Artist: CROWBAR
Album: BROKEN GLASS RE-RELEASE (CD)

Year: 1996/ 2006
Media type: CD

Among the foremost of the NOLA (‘New Orleans, LA’) exponents. The super heavyweight, both in terms of body mass and sheer Metal density, CROWBAR deliver de-tuned, lethargic sludged out Metal with Hardcore and Southern elements. Frontman Kirk Windstein and drummer Jimmy Bower were both previously members of covers act THE SLUGS performing renditions of JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN songs. Although both created CROWBAR Bower departed to become guitarist for EYEHATEGOD. An early CROWBAR guitarist, Kevin Bond, would last roughly a year and was later to be found with THE DEMONSEEDS.

CROWBAR’s debut, the 1991 album ‘Obedience Thru Suffering’ found the band citing a line-up of Kirk Windstein on vocals and guitar, Kevin Noonan on guitar, bassist Todd Strange and drummer Craig Nunenmacher. Shortly after recording Noonan was supplanted by Matt Thomas, coming from the ranks of another Louisiana act FALL FROM GRACE in late 1993. Thomas paid back the debt by producing FALL FROM GRACE’s eponymous debut album in 1996.

CROWBAR’s line-up remained stable over the subsequent two albums, 1993’s eponymous outing and 1995’s ‘Time Heals Nothing’. Drummer Craig Nunenmacher later joined his brother, ex-LILLIAN AXE guitarist Stevie Blaze, in NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE as CROWBAR returned with a 1996 album ‘Broken Glass’ with Jimmy Bower back on drums. April of that year found the band conducting UK dates with NAPALM DEATH and FACE DOWN. April of 1997 found the band back on European soil, forming up the 'Full Of Hate' Easter festivals alongside OBITUARY, DEATH, SAMAEL, NEUROSIS, ENTOMBED, KILLING CULTURE and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD.

The band signed up to new label Mayhem Records in 1998 entitled ‘Odd Fellows Rest’. The Line-up boasted Windstein, ACID BATH veteran ‘Sammysatan’ Pierre Duet on guitar, T “Godcreep” Strange on bass and Wicked Crickett (Jimmy Bower) on drums.

The 2000 album ‘Equilibrium’ included a completely sludged out cover version of the 1976 GARY WRIGHT hit ‘Dreamweaver' and an acapella take on IRON BUTTERFLY’s leviathan ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’. By this juncture CROWBAR’s rhythm section comprised of bassist Todd Strange and drummer Sid Montz. Following completion of North American dates with S.O.D. Montz decamped and former member Craig Nunemacher resumed his position.

Windstein also busied himself with side projects, the most notorious of which would be the high profile DOWN in union with PANTERA’s Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY’s Pepper Keenan, Jimmy Bower on drums. Both Anselmo and Winstein also perform as part of BODY OF BLOOD. Meantime, guitarist Sammy Duet founded project GOATWHORE with SOILENT GREEN frontman Ben Falgout II issuing the CD ‘The Eclipse Of Ages Into Black’ in 2000. Duet subsequently forged RITUAL KILLER.

Getting back to live campaigning, CROWBAR toured America with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and SIXTY WATT SHAMAN the same year. Drummer Craig Nunemacher was forced to deputize for headliners BLACK LABEL SOCIETY as their drummer Philth Ohnditch was taken ill. Later shows saw the band guesting for HATEBREED. As Nunemacher made his position in BLACK LABEL SOCIETY permanent, the band drafted ex-DOWNSET drummer Chris Hamilton.

Former CROWBAR man Kevin Bond would re-emerge with a plethora of PANTERA vocalist Phil Anselmo's projects including CHRIST INVERSION and SUPERJOINT RITUAL. He would also feature in SOUTHERN ISOLATION. The band, which featured Anselmo's girlfriend Stephanie Opal as lead vocalist, saw Anselmo acting as guitarist, CHRIST INVERSION keyboard player Ross Karpelman and Sid Montz on drums. A four track EP was issued in October 2001 on the Baphomet label.

For the 2001 ‘Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form’ effort CROWBAR once more employed a new face behind the drums and on bass guitar as erstwhile SALVO, MACHINE HEAD and CRISIS man Tony Costanzo took on the percussion job and Jeff Okoneski of NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE became the band’s new four stringer. In September of 2002 former sticksman Chris Hamilton teamed up with Logan Mader's MEDICATION.

The band set 'You Don't Need An Enemy To Have A War' as a provisional title for a new 2003 studio album, although this would later be changed to 'Life's Blood For The Downtrodden'. These sessions, produced by PANTERA bass player Rex Brown, marked the return to CROWBAR's recording roster of current BLACK LABEL SOCIETY drummer Craig Nunenmacher.

The CROWBAR family tree was expanded further in late 2003 with the unveiling of Metalcore outfit VALUME NOB featuring Kirk Windstein and Sid Montz alongside former BILE and GRAVEYARD RODEO frontman Marc Brignac and guitarist Frey Theiler. The band self financed a 2004 album 'The Most High'. Meantime CROWBAR, scheduling European dates for the Summer, alongside touring partners HATESPHERE, including a showing at the major German 'With Full force' festival, recruited former BLACK LABEL SOCIETY bassist Steve Gibb as their new guitarist. The band's membership for this round of dates counted Windstein and Gibb alongside GOATWHORE bassist Patrick Bruders and SOILENT GREEN drummer Tommy Buckley.

CROWBAR signed a worldwide deal with Candlelight Records for 'Life's Blood For The Downtrodden', produced by Warren Riker of DOWN and Rex Brown of PANTERA and DOWN, projecting a February 2005 release. A double vinyl edition was pressed as a limited edition by the Back On Black label in March. To coincide, the band formed up a package billing comprising PRO-PAIN, ENTOMBED, and THE MIGHTY NIMBUS for US tour dates. The group scheduled UK gigs in alliance with HATEBREED for UK touring in March 2005. Further North American gigs in June had CROWBAR in alliance with ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, WEEDEATER and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY. However, the tour was marred by tragedy when on 23rd June at Masquerade club venue in Ybor City in Florida four audience members were stabbed, one fatally.

In June Windstein announced a musical union, given a working title of CROWBREED, later switched to KINGDOM OF SORROW, with HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta.

CROWBAR announced they were to team up with the reformed WILL HAVEN and THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD for a UK tour in March 2006. Meantime, ex-drummer Chris Hamilton was also back in the news, forging a new oufit billed SAINT CAINE in union with former DROPBOX members vocalist / guitarist John Kosco and guitarist Joey Wilkinson and and bassist John Eville.

TRACKLIST:

1. Conquering
2. Like Broken Glass
3. (Can't) Turn Away From Dying
4. Wrath Of Time Be Judgement
5. Nothing
6. Burn Your World
7. I Am Forever
8. Above, Below, And In Between
9. You Now (I'll Live Again)
10. Reborn Thru Me