Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


The Crucified, 'The Pillars of Humanity'
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

The Crucified
The Pillars of Humanity



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 35 minutes
Street Date: 1991


READER RATING:   


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?'

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 12/8/22, written by Derek Lehman for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!


. Record Label: Ocean
. Album length: 12 tracks: 35 minutes
. Street Date: 1991
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

Original Tracklisting:
  1. Intro
  2. Hateworld
  3. It's All About Fear
  4. The Wrong One
  5. Mindbender
  6. Path To Sorrow
  7. Fellowship of Thieves
  8. Focus
  9. The Strength
  10. Blackstone
  11. So-Called Living, 1991
  12. The Pillars of Humanity


Digital Re-Release Tracklisting:
  1. Intro/HateWorld (Medley) (5:19)
  2. It's All About Fear (2:28)
  3. The Wrong One (3:40)
  4. Mindbender (3:44)
  5. Path To Sorrow (3:58)
  6. Fellowship Of Thieves (3:10)
  7. Focus (2:31)
  8. The Strength (3:50)
  9. Blackstone/So-Called Living 1991 (Medley) (4:12)
  10. The Pillars Of Humanity (2:58)

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images

 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
All materials copyright of Jesusfreakhideout.com   ©1996-2025 Jesus freak Hideout. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy