Crocodiles take "Upside Down in Heaven" to the Netherlands in November
27-05-2024Like many fine bands before them, Crocodiles worhsip at the twin altars of noise and melody, and while they may tilt more in one direction than another at different times, their music is always hooky, decadent fun. The duo of Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez hit the ground running, and the band's early albums like 2009's Summer of Hate, were fully formed, neon-lit nuggets of garage rock-meets-Jesus and Mary Chain. Future albums may have favored the hooky side of the equation (2013's Crimes of Passion) or tabled the guitars for synths (2016's Dreamless,) but as 2023's Upside Down in Heaven proved once again, their radiant blend of noise and melody never dimmed.
Over the years, the band have shifted and transformed, always revolving around the core nucleus of Welchez and Rowell with their ear for pure pop abandon wrapped up in the crunch and verve of great garage-punk. Now the duo are back, with Atef Aouadhi on bass and Diego Dal Bon on drums, for ten tracks that mine the depths of their love for great hooks and harmonies. Like the surging powerpop scene that is coming out of the States these days, with great bands like White Reaper and The Reflectors, Crocodiles produce the kind of music to disappear into on sun-kissed summer days.
On Upside Down in Heaven they sound tighter and brighter than ever. Ten punchy, power-poppy bangers that recall the best of the early days of Stiff Records mixed with a moody shoegaze sheen.
In November Crocodiles will play two shows in the Netherlands: