Crucifier

Contact: thetruecrucifier@live.com Founded in September 1990 by Cazz Grant . The initial ensemble was Ira Redden (guitar), Jeff Anderson (guitar) and as aforementioned, Cazz Grant. After four months and five original titles Jeff left the band. These particular titles were perhaps a bit "experimental" in their subject matter and orchestrated style. Although there were no official recordings of those songs, an unofficial rehearsal entitled The Unholy Trinity was planned and attempted, but ultimately aborted. During the arrangement of brand new material, Ira left the group. His departure prompted an audition for guitarist Mike Machette (R.I.P.). With this line-up Crucifier recorded its debut demonstration effort, Humans Are Such Easy Prey . Surprisingly, this certain demo created an upheaval of praise in the underground! In November of 1991, due to musical and/or personal differences, Chris and Mike left the band. Fortuitously, a friend (and fan) of Crucifier was willing and able to play bass guitar, leading to an ultimate decision of remaining a three-piece unit. Due to time restraints, the second demonstration effort, Crown of Thorns , was recorded and produced without the assistance of new bassist Dan Keaton. The total underground reaction to Crown of Thorns was positive. In September of 1992, Dan Keaton was dismissed. Shortly before his departure, material was recorded for Crucifier`s first official EP release: Unparalleled Majesty (a Pagan Records production). His dismissal resulted in the hiring of bass guitarist Gary Gandy. In the winter of 1992 Crucifier recorded two songs for yet another Pagan Records (Poland) release. The second cassette EP, By Disgrace of God , was a worldwide success. Sadly, though, that accomplishment was not enough incentive to keep Dan Kamp with Crucifier. Dan left to pursue a short career with close friends Incantation, resulting in a virtual mess in the Crucifier camp. After the release of By Disgrace of God , the band went through a plethora of personnel changes. Utilizing the talent of such good friends such as Joe Ceresini, Mike Pandorf (Snag), Joel Prange (Witchery), Craig Ross (Rapid Violence), and Chris DePetro (ex-Face First), and although not all past members of Crucifier are mentioned here. The spring of 1994 beckoned Crucifier to search for instrumentalists overseas. In March, British bass guitarist Mark Neto (ex-Cruentus) took flight to aid in the recovery. Crucifier was a two-man force at that time. One show was performed in the U.S., temporarily bringing back to the line-up Dan Kamp and Chris DePetro. A three-song promotional work entitled Powerless Against was recorded in May with the assistance of Arghoslent (Virginia) maniac Nick "The Marauder" Mertaugh (rhythm guitar). [side note: backing vocals were provided by Vlad Luciferian (ex-Grand Belial`s Key/ex-Ancient/ex-Thokk) and Jose Infernal (Sargatanas Zine).] Finally released through Virginia`s Sinistrari Records (R.I.P.), Powerless Against added to the arsenal of true black/death metal that encompasses Crucifier`s very essence. At the end of Mark`s three-month stay he left, never to be heard from again. Going into hiding, Cazz "The Black Lourde of Crucifixion" Grant took to The Crucifier Studio to compose new material. In the interim, he helped many other bands in The Crucifier Brotherhood International. In 1999, Crucifier returned with a release on vinyl with Brotherhood inductees Nunslaughter. The release, titled Trafficking With the Devil is a remarkable self-produced split seven-inch EP featuring the song "Foul Deeds Will Rise." Gaining hardcore momentum, Crucifier hired Vince Papi (Hearse/Bludgeon) on bass guitar and Spencer "Madman" Murphy (ex-Goreaphobia/ex-Face First/ex-Polterchrist/Metal War Productions) on lead guitar. In 2001, after some personal conflicts, Vince and Spencer left the band. However, after some soul searching on the part of The Black Lourde of Crucifixion, the talents of The Madman were again called upon. Vince was not interested in returning to the line-up. The conflict led to the decision of hiring George "Necrodemius Hammerhorde" Loveland (Decieverion) to play bass guitar. And with this devilish ensemble Crucifier recorded its debut LP/CD/picture disc Stronger Than Passing Time . Producing the millennium`s meanest album is Death to Mankind Records (Spain), who is currently selling it worldwide. Paragon Records took on the task of producing a long-anticipated new release from Crucifier in 2009. Trampled Under Cloven Hooves was released on 10" vinyl and is currently creating a big buzz. After a couple of shows with great bands like Acheron, Angelcorpse and Watain, Crucifier had to take a little time off due to the disappearance of long-time guitarist Spencer "Madman" Murphy and some personal issues with The Black Lourde. Enter a new line-up in the fall of 2011 and spring of 2012: TBLOC (drums/vocals/averse theology), Rob Spisak (lead guitar), Chris Kerns (bass guitar) and Jefferson Lopez (lead guitar). After many high profile shows and a few new songs Crucifier once again had a void in the second guitarist spot after the dismissal of Jefferson Lopez. Early 2015 brought the decision to bring back Dan Keaton (bassist on the '92 Crown of Thorns demo), this time on guitar. Compilation appearances : - "Mindrape" on Morbid Madness (label unknown, 1992) - "Chime of the Goat's Head Bell" on The Wine of Satan (Spellbound, 1993) - "Soul Burial" on Disincarnate Volume 3 (label unknown, 1993) - "Sodomy of Angels" on The Sound Of Uncreation Tape (1993) - "Fire & Brimstone" on American Black Metal Assault (Infinite Darkness, 2000) - "World Wars III & IV" on If You Can't Eat It or Fuck It...Then Kill It! (A Tribute to Carnivore) (Fetch the Rope, 2004) - "Introduction", "Massacremation of the Flock" & "Apocryphal Nativity" on Real Underground Compilation No. 2 (Mince Tapes, date unknown) - "Exhumed Remains of a Derayed Corpse" on Morbid Noise Abomination 7 (label and date unknown) Not to be confused with: - Crucifer (Death/Thrash Metal from Fredericksburg, Virginia) - Crüecifer (Black Metal)