God Shaped Hole
Artist: Those Damn Crows
Genre: Rock
Record Label: Earache Records
Release Date: 11 April 2025
Those Damn Crows make their highly anticipated return with their new album God Shaped Hole! The Welsh rockers hope that their latest release will reignite fans’ passion for their emotionally charged music and become a cornerstone of their discography.
The band’s fourth studio album comes in with a heavy blend of modern rock and punk elements, which can be heard right from the get-go during Dancing With The Enemy. It kicks off with a tonne of energy, letting you know Those Damn Crows aren’t messing about! The album delves into themes of mental health, resilience, and self-doubt, almost like fighting yourself the entire way, which is expertly highlighted during the song The Night Train, a vulnerable ballad exploring the struggles of mental health and survival as a whole.
Singer Shane Greenhall does an excellent job of conveying emotion through the tones of his voice. Whether it’s the aggression that Spit & Choke offers or the sense of bravery during No Surrender, Shane takes the listener’s mind on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the entire record.
It wouldn’t be a Those Damn Crows album without some no-nonsense riffs, and this album has plenty! Guitarists Ian Thomas and David Winchurch deliver high-impact riffs like they’re going out of style, with the track Let’s Go Psycho! being a clear standout for me. Those Damn Crows are the kind of band you can’t help but bang your head along to because of how infectious the riffs truly are.
Studio recordings are only half the appeal of an album, but this one has real potential to go off live! Tracks like Dreaming offer fans the chance to sing their hearts out in unison, while Glass Heart feels like one that the rockers on the floor could really let loose to and open up a pit.
An album’s final track can really make or break a release, so it’s a good thing Still is one of the album’s strongest. The song is thematically intense and may be one of the band’s tightest-sounding releases to date. Its emotional climax is the perfect way to send this record off, tying everything together with a nice, black bow.
As a whole, God Shaped Hole is a strong album from Those Damn Crows. The production by Dan Weller complements the band’s vision and sound beautifully, while the songs themselves are heartfelt, open, and powerful. Existing fans will feel right at home with this release, while new fans may find lyrics they can latch onto and resonate with in a big way.
Album Artwork: Alex Tillbrook