Crank the System

"Crank the System" is the lead single by the Australian nu metal band Superheist from their first album The Prize Recruit. It was issued ahead of the album on 27 November 2000 on Shock Records' imprint Pivotal Records. The track was co-written by all five Superheist members and peaked at No. 45 on the ARIA Singles Chart. The album and single were produced by Kalju Tonuma.

"Crank the System"
Single by Superheist
from the album The Prize Recruit
B-side	"Crank the System [Fit for Mum Mix]" "Bullet for You" "Two Faced [live on JJJ]" "Pulse [live on JJJ]" "Move the Fuck Around"
Released	27 November 2000 (2000-11-27)
Recorded	2000
Genre	Nu metal, rap metal
Length	3:51
Label	Pivotal/Shock
Songwriter(s)	Richard William Norton, Roderick McLeod, Sean Robert P Pentecost, Fetah Sabawi, Andrew Corey Dedman
Producer(s)	Kalju Tonuma
Superheist singles chronology
"Karma'" (1999) "Crank the System" (2000) "Bullet" (2001)

The B-side includes a grindcore version of the main song, then "Two Faced", "Pulse", "Move the Fuck Around" and "Bullet for You" – an early demo of the next single from the album. This song was later reworked into "Bullet".

Background

In mid-1999 Superheist toured nationally backing Sepultura,^[1][2] but shortly their bass guitarist, Simon "Si" Durrant left and returned to his home town of Adelaide where he joined a short-lived project, Screwface:13. He was replaced on bass guitar by Andrew Corey Dedman.^[1] After the band's first EP, 8 Miles High, later works were more defined in their sound and tone – high energy and more traditional nu metal – as seen on The Prize Recruit. "Crank the System", which appeared in November 2000, was their first single with Dedman and also their first for the new Shock Records subsidiary label, Pivotal Records.^[3] The track was co-written by all five members, Richard William "DW" Norton on lead guitar, backing vocals; Roderick "Burger" McLeod on lead vocals; Sean Robert P Pentecost on drums; Fetah Sabawi on synthesisers and samplers; and Dedman.^[1][4][5] It peaked at No. 45 on the ARIA Singles Chart.^[6] The album and single were produced by Kalju Tonuma.^[4]

Track listing

AUS CD single SHAGCD7052

1. "Crank the System" – 3:51
2. "Crank the System" (Fit for Mum Mix) – 3:51
3. "Bullet for You" – 4:03
4. "Two Faced" (live on JJJ) – 3:50
5. "Pulse" (live on JJJ) – 3:38
6. "Move the Fuck Around" – 0:24

Charts

Chart performance for "Crank the System"

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[7]	45

References

1. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Superheist". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 14 April 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
2. "Artists :: Superheist". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 21 November 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
3. Australian Music Online, Pivotal associated singles:

   • "Crank the System" :– "Releases :: 'Crank the System'". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
   • "Bullet" :– "Releases :: 'Bullet'". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
   • "7 Years" :– "Releases :: '7 Years'". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
4. Holmgren, Magnus. "Superheist". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
5. "'Crank the System' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 7 September 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Crank the System; &/or at 'Performer:' Superheist
6. "Discography Superheist". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
7. "Superheist – Crank the System". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 October 2022.