CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER MONEY TALKS Metal blade Records 12" Vinyl LP Album

- A Ferocious Thrash Punk Onslaught with No Mercy

CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks album cover: A chaotic, satirical illustration featuring Ronald Reagan holding cash, with nuclear explosions, corrupt politicians, and societal unrest. Margaret Thatcher dances atop a pile of money while missiles labeled 'Blood Money' emerge from a cash register. A dystopian crowd and a distorted Statue of Liberty complete the scene.

"MONEY TALKS" resonates as Cryptic Slaughter's second album, a fierce declaration on a 12" Vinyl LP from Metal Blade Records. This thrash metal onslaught, released by the American band, reinforces their uncompromising approach to the genre. As the second album in Cryptic Slaughter's discography, "MONEY TALKS" cements the band's reputation for sonic intensity and raw energy, making it an essential piece in the tapestry of thrash metal history.

Album Description:

In the realm of thrashing guitars, pounding drums, and guttural vocals, Cryptic Slaughter's second album, "Money Talks", stands as a testament to their uncompromising sound and unapologetic attitude. Released under Metal Blade Records, this 12" vinyl LP album is a definitive piece of the band's discography, a creation that embodies their unique blend of aggression and musical prowess.

Produced jointly by Bill Metoyer and Cryptic Slaughter themselves, "Money Talks" exudes a raw energy that captures the essence of the band's hardcore punk and thrash metal fusion. Bill Metoyer's touch as both producer and engineer is evident in the album's meticulous sound engineering. The recording process, which took place at several locations including Stagg Street Studio, Van Nuys, CA, Preferred Sound in Woodland Hills, CA, Pacific Sound in Chatsworth, CA, and Track Records in Los Angeles, CA, contributed to the album's diverse sonic landscape.

The album's sound engineers, including Scott Campbell, Kevin Beauchamp, Brian Carlstrom, and Ken Paulakovich, played a crucial role in bringing the album's sonic intricacies to life. Their expertise in capturing the raw intensity of Cryptic Slaughter's performance is evident throughout the tracks, providing a canvas for the band's music to unfold.

At its core, "Money Talks" is driven by the talents of its band members, each contributing their distinct musical prowess. Bill Crooks, with his powerful vocals, becomes the voice of the band's rebellious spirit. His delivery is filled with a relentless energy that complements the intensity of the music.

Les Evans' guitar work adds layers of complexity to the album's sonic tapestry. His ability to transition seamlessly between intricate melodies and blistering riffs showcases the band's genre-defying approach. Rob "Blasko" Nicholson's basslines provide a solid foundation, adding depth and groove to the band's sonic assault while also contributing backing vocals that enhance the album's dynamic range.

Driving the rhythm with unwavering precision is Scott Peterson on drums. His drumming style perfectly encapsulates the album's relentless pace, infusing each track with an infectious energy that invites headbanging and moshing.

In the realm of vinyl enthusiasts, this 12" LP holds a special place. The warmth of analog sound and the tactile experience of handling vinyl create an immersive journey through Cryptic Slaughter's sonic landscape. The album cover itself, a visual representation of chaos and critique, sets the tone for the music within.

Music Genre:

 Hardcore Punk Crossover Thrash Metal

Album Production information:

The album: "CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks" was produced by: Bill Metoyer and Cryptic Slaughter

  • Bill Metoyer – Producer, Sound Engineer

    Legendary Metal Blade in-house producer who helped define the raw, aggressive sound of 1980s heavy metal.

    Bill Metoyer is a highly influential producer and sound engineer whose work became a cornerstone of American heavy metal in the 1980s. As Vice President and in-house engineer at Metal Blade Records, he was directly responsible for capturing the raw intensity and unpolished power of bands like Slayer, Armored Saint, and Flotsam and Jetsam. His production style favored clarity without sanding off the aggression, helping underground metal sound dangerous, immediate, and unmistakably alive.

    Bill Metoyer Wiki

      • This album was recorded at
    • Stagg Street Studio, Van Nuys, CA
    • Preferred Sound, Woodland Hills, CA
    • Pacific Sound, Chatsworth, CA
    • Track Records, Los Angeles, CA

    Engineered by Bill Metoyer

      Assistent Sound Engineers:
    • Scott Campbell
    • Scott Campbell – Sound Engineer

      Freelance engineer whose late-1980s work captured the aggressive edge of American thrash and underground metal.

