2026 Anniversary Series 084: Cryptic Slaughter – Convicted

Scribed by Sandre the Giant Released: 26th July 1986 Crossover thrash was a genre that, much like hardcore in general, I came to much later in life than I should have and I have spent less time with it than I should have. But when I did delve into it, amongst the names I was always prodded to spend some time with was Cryptic Slaughter. Californian merchants of incredible speed and fury, their 1986 debut ‘Convicted’ is regarded as a foundational pillar on which the whole genre is based (even if some prefer 1987’s ‘Money Talks’, but we’ll get to that next year). The band were mere kids, teenagers, in 1986 and managed to record one of the most frantic, adrenaline-fuelled records you’ll ever hear, and forty years on you can see in every song a roadmap for modern grind, death and hardcore to follow. An album of pure frenzy and speed, coupled with some vintage early hardcore influence in there too, ‘Convicted’ is furious and utterly compelling from start to finish. Opener ‘M.A.D.’ starts us…