New Orleans metal band
Crowbar was originally comprised of vocalist/guitarist
Kirk Windstein, guitarist
Matt Thomas, bassist
Todd Strange, and drummer Craig Numenmacher. Once known as
the Slugs, the band's slow, grinding, heavy sound has alternately been tagged sludge metal and sludgecore, and has drawn comparisons both vocally and musically to
Pantera,
the Melvins, and
Tad. Debuting in 1992 with Obedience Through Suffering, they subsequently signed to Pavement Music and issued albums including 1993's
Crowbar and 1995's
Time Heals Nothing. Drummer Numenmacher subsequently left the band, and was temporarily replaced by Jimmy Bower, also the rhythm guitarist for kindred spirits Eyehategod.
Bower also played drums in Down, a side project for
Pantera's Phil Anselmo and
Corrosion of Conformity's
Pepper Keenan that also featured
Crowbar's Windstein and
Strange. Guitarist
Sammy Pierre Duet, formerly of
Acid Bath, joined up for 1996's
Broken Glass following the departure of original guitarist
Thomas.
Bower elected to re-focus on Eyehategod after playing on 1998's
Odd Fellows Rest, and was replaced by drummer
Sid Montz for 2000's
Equilibrium. That association proved short-lived, however; original drummer Numenmacher rejoined later that year, around the same time that bassist
Strange called it a career. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide