The Formative Years – Crucifix
Discharge coined a whole genre with their first 7”s and laid the foundation with how they channeled their emulation of the percussive backbone of early Motorhead and Buzzcocks’ songs.
While there is no shortage of D-Beat bands, few of them proved to be as intense and original as the genre’s pioneers. The ones that were, created masterpieces that stand the test of time to this very way.
Crucifix could be considered the US’ answer to Discharge with their metal-tinged political hardcore punk and both their first 7” from 1982 as well as their “Dehumanization” album released a year later on Crass’ Corpus Christi label are solid 10 out of 10 anarcho-punk albums with its unique ground-breaking melange that was marrying California hardcore with early British crust core.
The raw power of the band oozes off the vinyl with both the band and their Cambodian born singer sounding like they are trying to break themselves in halves with their furious onslaught. Seldomly have I come across an album that so perfectly marries brutal on point distorted riffage, speed and adrenaline fuelled passionate outrage like Crucifix does with their wall of sound.
The original album came with an expertly designed six-panel foldout poster sleeve and together with the lyrics about the evils of the world, oppression, displacement and mistreatment of human rights, it not only comprises everything that attracted me to the objectives of punk and inspired me to form my own band, but constitutes a monumental release that feels like the hardcore punk equivalent of lightning in a bottle.
The fact that the band hit the scene, searched and destroyed and dissolved in 1984 only adds to the appeal.
