Crobot "Feel This"
Rustbelt Rock Reviews
By: Z.M. Delgado
Zackolantern.com
Volume #14: Crobot – “Feel This”
Release Date: June 3, 2022
Mascot Records
Good morning my fellow Midwestern Metal Maniacs! I am happy to be here with you today, discussing an album I have been anticipating heavily. This edition of the RbRR we will be breaking down Pennsylvania’s Crobot and their new effort “Feel This.” For those of you who follow the RbRR you’ll remember I discussed their incredible performance in Cincinnati (RbRR #11) in support of Danzig. Since then I have acquired their entire available back catalogue and listened to it in depth. I feel, having seen them twice now and absorbed their preceding works, I am ready to dig into “Feel This,” like, well like a giant, elaborately prepared ice cream cone… which is what you’ll find as you peruse the cover of the new Crobot record. It’s a pretty serious ice cream cone, in fact. It’s got multiple scoops, sprinkles, some red sauce, whipped cream and a cherry on top! It looks delicious, as it is held up to the camera, by what looks like a child’s hand. The delicious ice cream is set upon a sugar cone, molded in the shape of brass knuckles. That cherry sauce runs down onto the knuckle cone and fingers of the child adding a playful yet menacing vibe to the art. I feel this is a fitting description of Crobot as a whole. “Playful, yet menacing…” Yes, I like that. This is a band that is definitely a lot of fun. They play hard edged, blues inspired Metal with a touch of a Southern flair. Yet, there has always been supernatural, demonic and unstable notions tucked discreetly into the lyrics and as I just described, the artwork. So obviously, I feel the cover stands up in its own right… but how about what’s inside?
My Splatter Vinyl. Totally Bitchin'
The fact that I saw Crobot recently will add a lot of perspective for me to do this write up, considering that when they performed May 14th, 7 of the 9 songs they played were taken from the “Feel This” album. Much like the set that night, the album opens with a true Rock N’ Roll rip-saw entitled “Electrified.” It hits like a pistol shot signaling the beginning of a mad sprint. Hard, fast and invigorating, Brandon Yeagley comes out with his voice soaring. When I first played this band for my wife, she compared his vocal style and range to the immortal Chris Cornell and I agree. If it is pure sacrilege to say, I cry your pardon, but I feel he also rivals Cornell in intensity and at times in passion. Next up is “Dizzy” which has one of those chugging riffs I so often describe. It has a solid groove, driven not just by the riffs but also by Tim Peugh’s smooth Bass line. It also contains a catchy chorus that I recall went down big in Cinci.
“Set You Free” is third and the first of the more anthem type numbers in the collection. Yeagley’s voice soars as he both pleads and proclaims: “I’ll give you my faith, just so you believe. Walk through the darkness, so you can see. I’ll set you free.” This may be the most emotionally charged track in the collection. It is honestly very beautiful as well as powerful, and one of “Feel This’” strongest entries.
“Better Times” follows and is much more in line with the sound of “Electrified.” Here is yet another high voltage Rock song that helped to fuel their live show’s static discharge. I particularly enjoy the harmonica work on this one, which adds a nice texture and reinforces the southern tinge. “Golden” brings more of that big, anthem sound. Lyrically there is clearly an allegory here for freeing ones soul. It is a solid number, but I find myself wanting to skip passed it; only to get to get to the next track: “Without Wings.” This was Cincinnati’s closing number, and with good cause. This song opening is melodic, slow and atmospheric before building into an absolute detonation. This is Crobot at their most powerful: Spooky, bluesy and wild. I consider this the best song on the record overall, and yet it is not my favorite. (Shh! It doesn’t have to make sense.) Moving further, “Livin’ on the Streets” is another straight up rocker; telling the tale of a hard luck musician who has nothing to his name but “This head and this guitar.” It however is not a blues song about poverty. It is more about freedom, and how this rocker is unencumbered and able to chase music any way he chooses.
Crobot Live in Cinci
“Into the Fire” MIGHT be my favorite song here. It is so hard, so dark and menacing. There is something relentless in theses lyrics. I can’t get over the line “I go to sleep just to dream about your nightmares.” But it doesn’t stop there as the chorus erupts, just takes off and flies. Bishop bridges the gap back to the verse with more distorted blues based soloing. I love this song; it has both, malevolence and heart, a big vocal chorus and strong guitar work. It would be my #1 pick on the record but…
…then there is “Dance with the Dead” just barely surpassing “Into the Fire,” for my favorite. I think it’s the washboard in the opening. (I think it’s a washboard..?) Man, that just gets me with this one! Drummer, Dan Ryan’s rhythm is so damned propulsive; like, slapping the steering wheel, pumping your fist out the window, all damn summer, propulsive. The chorus is simple and fun, but boy does it feel good to raise your voice and join in with Yeagley on this one. Here, Chris Bishop shines with testicle clenching riffage and two solos that give me chills. This is the hand clappin’ist, sing along with your drunk buddy’ist, screaming “Oh yeah!” like the Macho Man song I’ve heard in a while. I really don’t know why. Like I said, “Without Wings” is a somehow a better song. However the one two punch of “Into the Fire” and “Dance with Dead” really sets the energy up and then knocks it out the back of your skull like a Louisville Slugger.
“Holy Ghost” follows suit, with speed ferocity and another big chorus from Yeagley. I like the Bass on this one. Here Peugh brings a very pounding, yet smooth element to the sound. “Never Break Me” has an early Aerosmith vibe, which is a stylistic influence that I only just connected as I write this sentence. StevenTyler has had an undoubted impact on Crobot’s Frontman, both in sound and stage presence. The final number on the record is “Staring Straight into the Sun.” I consider this to be the most ambitious effort on the album. Slow, very bluesy and ever building; it is the capstone of the record. It begins soft, Yeagley’s voice almost chanted; Bishop using heavy reverb to add to the atmospheric qualities. Then it builds, slowly moving towards an epic crescendo; where the dam bursts wide. The drums explode and a furious guitar solo follows. Slowing again, the band drops back into its haunting blues cadence and ends the album on a satisfying fade out.
Crobot Live in Cinci
So ultimately what do I think of Crobot’s “Feel this?” Well I like it; I like it a lot. Not as much as Motherbrain, which is my favorite, but it is very good. I have found this album is difficult to rank among their prior works. If you follow the band, you’ll see a transition over the three early albums. “Something Supernatural” is very spooky and bluesy. “Welcome to Fat City” has a much more, fast, driving, Rock vibe. “Motherbrain,” goes more in the direction of the big emotional chorus’ and anthems. What I think they have done on “Feel This” is successfully write songs from each of the prior records and bring them together. Numbers like “Electrified” “Better Times” and “Never Break Me” would fit well on “Fat City.” While “Dizzy” “Set You Free” and “Holy Ghost” have a very “Motherbrain” feel. Then you have “Without Wings” “Golden” and “Staring Straight Into The Sun” which are “Something Supernatural, all the way.” My two favorites, “Into the Fire” and “Dance With the Dead” belong right where they are, because they have a kind of new feeling to them: All three albums, in one place. You have the lyrical darkness of Supernatural, the driving rhythms of Fat City and the powerful chorus’ of Motherbrain. It is the “Feel This” sound and it kicks ass. So to all of you Beardos and Low Lifes out there, you’re gonna want to pick this one up ASAP. Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Zackolantern.com
6/6/2022
(Crobot - “Feel This” - A very strong album, from a great band, in their prime. True to their established sound while showing growth, Crobot has unequivocally done it again. Two sets of Horns thrown to the sky! Highly recommend.)
Crobotband.com
