A distributed database system may implement fast crash recovery. Upon recovery from a database head node failure, a connection with one or more storage nodes of a distributed storage system storing data for a database implemented by the database head node may be established. Upon establishment of the connection with the storage nodes, that database may be made available for access, such as for various access requests. In various embodiments, redo log records may not be replayed in order to provide access to the database. In at least some embodiments, the storage nodes may provide a current state of data stored for the database in response to requests.