The American black metal scene has always been a bit of a conundrum. Quality bands can slave away in the underground for years without serious acclaim from black metal fans, but sometimes a quirk of fate can change that. Von, for example, probably would not be nearly as well know if Burzum had not name-dropped them in an interview back in the early 1990s. Pennsylvania's CRUCIFIER, on the other hand, had no such luck on their side. They have been a truly underground phenomenon since day one, and continue to be just that. But they are of supreme importance because of their influence on more well-known bands, such as Grand Belial's Key.
The band formed around 1990, with their founding members having legitimate underground credentials. True underground death and black metal bands from the mid-1980s like Witchery, Satanic Slaughter, and Caution were the proving grounds for founding members Jeff Anderson, Ira Redden, and Cazz Grant (the mastermind and one constant behind Crucifier). Cazz Grant has said that his early influences were bands like Venom, Sodom, Slayer, and Black Sabbath, followed ny Nihilist, Carnage, and the Swedish death metal scene, but by the time Crucifier formed in 1990, they were carving a path all their own.
There were a number of obscure underground demos that were created in Crucifier's early months of existence, but their first actual release was the Humans Are Such Easy Prey demo. The foundation for Crucifier's trademark sound was evident on this early release. It is a raw and vicious slab of old-school black/death that fans of the more brutal styles of black metal (think Archgoat or Blasphemy) or perhaps even early Incantation would find extremely enjoyable.
In its entirety, here is 1991's Humans Are Such Easy Prey
Back in the tape-trading days of the early 1990s, Crucifier ended up making connections with many different underground and cult labels. Polish cult label Pagan Records expressed an interest in collaborating with Crucifier, and the result was a series of crucial releases. Cassette-only albums like 1993's Unparalleled Majesty and By Disgrace of God only helped to spread the name of Crucifier further in the underground.
Off of the Unparalleled Majesty cassette, here is "Sodomy of Angels"
"Mourning in Nazareth" comes from the By Disgrace of God cassette
In these years with Pagan Records, another key aspect to Crucifier's growing underground fame was their infamous live shows. They were able to tour with such titans of extreme metal as Bolt Thrower, Sacrifice, Immolation, and Revenant, but it was the atmosphere of the Crucifier performance that they become know for. Crucifier performed several notorious shows which had actual animal carcasses, and they eventually become known in some circles as "that band with the goat and deer heads on stage."
Crucifier's formula has not changed much to this day. Their sound is still a revoltingly evil black/death style that fans of both genres should seek out and listen to, but at the same time, they have remained steadfast in their refusal to sell out and sign with a mainstream label.
"My Lord of Swine" is from a 1996 EP, Powerless Against
Crucifier's first full-length album--Stronger Than Passing Time--didn't actually debut until 2003
Select Discography:
Humans Are Such Easy Prey (demo) (1991)
Unparalleled Majesty EP (1993)
By Disgrace of God EP (1993)
Powerless Against EP (1996)
Trafficking with the Devil EP (1998)
Stronger Than Passing Time (full-length) (2003)
Next Time: BESTIAL SUMMONING
