Being from Canada, The Crucified's first material was difficult to come by. Without the benefit of an American-style evangelical subculture, such music was rare. As a teen I had heard about this punk band but as The Pillars of Humanity finally hit local bookstores. The album sounded more thrash-metal than anything else. I own this warbly cassette and first-issue CD, and don't hear much derivation in the album's more recent re-release. If you've not heard the band, think of a mash-up of Deliverance and Black Flag.

While some of the songs do, of course, contain some fast and furious metal, this album isn't thrash all the way through. There are abrupt speed-changes and poignant pauses. The lyrics are shouted straight-up and although there are some scriptural quotes, this album isn't as preachy as those before it. It is heavy metal, put plain and simple. Neither melodic nor snarly, the vocals are often just talked-through. And of all their albums, this is the best produced, also containing the most variety therein.

All of the members went on to star in other moderately successful bands when The Crucified members parted ways. Mark Salomon's vocals here are crisp and within the limits of his natural range. Greg Minier shreds riffs like no one. Jeff Bellew backs him up nicely and even has a few bass solos. And Jim Chaffin is the drummer who somehow keeps it all together.

The lyrics are challenging and thought-provoking, but delivered without any sense of self-righteousness. They are to-the-point, without being offensive or condescending. There is some solid Apologetics here amongst words of encouragement. My favorite songs are: "Mindbender," "Path to Sorrow," and "Focus."

Here are some lyrical samples...

From "Focus":
'Where you going? What's your focus? Losing your reason for a lie?'

From "Path to Sorrow":
'Why should I continue on
If death is the only final outcome?
To pursue some mythical success
That some have been fooled to think exists?
Only to meet frustration and die,
But still they go on trying...
Well, I refuse to live that lie.'

And from "So-Called Living":
'So what's the use continuing
If living means nothing more
Than to face another week
Trying to make ends meet?
Finished off by passing out on the floor,
Can't you see that there's more
Than this?'