Crust punk
Crust punk is one of the many extreme evolutions of
anarcho-punk. Crust was created by fusing elements of anarcho-punk and metal (arguably early
black metal) or
grindcore to create a unique sound often characterized by extremely fast hardcore punk based tempos, often guttural or shrill vocalization, and a gritty, bass-heavy sound. Some have called this subgenre stenchcore, after the
Deviated Instinct 1987 demo, "Terminal Filth Stenchcore". Although not the same genre, crust is very closely related to and influenced by
d-beat,
anarcho-punk,
thrashcore,
power violence and
grindcore often even becoming nearly impossible to distinguish, and using d-beats or sounds varying from grindcore to anarcho-punk to punk, to
metal. Good examples of this include
Dropdead,
Heresy, or
Disrupt. Crust is often classified by the ethics portrayed by the bands more than the actual sound of the music.
Many consider the band
Amebix to be the godfathers of crust punk, and consider the Arise! LP to be the first known defining crust punk album. The band
Hellbastard, who actually coined the term "crust", (after their 1986 "Ripper Crust" demo) was one of the first bands to play the genre as it commonly recognized today. On the other side of the Atlantic,
New York's
Nausea was one of the most influential early North American crust bands. Prototypical takes on the genre can be traced back to the peace punk and anarcho punk bands of the early '80s, such as
Crass. Crass' minimalistic and unique music,
DIY approach, and radical politics are still carried today.
Lyrics to crust songs tend to be based around politics. Topics such as
anarchism,
environmentalism,
racial equality,
squatting,
non-conformity,
feminism and abolishing
sexism,
animal rights,
veganism/
vegetarianism, religious control, and nuclear destruction are common themes. Elements of the crust sound can be heard in many anarcho-punk bands, such as those collaborating with
Spiderleg Records,
Southern Records,
Skuld Releases,
Tribal War Records,
Profane Existence,
Peaceville Records,
Havoc Records,
Unrest Records, and
Life is Abuse Records.
Crust punks are known for their heavily political outlook on society and life in general. Many squat in abandoned buildings and choose not to seek employment. This can be equated to what
Murray Bookchin has called "lifestyle anarchism".
Perhaps the most stereotypical and infamous facet of the persona is the perceived lack of hygiene, as many crust punks seemingly avoid bathing and grooming and women commonly avoid shaving of any body hair.
Dreadlocks are also popular as unwashed hair is easy to manipulate into the hairstyle. There are several stated reasons for such activity that include, but are not limited to: disdain toward the typical socially accepted image of both sexes (or persons in general), wishing to remain free of the toxins and chemicals in many personal hygiene products, refusal to purchase corporate products, or simply the result of living the squatter lifestyle without the accommodations most people are used to. Such beliefs are very similar to, and possibly based on,
deep ecology,
social ecology and/or
ecofeminism.
Many crust punks are
atheist, however, some crust punks may adopt
Pagan spirituality due to its connection to nature, the Earth, and the environment.
Crust punk bands have taken on what is known as a DIY ethic: that is, Do It Yourself. In this way one can bypass the traditional recording and distribution routes, with material often being made available in exchange for "a blank tape plus self-addressed envelope". The anarcho-punk and crust punk movement also has its own network of zines which disseminate news, ideas, and artwork from the punk community. Again, these are very much 'DIY' affairs, produced in runs of hundreds rather than thousands(in most cases), printed on photocopiers or duplicator machines, and distributed by hand at shows or gatherings. Crust punk has taken this DIY ethic to a farther degree, often refusing to buy any corporate products, screen printing patches and sewing clothing by hand out of found materials, materials specifically bought from other members of the punk community, or local community and small co-ops/companies.
Black metal is often a direct influence, as the extreme tones and brutal nature of black metal can be similar to those of crust. Black metal has always influenced crust, i.e. Venom influenced Amebix. Crust was affected by a second wave of influence in the 1990s;
Iskra for example, are probably the most obvious modern example of black-metal-influenced crust. Iskra coined their own phrase "blackened crust" to describe this new style. Earlier examples could be found in
Black Kronstadt(especially the "Free Spirit" LP). Blackened crust is however generally discounted by fans of black metal, as they often argue that because it is political it isn't black metal.
Other outside influences, can be heard in
Leper,
Mouth Sewn Shut,
Choking Victim,
Leftover Crack (
ska), and
Garmonbozia (classical/chamber music).
Many crust punks with acoustic guitars have found inspiration in "outlaw country" as well as the progressive leaning
folk music of the 1960s and '70s, as well as a huge influence specifically from
Woody Guthrie as well as traditonal
Irish music. This meld of crust and folk is commonly referred to as
folk-punk.
In the early
1990s, members of the crust/
grindcore band
Disrupt formed a band called
Grief. Grief's depressively slow blend of
punk and
doom metal gave inspiration to the burgeoning
sludge metal genre, along with bands such as
Crowbar and
Eyehategod.
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List of crust punk bands*
Anarcho-punk*
Crusties*
Grebo
