Amongst the noise of the alternative rock scene, Crawlers have consistently found a way to slice through.
The Merseyside quartet was formed in 2018 and has only been on an upward trajectory since, becoming a common festival highlight and supporting the larger-than-life My Chemical Romance. Their widely celebrated EPs and a rampant Glastonbury set earned them a record deal with Polydor, and after six years of their conception comes their debut album, presenting a concise and unapologetic voice across its entire runtime.
Singer Holly Minto stated the album, “comes from us honing our craft, being vulnerable with each other, finding our sound and saying exactly what we wanted to.” It’s from searching to find this level of vulnerability that Cralwers create something so intimate and expansive; exploring the small details of relationships that give them a sense of meaning (or alternatively, lack of). Opener ‘Meaningless Sex’ is an excellent tone setter, with echoes of fuzz guitar buzzing in the background, constantly building to a climax that is well worth the wait. Minto shines here — as they tend to do — often resembling shades of Hayley Williams throughout the twelve songs Crawlers have hand-crafted.
Despite the tracks present having an undeniable intimate level to their lyrics, the sleek production and impressive instrumentation means the songs present on Crawlers’ debut feel fit for any stage in the world. ‘Kiss Me’ and ‘Hit It Again’ stick out as prime examples of the band’s ability to weave their way around a melody while maintaining the gritty grooves they initially became known for. Meanwhile, ‘Golden Bridge’ slices out the noise of the record to create a true moment of tender songwriting. The track strays from being the cliched piano ballad that’s been heard a thousand times before thanks to its incredible instrumental and performance; it wouldn’t be hard to imagine Minto writing the lyrics in the darkest corner of their bedroom, not shying away from its fragility but instead using it as a strength. “It hurts to look back”, triumphantly sings Minto, empowering their emotions on a chorus that hits like a knockout blow.
‘Come Over (Again)’ also rightfully finds its place on the track list, previously featuring on their debut EP and becoming the band’s biggest hit since. It’s easy to understand why, remaining undeniably infectious and remains the entry point for most of the ‘Creepy Crawlers’ fanbase that has been quickly gathering in numbers and will only continue to.
It may only be their debut, but Crawlers have crafted an album that succeeds in speaking to the tangled emotions we often wrestle with while coming of age. You get the feeling when listening to ‘The Mess We Seem To Make’ that this is the start of something very special.