Cryptic Slaughter

Cryptic Slaughter
File:Crypticslaughter band.jpg
Background information
Years active	1984 - 1990, 2003
Members	Bill Crooks Bret Davis Les Evans Dave Hollingsworth Brian Lehfeldt Rob Nicholson Scott Peterson

Cryptic Slaughter was a Santa Monica, California-based crossover band.

Biography

Cryptic Slaughter was formed in 1984 by Les Evans, Scott Peterson and Adam Scott, who were all teenagers at the time, as well as being soccer players. Soon they were joined by Bill Crooks, another soccer player and Adam Scott was kicked out for missing rehearsals.

Their first demo tape, Life in a Grave, was produced in 1985. Shortly after the recording of their next album, Stream of Consciousness, the band broke up as a result of Crooks and Peterson leaving the band. Shortly after this, however, guitarist Les Evans and bassist Rob Nicholson recruited new members and continued the band.

They toured extensively in support of the albums Convicted (1986) and Money Talks (1987) before disbanding in 1989 due to financial and managerial problems. They are often credited as one of the progenitors of crossover, the thrash metal and hardcore punk crossover genre, along with such seminal acts as D.R.I. and Corrosion of Conformity. However, the group's last album, Speak Your Peace, was a step in a different direction, with Cryptic Slaughter bringing alternative rock and grunge into the band's sound and doing away with the hardcore punk elements of previous albums.

In 2003, Relapse Records rereleased the Convicted and Money Talks albums with added bonus tracks from Cryptic Slaughter's demo and live recordings.

Members

• Bill Crooks – vocals, 1984 – 1988
• Dave Hollingsworth – vocals, 1989 – 1990
• Les Evans – guitar, 1984 – 1990
• Rob Nicholson – bass, 1984 – 1988
• Bret Davis – bass, 1989 – 1990
• Scott Peterson – drums, 1984 – 1988
• Brian Lehfeldt – drums, 1989 – 1990

Discography

Demos

• "Life in A Grave" (1985)

EPs

• "Band in S.M." (2003) Relapse Records

Studio Albums

• Convicted (1986) Metal Blade Records
• Money Talks (1987) Metal Blade Records
• Stream of Consciousness (1988) Metal Blade Records
• Speak Your Peace (1990) Metal Blade Records

Trivia

• Napalm Death covers "Lowlife" on their 2004 album, Leaders Not Followers: Part 2.
• Bass-player Rob Nicholson used to play with Rob Zombie as Mr.Blasko.
• Powerviolence band Spazz covers "M.A.D" on their 1997 album "La Revancha"
• "Lowlife" is featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Project 8.
• A Convicted album is seen being purchased by Tom Hanson and Judy Hoffs in the 21 Jump Street pilot.

External links

• Interview with guitarist Les Evans
• Relapse Records band page
• BNR Metal discography page
• Encyclopaedia Metallum band entry
• Interview with Les Evans at ANUS