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Sunday Old School: Cryptic Slaughter

Where would this column be without thrash metal? For that matter, where would metal itself be without thrash? It massively changed the genre by taking the sounds of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and turning them into something more ferocious, not only influencing many of younger headbangers, but also helping to create other successful genres such as death metal via bands like Possessed and Kreator, as well as black metal through the proto-black metal music of Celtic Frost, Bulldozer and Mercyful Fate. Beyond new areas, thrash metal also created a direct offspring of its own, after its marriage to hardcore punk, creating crossover thrash in the process. A number of beloved thrash bands belong in this category, from D.R.I. to Stormtroopers Of Death to today’s featured band, Cryptic Slaughter.

Cryptic Slaughter band began life in 1984, the brainchild of Les Evans, Scott Peterson and Adam Scott, all of whom were under the age of 18. The trio met through their participation in the American Youth Soccer League and were soon joined by another young soccer player named, Bill Crooks, who was appointed the bassist of the group. Scott didn’t last long however due to conflicts about school, so Crooks took over the vocal position, with a new bass player named Rob Nicholson was brought in, though until after the band had recorded their first demo, "Life in Grave."

The demo proved to be very popular in the tape trading scene, with Metal Blade Records, the home of such bands as Flotsam and Jetsam and Corrosion of Conformity, eventually winning the contest to sign the group. They quartet then released their debut full length album, "Convicted" in 1986, which garnered some very positive reviews and responses from thrash fans and critics alike and sold a respectable 25,000 copies. It also featured a number of fan favourite tracks such as "War to Knife," "Rest in Pain" and "Nuclear Future," as well as "Lowlife," which would later be covered by Napalm Death for their "Leaders Not Followers Part 2" album.

Only a year after the release of their first album, Cryptic Slaughter unleashed their sophomore record, "Money Talks," which is widely regarded by both fans and critics alike to be their best work. Like many hardcore, punk and metal albums of the time, the album appeared to be taking shots at the then President of the United States, Ronald Regan, a favourite target of musicians and satirists at the time, by displaying an album cover featuring a presidential figure who resembled the former actor, in a victorious pose amidst a background of mushroom clouds, pollution and poverty, as well as songs such as "Freedom of Expression?" and the title track.

By the time the band got together to record their third album, tensions within the group were starting to become more noticeable, which were magnified further by the poor production of the new album, "Stream of Consciousness." The record was poorly received by just about everyone, including the band, who made the decision to disband while they on tour before the album was released, where internal problems led to breaking point.

Though guitarist Les Evans and bassist Rob Nicholson initially tried to keep the band going, Evans instead moved to Portland, Oregon and re-launched the group there with an entirely new lineup. This new incarnation of the group released the album, "Speak Your Peace," which was a decent effort, though not enough to stave off a second break up. Despite a very brief return in 2003 when Relapse Records re-released their first two albums as well as an EP entitled, "Band In S.M." which was comprised of covers of such bands as Bad Brains, Minor Threat and the Beastie Boys, (as well as the Rolling Stones and the Monkees,) the group has had no real attempt at reforming unlike many of their thrash contemporaries. It could be argued that they don’t need to however, as their influence on the genre will be felt and heard by any and all that remember them and discover them.

Cryptic Slaughter - "Lowlife"

Cryptic Slaughter - "Convicted"

Cryptic Slaughter - "Money Talks"

Cryptic Slaughter - "American Heroes"

Cryptic Slaughter - "Circus of Fools"

Cryptic Slaughter - "Aggravated"

Cryptic Slaughter - "One Thing Or Another"

Cryptic Slaughter - "Born Too Soon"