The Slow Death
Cruciform | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sydney NSW |
| Genres | Death metal, Doom metal |
| Years active | 1990 - 1995, 2012 - present |
| Labels | Warhead |
| Associated acts | Avrigus, Lycanthia, Sh'mantra |
| Website | http://www.facebook.com/cruciform |
| Members | Simon Gruer, Leon Kelly, Michael Lenton, Tony Mulhearn, Lee Tassaker |
| Past members | Matt Seldon, Daniel Moth |
Band members
- Current line-up
- Simon Gruer (vocals, guitar)
- Leon Kelly (guitar)
- Michael Lenton (drums, vocals)
- Tony Mulhearn (guitar, vocals)
- Lee Tassaker (bass)
- Former members
- Matt Seldon (bass, vocals) 1994 - 1995
- Daniel Moth (bass, vocals) 1990 - 1994
Formed
Sydney, NSW, 1990
Band information
Cruciform was perhaps one of the most significant Australian metal bands of the early 1990s, playing a slow and heavy form of death/doom long before most others. Cruciform could well have gone on to take a serious role on the worldwide stage but internal conflicts sadly tore the group apart on the verge of international recognition.
The band developed a style similar to that of early recordings by Anathema and Paradise Lost featuring slow, lingering riffs and epic arrangements and rose to the forefront of Sydney's metal scene with Atavism in 1993, the first release for Warhead Records, whose owner Brad Sims was also the band's manager. Following this Daniel Moth was replaced by Matt Seldon and the group's sound engineer Simon Gruer joined Cruciform as lead vocalist and keyboard player. In 1995 they recorded a two-track demo featuring "Gutter" which appeared on that year's compilation album from Warhead and Gruer went to England where he demoed some material for Earache Records. During this time Cruciform was billed to headline Metal for the Brain.
Earache liked the material and were prepared to offer the band a deal but before Gruer could return to Australia, Cruciform had split up. Gruer continued with a project called Avrigus. Seldon and Lenton were later members of Sydney post-rock band Sh'mantra with former Aftermath guitarist Alex Hole.
In 2012, Cruciform reformed, with Lee Tassaker from Lycanthia on bass.
Discography
Album:
| 1993 | Atavism | Warhead |
Compilation tracks:
| Year | Track Title | Album Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Gutter" | Warhead Vol. 1 | Warhead |