      Scott Campbell is a freelance sound engineer I associate with the no-frills, high-volume reality of late-1980s metal recording. During that period he engineered vinyl albums for a wide range of bands including Sacred Reich, Flotsam and Jetsam, Bitch, Masi, Heretic, Rigor Mortis, Dr. Kow, Tyrant, and Cryptic Slaughter. His work documents an era where speed, precision, and raw power mattered far more than studio gloss.

    • Kevin Beauchamp
    • Bryan Carlstrom – Producer, Sound Engineer

      Versatile underground producer whose 1980s studio work documented the raw core of American heavy metal.

      Bryan Carlstrom (Brian Carlstrom) is a producer and sound engineer I place firmly in the unglamorous, hard-working trenches of 1980s studio metal. Active across rock, punk, jazz, hip-hop, and heavy metal, his most lasting impact sits in the underground metal scene, where he produced or engineered recordings for bands such as Sacred Reich, Tyrant, Incubus, and Pandemonium. His work captures a time when speed, aggression, and honesty mattered more than studio perfection.

    • Ken Paulakovich – Sound Engineer

      Veteran underground engineer whose mid-1980s work helped shape the raw studio sound of American thrash metal.

      Ken Paulakovich is a sound engineer I associate with the hard-working backbone of the 1980s underground metal scene. Active from the mid-1980s onward, he engineered dozens of albums where speed, volume, and authenticity came before polish. His studio work with bands such as Sacred Reich, Tyrant, Incubus, and Pandemonium documents a period when thrash metal was still being carved out in real time, loud, aggressive, and unapologetically raw.

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    Metal Blade Records RR 9607

    Media Format:

     

    12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

    Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

    Year & Country:

     1987 Made in Holland
    Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks
    • Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Bill Crooks - Vocals
    • Les Evans - Guitars
    • Rob "Blasko" Nicholson - Bass, Backing vocals
    • Scott Peterson - Drums
    Complete Track Listing of: "CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks"

    The Songs/tracks on "CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks" are

    • 1. Money Talks – 03:41
    • 2. Set Your Own Pace – 01:21
    • 3. Could Be Worse – 03:46
    • 4. Wake Up – 02:05
    • 5. Freedom of Expression? – 03:19
    • 6. Menace to Mankind – 03:24
    • 7. Too Much, Too Little – 01:45
    • 8. Human Contrast – 02:31
    • 9. Tables Are Turned – 03:47
    • 10. Positively – 01:39
    • 11. All Wrong – 02:13
    • 12. American Heroes – 03:53

    CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks Album Photo Gallery

    Front Cover Photo of "CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks" Album
    CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks album cover: A chaotic, satirical illustration featuring Ronald Reagan holding cash, with nuclear explosions, corrupt politicians, and societal unrest. Margaret Thatcher dances atop a pile of money while missiles labeled 'Blood Money' emerge from a cash register. A dystopian crowd and a distorted Statue of Liberty complete the scene.

    CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks album cover is a bold, politically charged illustration that encapsulates themes of corruption, greed, and societal collapse. The artwork prominently features a grinning political figure, resembling Ronald Reagan, holding a fistful of cash while standing at a podium draped with a banner that reads "Lie, Cheat, Steal, Lose Again." His gleeful demeanor sharply contrasts with the dystopian chaos surrounding him.

    To his left, a cash register overflows with money, from which missiles labeled "Blood Money" emerge, symbolizing war profiteering. Behind him, massive nuclear explosions light up a smoky sky, reinforcing themes of destruction and global unrest. To his right, a woman resembling Margaret Thatcher, wearing a pearl necklace and a button that reads "Jugs Not Drugs," kicks up her leg seductively atop a mountain of cash, portraying the intersection of power, wealth, and entertainment.

