Crust Punk: The Definitive History

Crust punk (sometimes simply crust) is one of the evolutions of anarcho-punk and hardcore punk, mixed with distorted extreme metal guitar riffs.[1] The style, which evolved in the mid-1980s in the UK, often had songs with dark, pessimistic lyrics, lingering on the bleak aftermath of nuclear war.
Crust is typically played at a fast tempo with growled and screamed vocals and anarchist lyrics. The guitar playing is similar to that used in speed metal and thrash metal. The bass guitar features more prominently and there is more use of distortion, producing a "bassy" and "dirty" sound. Crust punk takes cues from the anarcho-punk of Crass and Discharge,[1] the extreme metal of Celtic Frost and others,[1] as well as more subtle elements of post-punk via Killing Joke.[1][2] Crust punk has always remained a deeply underground form of music, although fans of the style are found worldwide. The early work of Doom,[1] Amebix,[1][3] Nausea,[1] Antisect,[1] and Hellbastard[1] constitute prototypical crust punk.
Contents
1 Musical style
2 Conceptual and lyrical elements
3 History
3.1 1980s
3.2 1990s
3.3 2000s
4 Fusion with other genres
4.1 Industrial
4.2 Grindcore
4.3 Black metal influences
5 Fashion
6 Crust record labels
7 References
8 Bibliography
9 See also


Musical style
Crust punk is a derivative form of hardcore punk and anarcho-punk, mixed with extreme metal riffs.[1] The tempos are often fast, but just short of thrashcore or grindcore, though many groups confine themselves to a crawling, sludgy pace. Vocals are often in the dual form (often male and female), very shrill, or throaty and guttural. The dueling male and female vocals are drawn from anarcho-punk. The guitar work is typically gritty, unpolished, bass-heavy and metallic. Guitar solos are seldom used and some groups eschew overt metal trappings, such as Aus-Rotten. Drumming is typically Scandinavian-influenced, done at high speed, with D-beats sometimes being used.[3] The lyrical content of crust punk tends to be bleak and nihilistic, yet politically engaged. Crust punk is one of punk's least recognizable forms, as a result of its prominent metallic elements and the extreme vocal style, and is at times mistaken for a form of metal.

Conceptual and lyrical elements
Crust punk songs are often about nuclear war, militarism, animal rights, police, and oppressive states and fascism. Amebix were also interested in various forms of mysticism and Gnosticism.[2]

History

1980s
Crust punk evolved out of the early 1980s British anarcho-punk movement.[1] It was founded by the bands Amebix[4][1]and Antisect,[1] in 1985, with the Arise LP and Out from the Void single, respectively. The term "crust" was coined by Hellbastard on their 1986 Ripper Crust demo.[1] In addition to incorporating a metal[1] influenced sound onto the existing punk genres of anarcho-punk and hardcore, crust punk presented a lyrical shift in focus from the earlier peace punk bands. Unlike the relatively optimistic and idealistic lyrics of bands like Crass, crust punk had a much more hopeless outlook. Amebix also brought in influences from various post-punk and Gothic rock bands, including Public Image Ltd., Bauhaus, Joy Division, and especially Killing Joke.[2]
The musical template created by Amebix was a slow, sludgy sound, much removed from the thrashing speed of most punk. This style was sometimes referred to as "stenchcore". Crust bands tended to take inspiration from the '80s Scandinavian D-beat scene, taking that sound and adding more distortion, screams and faster tempo, sometimes including blast beats. Bands like Doom, Excrement of War, Electro Hippies and Extreme Noise Terror were some of the first bands to have the traditional UK "crust" sound.[1] Napalm Death and Extreme Noise Terror eventually developed this style into grindcore.
American crust punk began in New York City, also in the mid-'80s, with the work of Nausea. The group emerged from the Lower East Side squat scene and New York hardcore,[5] living with Roger Miret of Agnostic Front.[6] The early work of Neurosis, from San Francisco, also borrowed from Amebix, and inaugurated crust punk on the West Coast.[7][8] Disrupt (Boston), Antischism (South Carolina), and Destroy (Minneapolis) were also significant U.S. crust groups.[1]

1990s
In the 1990s, Aus-Rotten became a new representative of crust punk in Pittsburgh, though closer to the stripped-down style of earlier D-beat. The Pist was also part of this scene. Crust punk also flourished in Minneapolis, shepherded by the Profane Existence label. The powerviolence scene associated with Slap-A-Ham Records was in close proximity to crust punk, particularly in the case of Man Is the Bastard and Dropdead.[9] Crust was also prominent in the American south, with Prank Records and CrimethInc. The most well-known representative of Southern crust was His Hero Is Gone.[3][10] Prominent crust punk groups (Wolfbrigade, Skitsystem also evolved from Sweden, which had always had a strong D-beat scene. Many of these groups developed in parallel with the much more commercial Scandinavian death metal scene.

2000s
Notable crust bands in the 2000s include Iskra, Behind Enemy Lines, Kakistocracy, From Ashes Rise, Extinction of Mankind, the Helm, Tragedy,[11][3] Ekkaia, Ictus, Trap Them,[12] and Schifosi.

