ALBUM REVIEW: Those Damn Crows - God Shaped Hole


Undeniably moving into the next tier, Bridgend’s finest Those Damn Crows fourth album is a glorious slab of melodic hard rock which sees them take the next step along a road which has looked easy, but which is based on huge amounts of hard work and effort. 

If 2023’s Inhale Exhale moved the band to the position where they could command strong opening slots for the likes of ZZ Top and Rival Sons, then God Shaped Hole moves them comfortably into the Academy headliner position. When I reviewed Inhale Exhale, I predicted that the band were ready for the next step. And whilst God Shaped Hole may be more radio friendly than some of the darker tracks on album number three, the fourth release certainly contains enough for those who like their rock hard but with ample melody. 

Those Damn Crows - O2 Academy Bristol 2023

As ever, the songs are crafted with honest simplicity that allows the hooks to dig deep and leave you humming the melodies for days after. Opener Dancing with the Enemy contains enough grit to remind you that underneath the broad smiles and beaming faces, this is band who have endured over the past decade. 

And like anyone, a decade in your life provides highs and lows which are once again chronicled with personal experience across the ten songs. Whilst Dancing with the Enemy and Glass Heart may be the bouncy anthems, Fake brings a darker examination of social media and use of, a topic that we can identify with, and which has provided subject matter for many bands over the past few years. A necessary evil? Time will tell, no doubt. The use of Shane Greenhall’s piano is never overused, but it adds the needed elements here. 

There’s feel good summer songs, such as Dreaming, a track that begs to be played on a road trip in the sun, and which must nod to the greats of the seventies California rock sound. It’s got bits of Tom Petty, Eagles and highlights the band’s versatility. Greenhall brings his own sound to the party, something that is quintessentially Crows, and combines with the harmonies that give this band such depth. It’s anthemic, gloriously designed for summer nights, and one can see the arms aloft at this year’s Sunday headline show at Steelhouse Festival. Let’s Go Psycho! has been around for a while now, and whilst it has the punch that may have surprised some, it isn’t my favourite here despite the element of chaos it brings. 

Those Damn Crows - Steelhouse Festival 2023

No Surrender shows the Crows once more at their anthemic best and they bring a lighter aloft moment on The Night Train which grows on you with every play. The inspiration of a train that takes you to see your departed loved ones gives this a personal spin too. The final trio bring something of a mixed bag. Turn It Around isn’t the strongest song the Crows have ever written, a little bit of a filler perhaps, but Spit & Choke sees the tempo intensify and this certainly catches the ear with its rattling pace and change of style. 

Of course, Greenhall’s vocals are integral to the band, but it’s the powerhouse drumming of Ronnie Huxford that drives many of the songs. That’s except for closing song Still, which hits in the feels and is another intensely personal Shane song. “Still is from a time when, to put it quite frankly, I was suffering.,” Shane says. “I went to the one place that’s special to all my family, that I love to this day, with every intention not to return. It’s hard to write this, but I was at peace with knowing that I didn’t have to think or feel about life anymore. That brought huge comfort and relief, I really didn’t mind if I remained still. Strangely, every line in this song hurts for completely different reasons now”. 

Those Damn Crows - Swansea Arena 2023

God Shaped Hole is the sound of a band maturing. It’s rarely as frantic as early records, but the music is more carefully shaped, planned and sculpted. Diehard fans will love it, new fans should embrace it, and rock fans in general should applaud a UK band who are continuing to achieve. It’s been a long journey so far, and it’s far from over. As we know, the point of a journey is not to arrive. Those Damn Crows know that. Enjoy the ride. 

And make sure to check out the artwork by Alex Tillbrook, that adorns the cover of the album. Shane comments, "It's a collection of what's happened in the timeline of (my) life. It's a combination of realities and dimensions. Each item on the album cover visually represents a song on the album and the emotion tied to it. The album landscape is another dimension where the dream world exists, images/songs/emotions are scattered around the vast desert in disarray. Is the sink hole there to destroy, to take away, or is it the path to a new dimension, new reality, new life? I feel that life, the dream state, psychedelics, technology are all co-existing and blurring the lines while asking the question 'what is real?'"

God Shaped Hole is released via Earache Records on 11th April. 
The band have announced new tour dates for the autumn, details can be found at https://thosedamncrows.com/live



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