Bonecrusher Fractured CD - Import

Not to be confused with the hip-hop artist Bone Crusher (although they invariably are on the Internet), Bonecrusher were kings of the Orange County hardcore scene from the mid-'90s on. Maintaining fidelity to the original sound of '80s-style hardcore and skatepunk and avoiding the temptation to move into metal sludge or misguided rap-rock experiments, Bonecrusher were worthy successors to Agent Orange and the Adolescents. (Guitarist George Paras temporarily ended up in Adolescents offshoot ADZ. After splitting up in 2002, Bonecrusher has regrouped, unfortunately without original lead singer Raybo, whose gruff but melodic vocals and occasional stabs at a garage rock-style electric organ were key to the band's sound.) Fractured is a nicely appointed 38-track double-disc collection that gathers two out of print CDs, 2001's Followers of a Brutal Calling and 2000's The Singles Collection, along with six bonus tracks from the band's early days that hadn't been collected on that earlier compilation. Although not comprehensive, this set is quite possibly all the Bonecrusher one will need, as it combines the band's two best albums in their entirety, including career highlights like the unexpectedly poppy "Without You" and the Clash-like street punk of "Stay Alive." ~ Stewart Mason