ALBUM REVIEW: Inhale/Exhale – Those Damn Crows
Breathe in… and out… notice a sense of calm wander into the subconscious? Moments like that let us gauge situations and responses. Without it, we react to something on emotional impulse rather than allow rationale to answer. It’s this notion which drives THOSE DAMN CROWS’ latest album Inhale/Exhale. Releasing this Friday, this is the third record for the Welsh quintet and a (pardon the pun) breath of fresh air. While following on from the mood of Point Of No Return (2020), we’re finally given answers to the questions their sophomore effort left us with.
Fill The Void’s tasty opening riff is fast paced while still holding the smoky feel of unadulterated rock. Shane Greenhall’s distorted vocals add a touch of edge to the track which speaks to the pressure we put on ourselves to get things right. “Trapped in here it’s fatal” alludes to the stagnant nature of wallowing in our self-pity following a mental break. The shake of Lloyd Wood’s bassline throughout the second verse rattles the bones in ways our minds would love to be at times. As the harmonies progress, track can’t help but be a little reminiscent of a SHINEDOWN effort which carries into Takedown. Picking up the mantle of dark and sombre tones, Takedown is a melodic sucker-punch meant to empower us to drive forwards. Naysayers in sight, the chorus is constructed of glorious vocal hooks you can imagine people screaming along to on their upcoming tour. The solo from Ian Thomas is wonderfully slow and understated. The time for posterity is neither here nor now.
Carrying on the exposé of doubters, Man On Fire’s brighter nature allows for the introduction of a synth. While it’s not QUEEN’s Don’t Stop Me Now, the crunch in David Winchurch’s riffs is just as delicious to listen to. “You’re so afraid of what you don’t understand” is a perfect explanation as to why some people are hellbent on either doubting or otherwise holding us back. The subject soon shifts with Wake Up (Sleepwalker), an ode to being on society’s puppet strings, where constructs such as social media allow people to coast through life while single-handedly tearing themselves apart with ludicrous comparisons. It’s clear to see THOSE DAMN CROWS aren’t a rock ’n’ roll band that are solely looking for a good time. They want to use their platform for good and are able to do so without treading into preacher territory.
A slight gripe comes with the placement of This Time I’m Ready. Following Man On Fire’s theme of self-acceptance and the willingness to succeed, the album’s ballad also speaks on the idea of never giving up. Sounds very John Cena, doesn’t it? Though written as a tribute to Greenhall’s father, “This time I’m ready to become / What you’ve already seen in me” sounds wonderfully determined. Greenhall’s voice shines through the track. What was unexpected however were the darker tones within the middle-eight; harsher guitars and gravelled vocals take this song to a place it doesn’t really need to go. It was simply enough as it was. A touch later, See You Again’s pop-punk nuances feel out of place on a record like this. Lines such as “I can’t save myself” push against the ethos and lead this to become a weaker entry on the album.
THOSE DAMN CROWS’ strengths lie within their darker or heavier material. I Am’s protestation against “all the lunatics in power” is as infectious as it is in your face. It is an anthem sure to do well within the live arena as shows are usually the place we realise we are the architects of our own lives. This proclamation of self-acceptance and encouragement to take on the world is more than welcome. There are times however where this strength leaves us which is where songs such as Lay It All On Me come in. A low and slow number with heavy bass tones, THOSE DAMN CROWS show a hint of NIRVANA with their murky guitars slithering throughout. Greenhall’s velveteen vocals as he declares his willingness to support a loved one are joyous to indulge in. As the middle-eight flows seamlessly into the solo it is clear a lot of time and effort went into honing this record into the solid effort it is.
The final tandem of Inhale/Exhale feel very much like the act of breathing. Find A Way’s tale of toxicity speaks to actions and people we should be excluding from our sanctuary. The chugging guitars light up the amygdala and leave us longing for more within the album’s dying moments. “Chasing shadows left you with a life on your own” oozes a venom many of us wish we could carry toward someone who has wronged us, although THOSE DAMN CROWS are more magnanimous than that as they reach out to the person who has wronged them and asks to “help us find a way”. Musically, Find A Way is a treat to listen to as the solo shows no element of showboating or ‘look at me’ attitude. Carrying through into Waiting For Me’s rampant bassline, this is an album for musicians rather than ‘virtuosos’. What comes in the closer is an energy more of us should embrace: that desire to break a cycle of misery so we can become better. There is an argument that this should have opened the record but what came first? Inhale or exhale?
Inhale/Exhale answers a lot of questions Point Of No Return left us with. The main answer being this isn’t a band in danger of running out of steam. While there are some slight stop gaps in terms of quality, this is a solid effort from THOSE DAMN CROWS and one the band should be proud of. There are some things which need fine tuning but which band doesn’t need that? THOSE DAMN CROWS may still be on the smaller end of the scale, but this is a band with the potential to project themselves many leagues above where they are now. Inhale/Exhale should be the launch pad for exactly that.
Rating: 7/10
Inhale/Exhale is set for release on February 17th via Earache Records.
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