Cryptic Slaughter was a highly influential Santa Monica, California-based crossover thrash band, one of the progenitors of the genre. Along with Repulsion and Siege, they were instrumental in cementing the early grindcore sound which first emerged in the late '80s, and are cited by grindcore creators Napalm Death as a major influence.

Cryptic Slaughter was formed in 1984 by Les Evans, Scott Peterson and Adam Scott, who were all teenagers at the time, as well as being soccer players. Soon they were joined by Bill Crooks, another soccer player and Adam Scott was kicked out for missing rehearsals.

Their first demo tape, Life in a Grave, was produced in 1985. Shortly after the recording of their next album, Stream of Consciousness, the band broke up as a result of Crooks and Peterson leaving the band. Shortly after this, however, guitarist Les Evans and bassist Rob Nicholson recruited new members and continued the band.

They toured extensively in support of the albums Convicted (1986) and Money Talks (1987) before disbanding in 1989 due to financial and managerial problems. They are often credited as one of the progenitors of crossover, the thrash metal and hardcore punk crossover genre, along with such seminal acts as D.R.I. and Corrosion of Conformity. However, the group's last album, Speak Your Peace, was a step in a different direction, with Cryptic Slaughter bringing alternative rock and grunge into the band's sound and doing away with the hardcore punk elements of previous albums.

In 2003, Relapse Records rereleased the Convicted and Money Talks albums with added bonus tracks from Cryptic Slaughter's demo and live recordings.

Members
Bill Crooks – vocals, 1984 – 1988
Dave Hollingsworth – vocals, 1989 – 1990
Les Evans – guitar, 1984 – 1990
Rob Nicholson – bass, 1984 – 1988
Bret Davis – bass, 1989 – 1990
Scott Peterson – drums, 1984 – 1988
Brian Lehfeldt – drums, 1989 – 1990

Discography
Convicted (1986) (Metal Blade Records)
Money Talks (1987) (Metal Blade Records)
Stream of Consciousness (1988) (Metal Blade Records)
Speak Your Peace (1990) (Metal Blade Records)