Band: Crashgate
Release: Crude Jokes, Death Notes, & Unicorns (Album)
Release Date: Out Now!
Kentish metal upstarts Crashgate named their debut full-length ‘Crude Jokes, Death Notes, & Unicorns’ because of the thematic ground it covers. A recurring idea on the record is that, although life often seems like a rose-tinted fairy-tale, the reality is that people are usually prepared to stab you in the back to further their own agendas.
Musically, this concise offering is about as original as its lyrical content, but that’s not to say that their curious blend of stadium rock, thrash and metalcore influences is wholly unappealing.
Lead single ‘As One’ is supposed to embody the musical progression the guys have made since last year’s EP, and is a fairly good track to judge the record by. With a grooving NWOBHM chorus, it sees them extend their thanks to the fans that support them, which is touching. We bang our heads while vocalist Craig Sheridon bellows over the guitar hooks, but can’t help but feel like we’ve heard this one before.
In fact, much of ‘Crude Jokes…’ is made up of 80s thrash riffs, dated glam rock vocal melodies and clichéd metalcore beatdowns. There are certainly moments when their ‘Motley Crue meets Bullet For My Valentine’ sound is grating.
Party song ‘Whiskey Makes Me Frisky’ is a standout track, largely because it doesn’t take itself too seriously – when your sound is essentially a re-hashing of styles that had their heyday years ago this is important.
These guys aren’t at the stage of their career where they can quit their day jobs and give themselves to being a full-time rock band. We can think of several more accomplished outfits that have yet to make that leap and certainly Crashgate have a lot of work to do, but for an unsigned band ‘Crude Jokes…’ isn’t a bad first attempt.
6/10
Reviewer: Solomon Radley
