Crucial Times

Erupting from the north Texas confines of Ft. Worth, blistering and belligerent Crucial Times weld together a fierce mix of hardcore, thrash, and street punk brimming with attitude and power, unharnessed speed and scorched vocals. In a time of dizzying trends, they keep matters brutal and short, gnarly and loud.

Tunes like bruiser “Behind Closed Doors” attack all the outright lies and deceptions, fake smiles and rampant egos that plague people and relationships, which end with dissatisfaction and anger, above all. Meanwhile, the chunky metallic intro of “Can’t Let This Go” soon becomes a torrent of hardcore brawling, filled up-to-the-ears with resentment, anger, and detestation, all the ingredients for misery in a world gone wrong.

Then, the equally potent “Death Bed” links the chaos of cash and exploitation to wickedness and evil itself: with a forceful sense of vendetta and much disapproval, they expose the false beliefs and wickedness of money, exposing the lame schemes that end up robbing people’s souls. All this is hitched to tough-knotted, pushed tempos and unvarnished guttural vocals.

But they can also shift to larger themes of American values and degradation, moments of history that shed light on rampant “genocide, rape, and colonialism,” which are all wrapped in the bigotry of the “savage nation”: in doing so, they skewer the “fascists” that cloak themselves as “patriots” and remind listeners never to lose an iron sight on those that “could use your help.”
Such lyrics act as a reminder that the personal and political often merge, plus history and humanity cannot be disconnected, and music can effectively tackle the abuse of power, whether by a horrible friend or the rulers of a country.
Guitar/Vocals: Zach Abrego
Zach is a native Texan born and raised in Corpus Christi.
Bands: Blot Out, Noogy

Bass Guitar: Jose Morales AKA Manny
Manny was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico.
Bands: Los Kabezudos de Villa Baja AKA KDBV, Cashing In, The Nothing

Drums: Travis Brown
Born in Los Angeles, Travis was raised in San Bernardino County, CA
Bands: Heater (guitar/vocals), Phorids (drums).

Zach, Manny, and Travis are all seasoned musicians and have been a part of the music scene for many years. Seeing them live, you'll no doubt feel their passion for performing and connecting through the music. Their unrestrained and blasting message is hard to miss.

These guys have collectively shared the stage with: TSOL, Agnostic Front, The Dwarves, NOFX, Strung Out, Battalion of Saints, Total Chaos, The Casualties, Dead Kennedys, Bouncing Souls, and more.

Crucial Times recently released a 3 song digital demo that was self-recorded, mixed, and released. The multi-level talent these guys bring to the table is something you'll want to witness first-hand. The group has also just finished its first 13-song LP due to be released on Grimace Records.