Fusion with other genres

Industrial
As Amebix was heavily influenced by Killing Joke,[1][2] who are among the founders of industrial rock, crust punk has always had some relationship to this style. Nausea and Doom also eventually incorporated elements of industrial rock.

Grindcore
Crust had a major impact on grindcore. The first grindcore, practiced by the British groups Napalm Death[1] and Extreme Noise Terror,[1] was sped-up, more dissonant, crust punk. This style is dubbed "crustgrind". The powerviolence offshoot is also linked to crust, in the cases of Man Is the Bastard and Dropdead.[9]

Black metal influences
Crust punk groups, such as Amebix, took some influence from the early black metal of Venom and Celtic Frost.[1] Crust was affected by a second wave of influence in the 1990s, with some bands emphasizing these black metal elements. Iskra are probably the most obvious example of second wave black metal-influenced crust punk;[13] Iskra coined their own phrase "blackened crust" to describe this new style. Catharsis, from North Carolina, also anticipated this style.[14] The Japanese group Gallhammer also blend crust with black metal.[15] In addition, Norwegian band Darkthrone have incorporated crust punk traits in their more recent material.

Fashion
Crust punk is a DIY-oriented branch of punk fashion. A large part of the crust punk aesthetic revolves around not bathing, and allowing a layer of crust to form on the skin. Denim jackets, hooded sweatshirts with sewn-on patches, or vests covered in studs, spikes and band or patches are characteristic element of crust punk fashion.[11] Baseball caps covered in patches are also common. Dental floss is frequently used to sew fabric together, owing to its durability and ease of use. Pants tend to be bondage pants, work pants, Carhartt pants and overalls, or skin tight jeans many over these often covered in patches. Bum flaps displaying political slogans or band names are also common. Bullet belts are also often seen on crust punks. Footwear tends to be either combat boots or second-hand shoes, typically beat-up Converse Chuck Taylor's. Mohawks and liberty spikes dyed bright colors (often seen on street punks) are uncommon; crusties prefer dreadlocks (along with its variant, the dread-hawk).[16] Large numbers of piercings and tattoos are also common. Crust punks are associated with road protests, beggars, squatters, street entertainers, poor hygiene and the young homeless. The broader "crusty" subculture has been linked to New Age travellers.[16]

Crust record labels
Profane Existence
Dead Earth Records
Deep Six Records
Rodent Popscicle Records
Tragedy Records
Aborted Society Records
Threat to Existence Records
Prank Records
Life is Abuse Records
Moshpit Tragedy Records
Havoc Records
Crimes Against Humanity Records

References
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Von Havoc, Felix (1984-1-1). "Rise of Crust". Profane Existence. Retrieved on 2008-06-16.
^ a b c d Glasper, Ian (2006). "Amebix". The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984. Cherry Red Books. ISBN-10: 1901447707. p. 198-201.
^ a b c d Peter Jandreus, The Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk 1977-1987, Stockholm: Premium Publishing, 2008, p. 11.
^ "Amebix". MyWire. Retrieved on 2008-06-16.
^ Init 5, September 25, 2007. [1] Access date: June 18, 2008.
^ John John Jesse interview, Hoard Magazine, June 2005. [2] Access date: June 18, 2008
^ Adam Louie, Mastodon, Neurosis show review, January 29, 2008 [3] Access date: June 18, 2008
^ Anthony Bartkewicz, Decibel Magazine No. 31, May 2007. [4] Access date: June 18, 2008
^ a b "Powerviolence: The Dysfunctional Family of Bllleeeeaaauuurrrgghhh!!". Terrorizer no. 172. July 2008. p. 36-37.
^ Andrew Childers, "Kick in the South: A Look Back at Prank Records and the Southern Crust Scene". April 5, 2008. [5] Access date: June 21, 2008
^ a b Kevin Stewart-Panko, "I Saw Disfear Three Times in Three Days", Decibel, no. 46, August 2008, p. 22.
^ Paul Schwartz, "Rotten Sound + The Ocean + Victims + Trap Them", Terrorizer no. 171, June 2008, p. 83
^ Iskra Interviews.
^ Crust-Demos, 6/12/07. [6] Access date: June 18, 2008
^ "Hard of Hearing", Terrorizer no. 171, June 2008, p. 56.
^ a b Hetherington, K. New Age Travellers, page 9. Cassell. 2000

Bibliography
CrimethInc. Days of War Nights of Love. CrimethInc. Workers Collective. ASIN: B000TXZZR6Glasper, Ian (2004). Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980-1984. Cherry Red Books. ISBN-10: 1901447243Glasper, Ian (2006). The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984. Cherry Red Books. ISBN-10: 1901447707Mudian, Albert (2000). Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore. Feral House. ISBN-10: 193259504XProfane Existence (1997). Making Punk a Threat Again: Profane Existence: Best Cuts 1989-1993. Loincloth. ASIN: B000J2M8GS

See also
List of crust punk bands
Anarcho-punk
Crusties
Grindcore
Scandinavian hardcore
D-beat