Metal Single Scratches Hot 100

by Ted Chambers

Lukewarm critical reception has not stopped Abysmal Crucifix from bottoming the charts with surprise hit "Rolling in It," a heavy metal song from the band's recent Backseat Delightlah! that was released as a single in July.

Its lyrics describe, with unabashed cynicism, the distasteful greed behind Nigerian banking fraud that has become widespread as the Internet gains popularity.

Initially, radio DJs were reluctant to play the track (since the song's chorus features an extremely radio unfriendly word). However, surprising results on radio request shows, coupled with the popularity of a music video that MTV can only play during the 12-2 a.m. "safe harbor" period, have yielded a hit.

Industry analysts do not expect the single to rise much higher, while the majors eye its progress carefully. Could Abysmal Crucifix rescue Geffen Records from their metal doldrums? Time will tell.

Reprinted from Billboard Magazine, week of August 15, 1998