These Creeps – ‘Sinning In These Suburbs’ – The Debut Full Length

These Creeps – Plymouth, England, United Kingdom.

Plymouth Punk-Rock.

My taste in music has diversified in recent years, as much as Punk (diverse in itself) has remained at the forefront, other genres have been creeping through.

The only Punk music I’ve ruined my ears with recently has been more of the Pop-Punk/Skate Punk/Melodic Punk sound, very much in vein of the 90’s. And that’s great, because many contemporary bands are leaning that way once more.

That said, I’ve needed a decent Punk album to motion me back towards the more old-school sound for a while now. So, These Creeps releasing their long awaited debut, has set me back on that path. The band’s sound is as varied as it is well-rounded, it’s as old-school as it is new-school. It cites the greats as much as it does the contemporary, and so on.

The sound of These Creeps – for the most part – hurls itself at you via a mix of Ska-infused Punk and Hardcore, with lashings of Melodic Hardcore and maybe a slither of Crust Punk. Of course, that’s just my opinion, but with these influences, who can blame me?

‘The Clash, Streetlight Manifesto, Green Day, Strung Out, Smashing Pumpkins, Flogging Molly, Leftover Crack, Billy Bragg, Mad Conductor, No Ca$h, U.K Subs, Rancid, Subhumans, Joy Division, InMe, Random Hand, Choking Victim, 2 Sick Monkeys, Rage Against the Machine, Flobots, Fuck You Heroes, NOFX, The Jam, The Nerve Agents, Metallica, Capdown, Beng Beng Cocktail, The Germs’

Sinning In These Suburbs:

Fifteen tracks of pure Ska-laced Punk-Rock, set on its path the only way it should. With a quote from Springfield’s own, Ned Flanders:

‘Ok boys, this is it. The end of this sinful little suburb.’

‘Broken Britain’, introduced by dear Ned, is very much thrown forward on a pacey set of old-school Hardcore, reminiscent in places of the Dead Kennedys‘ ‘When Ya Get Drafted’. The band’s Ska side is head for the first time, in a brief flirtation set for enticement.

Track two fires way with a Crust Punk-esque vibe on the lead guitar and clocking in at 1:43, is over fast, but that isn’t a complaint as it does the job. Three is slightly more melodic, but just as break-neck on the tempo. The breakdown and thunderous drumming playing you out sets you in good stead for the title track. 

Title tracks need to be one of the strongest on a release in my opinion, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Breakdown led intro, tight rhythms and Ska-led verse or two and clever lyrics, which truly shine from about 2:35 ’til the end, in a vicious Punk soliloquy.

‘Sign Up’ is a full broadside of Hardcore Punk, while the next in line, ‘To The Slaughter’ merges some Leftover Crack influence with a Melodic Hardcore stamp. Track seven, ‘Killing It’, pushes its Ska-led verses along before giving way to some tasty melodic chord progression in the vein of the previous number. A highlight of the release.

Eight. I may keep mentioning the melodic side to the band, and for good reason, but this does NOT mean the band have cut the aggression. ‘Time?’ offers another slice of anthemic Punk-Rock that could easily fit on a Tony Hawk soundtrack.

I’ll let you dissect this one. Here’s your Ska track. A defiant and honest anthem of disaffection.

Ten, ‘Caught In The Act’ is sizeable slab of slightly melodic Hardcore Punk with shavings of Poison Idea, and is sonic proof of the hard work that went into this album.

‘Man is born in freedom, but he still becomes a slave. In cages of convention, from the cradle to the grave’ – True words from ‘The Artillery Man’ which is another clear highlight. It is perfectly contrasted by the furious Hardcore of the next track, ‘Someone?’, which is itself well contrasted with the aggro-tongue and cheek of ‘You Can’t Spell Crime Without Me’, with its strong guitar work and rumbling bass.

And that’s what you want from a 15 track release. We’ve reviewed many albums where every track is great on it’s own, but a truly great album showcases a band’s ability to contrast and diversify their sound.

The Ska elements of the penultimate track remind me a bit of Citizen Fish if I’m honest. The structure of the song in general crosses over the band’s various styles well, elements of the aforementioned Ska, Hardcore, and melodic notes come through well and only exemplify the albums versatility.

‘Brand New Gasmask’ is the final instalment of the debut full length and a great way to play out. An older track from 2013, it has been re-recorded, with the music and vocals drawn closer together for a far “larger” melodic sound that I can only imagine goes down a treat live.

There we have it, Sinning In These Suburbs. If you are going to get a Punk-Rock album this year, make it this one. 9/10.

The band’s music (and this album) is available from their bandcamp, with their previous releases all for the whole FREE/NAME YOUR PRICE dealy. If you fancy a physical copy, then catch the band live or get in touch.

Sinning In These Suburbs can be found at £5 on digital download and £7 on hard copy CD, both can be found via the band’s bandcamp profile – click here.

Keep track of These Creeps via their Facebook page.

#StayFresh

Cover Photo by Arturro/Misiek.