By David O’Neill
The music scene across South Wales is once again proving that rock n roll ain’t dead. This past year has seen some immense performances and releases post pandemic from several band. It started with ÛK album charting from Scarlet Rebels last year, Cardinal Black playing The Royal Albert Hall in their first year as a band, King Kraken’s album release hitting the charts, the mighty Florence Black playing support to sold out stadia in Germany and getting a slot on Hellfest France. However,one of the most anticipated ultimate highlights so far has to be the latest release from the Bridgend-based Those Damn Crows.
Unfortunately, I missed the pre-release promo due to an email glitch, so I had to wait for my pre-ordered yellow vinyl to show up to listen to it in its entirety. It’s has been almost 30 years since I listened to an album on vinyl and I forgot what it’s like to listen to one from beginning to end including the crackles!
‘Fill The Void’ has a very heavy opening riff and, along with some other tracks on the album, it has a very Shinedown feel, catchy hooks and riffs and clever lyrics but still retaining the feel of a Crows track due to the distinctive vocal style of Shane Greenhall. This is gonna be another staple on the album tour no doubt.
‘Takedown’ is a typical Crows track: a three-minute single (with a radio edit to succour, no doubt) if ever there was one. The opening introduction to ‘Man On Fire’ seriously reminds me of a sped up version of the Dragons Den theme music but nonetheless its another corker of a track. Whilst the lyrics are the things most will remember the drumming of Ronnie and bass of Lloyd drive the track really well.
‘Wake Up (Sleepwalker)’ is an obvious dig at the “system”, more clever lyric writing and another great hook. With a history of writing ballads that connect with the fans, they’ve done it again with ‘This Time I’m Ready’; whilst played by the band I can see a piano acoustic version rearing its head at some point for the crowd to join in with at the ‘Inhale/Exhale’ breathe in.
‘I Am’ is even more of a dig at the system and it really has a mix of Shinedown/Volbeat feel to it that is likely to become an anthem and I really like it. ‘See You Again’ goes back to a more Crows feel from earlier albums but there is nothing wrong with that either and the crowd are gonna join in at the hook, it’s a really good song to end the first part of the sets with before the encore.
‘Lay It All On Me’ gives air to the instrumentation of Dave and Shiner on guitars (not that they don’t do their bit in the rest of the album), who carry the track really well under Shane’s vocals. The penultimate track, ‘Find A Way’, really reminds me of Shinedown: clever lyrics, good guitar sections throughout and all really well supported by Ronnie and Loyd in the rhythm section of the band. This is probably my favourite track on the album. ‘Waiting For Me’ has a good opening bass riff before piano and lyrics take over to carry it to the first chorus and the crescendo at the breakdown and it’s another track that builds really well, it’s another cracking track.
Add in to the the beautifully produced artwork included in the booklet and you almost feel that albums are definitely the way to go, (as they were back when that was all you could buy). It’s also beautifully mixed and mastered, there is no muddiness in mix at all.
The Crows are definitely flying high, as is Welsh rock music. Well done guys: album number three was worth the wait.
- ‘Inhale/Exhale‘ is out now.
Those Damn Crows headline the Primordial General Mayhem festival at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton on Saturday 29 April. They then head back out on the road, supporting Goo Goo Dolls in June:
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