Crucifer

Crucifer Biography 2024 1990 Crucifer is a death metal band originating from Fredericksburg Virginia. The 3 piece band formed in 1990 by members Stevie Snyder-bass, Brian Ronquest-guitar and Jeff Riddle-vocals and drums. The bands lineup remains the same today. Crucifers debut live performance was the opening slot for Believer at Street Cry, located in Fredericksburg VA on February 9th, 1991. Their show was incredibly well received and started Crucifers lifelong following in their hometown. That same year Crucifer would find themselves in the studio recording what would become their ‘Beyond The Realms’ 3 song cassette demo. It was this raw recording and tape trading that gained the interest of Wild Rags Records from California. ‘Beyond The Realms’ would ultimately be licensed and distributed by Wild Rags Records. The demo quickly sold out and fetches a high price by collectors today. After the buzz created by the demo, Crucifer would write and record what would become their first official full length studio release. In 1991 Crucifer released their most brutal album to date entitled ‘Festival Of Death’ on Wild Rags Records. The album would go on to sell thousands of copies on CD and cassette by mail order and live shows. The band would start performing regularly with local acts as well as national recording artists. Crucifer would frequent Colonial Theatre in Fredericksburg, Newgate Prison in Richmond, Stingrays in Woodbridge, Zaxx in Springfield, Tiki Falas in Dumfries and Benders Arena in Manassas VA. Crucifer would do additional gigs with death metal bands in Maryland. ‘Festival Of Death’ was a big underground success for the band. In 1992 Crucifer released their first 7” vinyl record on Wild Rags Records entitled ‘Pray For The Dead’. It was available in black or blue vinyl and limited to only 1,000 copies. With product selling well, the band started working on their 2nd full length album. They went into Salamone's Recording Studio in Fredericksburg VA to record what would become their highest selling album. In 1993, Crucifer released ‘Pictures of Heaven’ on Wild Rags Records on CD and cassette. The album was a huge success and well received by the worldwide metal community and underground fanzines. Crucifer would become one of the top selling bands for Wild Rags Records with the likes of Internal Bleeding, Impetigo and Nuclear Death. Richard C. was always a big supporter of the band and Crucifer will always be grateful for their relationship. On July 31st 1993, Crucifer played the 7th annual Milwaukee Metal Music Mania event with Cannibal Corpse, Testament, Clutch, Suffocation, Phantasm, Morta Skuld, Broken Hope, Flotsam and Jetsam, Body Count and many more. The festival was held at The Rave in Milwaukee Wisconsin and gained Crucifer many additional fans. In 1994 Crucifer released a 3 song EP on cassette and CD entitled ‘Separation’ on Wild Rags Records. The 3 songs were well written, more polished, and remain favorites today. The band would continue playing live shows and writing material for a proposed 3rd full length release. However, the band would find itself withdrawing from each other in pursuit of other interests. On November 1st 1997, the band would perform it’s last live show to date at the Colonial Theatre in Fredericksburg VA with good friends Transgression opening the show. In 2016 Crucifer was approached by Dark Blasphemies Records in Spain to release their back catalog on a 2 CD set. It would include songs from their albums, EP, 7” and demo. It also included 3 songs from the ‘Beyond The Realms’ recording sessions from 1990 that never made it on the demo. The CD would be called “Carrier Of The Cross” and would contain 25 songs and a 16 page colored booklet with lyrics, photos and the history of the band. 500 copies were made and has since sold out. In December of 2022, Crucifer self released ‘Pictures Of Heaven’ and ‘Festival Of Death’ on CD that included bonus tracks from ‘Separation’ and ‘Beyond The Realms’. These were very limited, hand numbered, and contained a set of high gloss decals. Around this same time, Crucifer was contacted by Pathologically Explicit Recordings in Indonesia, with plans to release 30th anniversary editions of ‘Pictures Of Heaven’ and ‘Festival Of Death’ on vinyl for the first time in the bands history. Both vinyl albums will be released in late August/September of 2023 and will be limited pressings with ‘POH’ on black vinyl and ‘FOD” on red. In January 2024 Crucifer releases their first full length album of new material in 30 years entitled ‘Hell Is For The Hopeful’. Vinyl is available now in 3 color variants: Envy Green, Dropsy Blue, and Post Mortem Purple. Vinyl comes with full color lyric insert, posters, and decals. CD is available now with full sized jewel case,16 page full color lyric and art filled booklet, posters, and decals. Digitally the new album will be released worldwide on 1.12.24. The 12 tracks are being released separately each week on video. Crucifers vocalist and drummer Jeff Riddle provides insight into the making of the new album. There was nothing easy or even enjoyable about the making of ‘Hell Is For The Hopeful’. From the very beginning it seemed to be cursed to never be finished. It’s been written, re-written, re-recorded, and shelved countless times over many years. The album is written from personal life experiences and the lyrics are dark. Filled with anxiety and depression, highs from huge life successes as well as the ultra-dark lows of failure. Is it possible that Hell is here on earth? Ever visited a children’s hospital full of cancer patients? An asylum for the mentally insane? Perhaps the loss of a child. Maybe you’ve lost somebody to suicide or you’ve even considered it. Have you watched the news lately and seen what’s going on around the world? Hell is all around us everyday, just waiting to enter at our darkest moment. Everyone will experience it at some point. Sometimes far too early in life, and sometimes the pain is unbearable. As you read this, you ultimately fall into one of two categories. One who has yet to experience Hell, or one that already is/has. There are no get out of Hell free cards. Rich or poor, the experience of Hell and ultimately your death will extend you no favors. Hugely successful, or underachieved, matters none. Hell has either already found you, or it’s lurking around the corner. The highly successful, powerful, and wealthy fear it the most. They can feel it breathing down the backs of their necks daily because they have much to lose. The title for the new album ‘Hell Is For The Hopeful’ will resonate with the suffering and unwell. Because the suffering don’t fear a physical hell. They’re already fully engulfed in hell and all it’s pain. The ones who have yet to suffer, believe they can avoid this hell by good behavior, hope, faith, and prayer. At best you may be rewarded with a heavenly, peace filled life after death. But you will not escape the hell this earthly word has in store for you. However, If you have experienced, or are currently experiencing hell in your life, fear not. Blessed are the suffering! Your peace will come. For the hopeful…hell patiently waits for you.