AN NCS PREMIERE: CRUSHER — “NO PROGRESS WITHOUT REGRESSION”

Later this month the French label Deadlight Entertainment will release a special split record entitled Blast From the Past that features songs by two cornerstone bands in the evolution of the French death metal scene — Crusher and Mercyless. We came across the premiere of one of the Mercyless songs in mid-May and praised it here — and now it’s our pleasure to bring you the premiere of one of Crusher’s tracks: “No Progress Without Regression“.

Crusher trace their roots deep into the realm of French extreme metal. They released their debut album Corporal Punishment in 1992, and that was followed by a 1993 EP (Act II: Undermine!). At some point after that it appears that Crusher disbanded — but they have recently reunited and will be staging a comeback performance at the 2015 edition of Hellfest, scheduled to take place on June 19-21 in Clisson.

The song we’re premiering was originally released on the Brutale Génération compilation by Semetery Records in 1995. Despite the passage of 20 years since then, the song hasn’t lost its appeal.

It’s a rumbling, grinding, jagged-edge juggernaut that combines elements of thrash and death metal with a nice morbid atmosphere — something like a mix of Obituary, Bolt Thrower, and early Death. It’s both a long-lost snapshot of history and a damned good listen here in the present day.

Blast from the Past will be released by Deadlight Entertainment on vinyl LP limited to 300 hand-numbered units in a handcrafted box by Le 7eme Oeil workshop, who has worked for bands such as Blut Aus Nord, Archgoat, and Amenra. It can be pre-ordered here:

http://www.deadlight.limitedrun.com/products/546076-crusher-mercyless-blast-from-the-past-limited-edition-12-lp

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