Brutal Truth
During a break in activities with Nuclear Assault, bassist Dan Lilker began working with guitarist Brent McCarty and drummer Scott Lewis to indulge his passion for hardcore. Joined by vocalist Kevin Sharp, the USA based band created their own brand of high-speed hardcore with industrial and death metal elements. Finding this music more to his liking, Lilker left his old outfit to concentrate fully on Brutal Truth (the trio's past work had also included stints with S.O.D., Anthrax, Winter and J.C.T.). Signing with 'grindcore' specialists Earache, the band released EXTREME CONDITIONS DEMAND EXTREME RESPONSES, a collection of exceptionally fast and fierce material with political themes, to a positive reception, and received further good press for their live shows, playing US dates with labelmates Napalm Death, Carcass and Cathedral. A European tour with Fear Factory followed, leaving a trail of damaged PA systems behind them as well as Lewis, who was replaced by Rich Hoak. The group then teamed up with Coventry, England based techno act Larcency for the Perpetual Conversion single, which also featured a cover version of Black Sabbath's Lord Of This World. The equally venomous NEED TO CONTROL came in an unusual format—a boxed set containing 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9-inch vinyl, with two additional covers of Celtic Frost's Dethroned Emporer and Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Lilker also worked part-time in another side-project, Exit-13, as the parent band embarked on a tour of America, Australia and Japan.