Coffin Break

Formed in Seattle, the hardcore metal outfit Coffin Break left an imprint across the United States during the closing years of the 1980s and the opening of the 1990s. Rejecting the prevailing grunge sound emerging from the Pacific Northwest, the group instead took cues from punk traditions. C/Z Records stood out as their primary backers by putting out three full-length efforts and combining their debut pair into one compact disc for re-release. In 1989 the trio unveiled Psychosis and Rupture, with David Brooks handling drums, Peter Litwin contributing guitar and vocals, and Rob Skinner providing bass and vocals. Strong sales of those recordings secured a deal with a larger label, resulting in the 1991 Epitaph album Crawl and its 1992 follow-up Thirteen. At the same time C/Z issued the compilation No Sleep 'Til the Stardust Motel drawn from singles and unused tracks, after which the musicians ceased producing fresh recordings.