Crust punk

Crust punk is one of the many extreme evolutions of anarcho-punk. Crust was created by fusing elements of anarcho-punk and tinges of metal (arguably early thrash

Crust punk is one of the many extreme evolutions of anarcho-punk. Crust was created by fusing elements of anarcho-punk and tinges of metal (arguably early thrash metal and atmospheric metal) or grindcore to create a unique sound, often characterized by extremely fast hardcore punk based tempos, guttural or shrill vocalization, and a gritty, bass-heavy sound. Although not the same genre, crust is very closely related to and influenced by D-beat, anarcho-punk, thrashcore, crossover thrash, power violence and grindcore.

Many consider the band Amebix to be the godfathers of stenchcore (what crust punk was called before the term was coined), and consider the Arise! LP to be the first known defining crust punk album. Extreme Noise Terror also was a huge influence on most crust bands, leading bands to play faster, unlike Amebix's sludgy crust. 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. Prototyptical takes on the genre can be traced back to the anarcho-punk and D-beat punk bands of the early '80s, such as Crass and Discharge. Crass' minimalistic and unique music, DIY approach, and radical politics are still carried today.