with 500 copies pressed in multiple vinyl colors.

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