    In the foreground, a chaotic crowd of diverse individualsÑsome cheering, others looking shockedÑfills the lower section of the cover. A distorted representation of the Statue of Liberty stands among them, wearing a spiked crown while appearing ghostly and defeated. The bottom of the cover features the album title, "Money Talks," written in jagged green lettering, incorporating a skull within the typography, reinforcing the album's aggressive and rebellious tone.

    Back Cover Photo of "CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks" Album
    Back cover of CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks. Features a band photo of four members standing on a worn asphalt road with a chain-link fence behind them. The tracklist is split into two sections for Side 1 and Side 2, with song titles in bold white font against a blue background. Production credits, assistant engineers, and special thanks are listed at the top and bottom.

    CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks back cover presents a bold yet straightforward design with a sky-blue background. The tracklist is prominently displayed in two columns: Side 1 on the left and Side 2 on the right, with song titles written in bold white uppercase font. The songs on Side 1 include "Money Talks," "Set Your Own Pace," "Could Be Worse," "Wake Up," "Freedom of Expression?" and "Menace to Mankind." Side 2 lists "Too Much, Too Little," "Human Contrast," "Tables Are Turned," "Positively," "All Wrong," and "American Heroes."

    The middle of the cover features a band photo of the four members standing outdoors on a cracked and worn asphalt road with a chain-link fence and dry shrubbery behind them. From left to right, the members are: Rob Nicholson (bass and backing vocals), wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and a baseball cap; Scott Peterson (drums), dressed in a black leather jacket with band patches, dark jeans, and sneakers; Bill Crooks (vocals), wearing a black t-shirt with a vest, white pants with black abstract patterns, and black boots; and Les Evans (guitar), with long blond hair, wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers.

    Above the photo, in green uppercase font, are the production credits, stating that the album was "Produced by Bill Metoyer and Cryptic Slaughter" and "Engineered by Bill Metoyer." The recording locations are also listed, including Stagg Street Studio (Van Nuys, CA), Preferred Sound (Woodland Hills, CA), Pacific Sound (Chatsworth, CA), and Track Records (Los Angeles, CA). The assistant engineersÑScott Campbell, Kevin Beauchamp, Brian Carlstrom, and Ken PaulakovichÑare acknowledged in the same section.

    The lower portion of the cover contains a detailed "Special Thanks" section in small white font, giving recognition to friends, family, and various industry figures. In the bottom left corner, a red circular logo for "DEATH Records" is visible. The bottom right contains the Metal Blade Records logo, catalog number RR 9607, and copyright information.

    Metal Blade Records label of CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks Side 1. Features the iconic 'Blood Dripping Axe' logo at the top, with track listing in black text. Includes album title, band name, track durations, songwriting credits, and production details. Catalog number RR 9607, 33 RPM, and 'Made in Holland' marking on a white background with a circular black border.

    This is the Side 1 record label of CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - Money Talks, released by Metal Blade Records. The label features a white background with black text, encircled by a black vinyl border. At the top center, the iconic "Blood Dripping Axe" logo is prominently displayedÑa medieval-style battle axe with blood dripping from its edge, reinforcing the album's aggressive and uncompromising nature.

    Below the logo, the label states "METAL BLADE RECORDS" in bold uppercase letters, followed by the catalog number RR 9607, the format "STEREO," and playback speed "33 rpm." The left side of the label notes the pressing rights organization "STEMRA", indicating it was manufactured in the Netherlands.

    The tracklist is printed in black, detailing the six songs on Side 1:
    "Money Talks" (3:35), "Set Your Own Pace" (1:21), "Could Be Worse" (3:44), "Wake Up" (2:04), "Freedom of Expression?" (3:18), and "Menace to Mankind" (3:23). Each track is followed by the respective songwriting credits: Evans, Crooks, Peterson, and Nicholson.

    At the bottom, production credits acknowledge Bill Metoyer and the band as producers. The publishing rights are attributed to "Bloody Skull Music," administered by Bug Music. The text also includes the copyright notice: © 1987 Metal Blade Records / Roadrunner Prod. b.v. / Death Records.

    Surrounding the label in small uppercase red text is a copyright warning, stating: "All rights of the producer and of the owner of the work reproduced reserved. Unauthorized copying, hiring, lending, public performance, and broadcasting of this record prohibited."

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