logo Crowbar

Biografie : Crowbar

The original incarnation of Crowbar was formed in 1989 by Kirk and drummer Jimmy Bower (also the guitarist for Eyehategod) with Todd on bass and Kevin Noonan on second guitar. After Bower temporarily left New Orleans and was replaced by Craig Nunenmacher (current drummer for Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society), Crowbar released their debut, ‘Obedience Through Suffering', in 1992. One year and one guitarist later (Noonan was replaced by Matt Thomas), the band released what they now refer to as "their first real album", the Phil Anselmo-produced classic simply titled ‘Crowbar'. Global attention followed quickly (the album has sold well over 100,000 copies worldwide), and the band began to spend more and more time on the road, expanding their loyal crowd base each time out.
The precision bludgeoning of the early Crowbar live experience was documented with 1994's EP ‘Live +1' but a year later, the studio album ‘Time Heals Nothing' showcased a marked musical expansion. With pummeling outbursts of speed tempered with a deepened, more melodic expression of their trademark slow style, the Crowbar sound had truly arrived. The band have since become legends among a wide cross-section of knowledgeable heavy music fans, touring North American and Europe many times over (with acts including Pantera, Black Label Society, Paradise Lost and Napalm Death) on the strength of 1996's ‘Broken Glass', the dark melodic complexity of 1998's ‘Oddfellows Rest' and 2000's massive ‘Equilibrium'. An aptly titled best-of collection, ‘Sludge', was also released in 2000.

The band found the studio experience to be more enjoyable than ever with the new album, thanks in part, says Kirk, to first-time Crowbar producer Dave Fortman. "He made it easy for us," he says. "He's a true engineer – very hands on and on top of things. We had all of our arrangements worked out going in, Dave was prepared and it went real smooth. Of course, we're really happy with everything that (long-time producer) Keith Falgout has done for us." Another factor to the well-oiled studio process was the nature of the material. "These new songs are made for the live setting," says Kirk. "In the past, we've written songs that we couldn't do justice to on stage. This time for us, less is definitely more." The approach lends itself to a focused and passionate performance that has caused fans and critics to loudly proclaim that this band IS the New Orleans sound. Wise with age, sharpened by time but still as hungry as ever, Crowbar remains on top as a recognized flagship of no-nonsense musical values, uncompromising vision and ultimate heaviness.

In early August 2004 the band signed a new worldwide deal with Candlelight Records.

Official biography