hey, im Eddie, known to most as Eddie 'No Nails' (mainly because ive used no more nails wood glue as a setting lotion for my hair..) to others its Edward William Johnathan Draco Grant (which is my full name)i consider myself as a little crusty punk -Crust punk is one of the many extreme evolutions of anarcho-punk. Crust was created by fusing elements of anarcho-punk and metal (arguably early thrash metal) or grindcore to create a unique sound often characterized by extremely fast hardcore punk based tempos, often guttural or shrill vocalization, and a gritty, bass-heavy sound. Although not the same genre, crust is very closely related to and influenced by d-beat, anarcho-punk, thrashcore, power violence and grindcore. Ethics Culture and History Many consider the band Amebix to be the godfathers of crust punk, and consider the Arise! LP to be the first known defining crust punk album. Extreme Noise Terror also was a huge influence on most crust bands, leading bands to play faster, unlike Amebix's sludgy crust. The band Hellbastard, who actually coined the term "crust", (after their 1986 "Ripper Crust" demo) was one of the first bands to play the genre as it commonly recognized today. On the other side of the Atlantic, New York's Nausea was one of the most influential early North American crust bands. Prototyptical takes on the genre can be traced back to the peace punk and anarcho punk bands of the early '80s, such as Crass and Discharge. Crass' minimalistic and unique music, DIY approach, and radical politics are still carried today. Lyrics to crust songs tend to be based around politics, anti-oppression and current events and even some human emotion; topics such as anarchism, environmentalism, racial equality, squatting, non-conformity, feminism and abolishing sexism, animal rights, veganism/vegetarianism, religious control, and nuclear destruction are common themes. Elements of the crust sound can be heard in many anarcho-punk bands, such as those releasing recordings on Tribal War Records, Skuld, Profane Existence, Peaceville Records, Havoc Records, Unrest Records, and Life is Abuse Records. Crust punks are known for their heavily political outlook on society and life in general. Many squat in abandoned buildings and choose not to seek employment. This can be equated to what Murray Bookchin has called "lifestyle anarchism". Perhaps the most sterotypical and infamous facet of the persona is the perceived lack of hygiene, as many crust punks seemingly avoid bathing and grooming and women commonly avoid shaving of any body hair. Dreadlocks are also popular. There are several stated reasons for such activity that include, but are not limited to, distain toward the typical socially accepted image of both sexes (or persons in general), wishing to remain free of the toxins and chemicals in many personal hygiene products, refusal to purchase corporate products, or simply the result of living the squatter lifestyle without the accommodations most people are used to. Such beliefs are very similar to, and possibly based on, social ecology and ecofeminism. In terms of religion, many crust punks are atheist and inspired to live by the ideal of "No Gods, No Masters". However, some crust punks may adopt Pagan spirituality due to it's connection to nature, the Earth, and the environment. The DIY ethic Crust punk bands have taken on what is known as a DIY ethic: that is, "do it yourself." In this way one can bypass the traditional recording and distribution routes, with material often being made available in exchange for "a blank tape plus self-addressed envelope". The anarcho-punk and crust punk movement also has its own network of zines which disseminate news, ideas, and artwork from the punk community. Again, these are very much 'DIY' affairs, produced in runs of hundreds rather than thousands (in most cases), printed on photocopiers or duplicator machines, and distributed by hand at shows or gatherings. Crust punk has taken this DIY ethic to a farther degree, often refusing to buy any corporate products, screen printing patches and sewing clothing by hand out of found materials, materials specifically bought from other members of the punk community, or local community and small co-ops/companies. Outside influence Grindcore is often a direct influence, as the extreme tones and brutal nature of grindcore can be similar to those of crust. Crust was affected by a second wave of influence in the 1990s, with some bands being influenced more by early black metal; Iskra (band) for example, are probably the most obvious modern example of black-metal-influenced crust. Iskra coined their own phrase "blackened crust" to describe this new style. Earlier examples could be found in Black Kronstadt(especially the "Free Spirit" LP). Blackened crust is however generally discounted by fans of black metal, as they often argue that because it is political it isn't black metal. Of course that is because it is crust punk and not black metal. Many crust punks with acoustic guitars have found inspiration in "outlaw country" as well as the progressive leaning folk music of the 1960s and '70s, as well as a huge influence specifically from Woody Guthrie as well as traditonal Irish music. This meld of crust and folk is commonly referred to as folk-punk. In the early 1990s, members of the crust/grindcore band Disrupt formed a band called Grief. Grief's depressively slow blend of punk and doom metal gave inspiration to the burgeoning sludge metal genre, along with bands such as Dystopia (band) and Eyehategod.back to the about me bit, im 19, currently living in colchester, pretty close to the two coolest dj's around, satanic and lezka. being a crusty punk means basically having no job and being self sufficient in my terms.. but gradually, those two dj's are trying to cleanse me, (either making me wash or change my attitude towards life and the clothing industry lol) probably for the better good i guess.. if theres anything u'd like to ask me, just gimmie a comment or somethin, and i'll write back ^.^ x