Crime in Choir is a pivotal San Francisco instrumental ensemble formed in 2000, serving as a creative nexus for the West Coast experimental and math rock scenes. The band's sound identity is defined by a sophisticated fusion of 1970s progressive rock (Magma, Soft Machine), Italian cinematic scores (Goblin), and modern rhythmic complexity.
Their lineup has featured a rotating cast of influential musicians, including founding members of At the Drive-In (Jarrett Wrenn, Kenny Hopper) and virtuoso drummer Zach Hill. This pedigree infuses their work with a unique tension between punk-derived aggression and conservatory-level technicality. Throughout their four primary full-lengths, they evolved from raw, guitar-driven math rock toward a more expansive, synth-heavy 'prog-noir' aesthetic. Critically, they are regarded as a bridge between the post-hardcore world and the avant-garde, maintaining a cult following among fans of complex, non-vocal music that prioritizes atmosphere and structural ingenuity over traditional song forms.
Shares instrumental_only (vocal style); math rock, progressive rock, post-rock (subgenres)
Shares math rock, progressive rock, art rock (subgenres); instrumental_only (vocal style)
Shares math rock, post-rock, progressive rock (subgenres); instrumental_only (vocal style)
Shares math rock, progressive rock, post-rock (subgenres); instrumental_only (vocal style)
Shares instrumental_only (vocal style); restless, mysterious, intense (moods)
Shares analog_warmth, live_recording, layered_dense (production style); instrumental_only (vocal style)
Shares math rock, progressive rock, art rock (subgenres); restless, mysterious, intense (moods)
Shares math rock, post-rock, progressive rock (subgenres); instrumental_only (vocal style)
Shares instrumental_only (vocal style); post-rock, math rock, art rock (subgenres)
Shares math rock, progressive rock, post-rock (subgenres); instrumental_only (vocal style)
Shares math rock, post-rock, progressive rock, dynamic_range (signature)
Shares math rock, post-rock, progressive rock, dynamic_range (signature)
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