Crashdog

    Crashdog

    Chicago, Illinois10 reviews across 7 releases

    garage rockhardcorehardcore punkpunk
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    Crashdog was a Chicago Christian punk band rooted in the Jesus People USA community. Emerging from the late-1980s punk scene, it used fast street-punk rhythms for direct arguments about social failure, political power and Christian responsibility. Humane Society carried a garage-hardcore sound, with Spike Nard's clear talk-sing delivery recalling early punk more than polished Christian rock; bagpipes and Glenn Kaiser's "Bloody Lane" were unusual additions. The Pursuit of Happiness brought in more melodic guitar work, grunge texture and influence from Rez Band while keeping the urgent preaching. By Mud Angels, the guitars and rhythm section were fuller, the vocals sat further forward, and the band could move from punk-thrash into hard-rock passages without abandoning its rough attack. Its most memorable detour was "Ichtheology," a sincere song about fishing.

    Spike Nard left in 1995, and guitarist Andrew Mandell took over the lead vocals while a new guitarist joined the lineup. Cashists, Fascists, and Other Fungus became the immediate result: heavier guitars, sharper-edged singing and songs aimed at conservative Christians, church responses to AIDS and abortion, and political authority. The record also brought in a cellist, a bagpiper and outside singers for selected tracks, widening Crashdog's arrangements without softening its confrontational tone. By Outer Crust in 1998, the band had returned to independent release methods and a rougher old-school hardcore sound. Crashdog then entered an indefinite hiatus after a final compilation, while members moved into Ballydowse and related work. The band was no longer active as a continuing group.

    7 releases reviewed