Album Review: Those Damn Crows - God Shaped Hole (2025, Earache Records)

Written: 6th April 2025

Day by day, year by year, and song by song, Welsh rockers Those Damn Crows have been gaining momentum and more fans with each release and each live show. On the verge of the release of their fourth album, God Shaped Hole, they have announced a new tour, hitting some of the biggest venues of their career so far.

Opening track Dancing With The Enemy is a fierce, introspective anthem that blends lyrics about betrayal, resilience and hard-won self awareness with compelling hooks and a thunderous chorus that would not be out of place in any rock arena. I found my place surviving hell / Dancing with the enemy / Went toe to toe and guess who fell. Fusing blistering riffs, shadowy melodies and a pounding rhythm, Those Damn Crows set out their stall from the outset - a visceral opener asserts the band’s fearless musical ambition with a power that mirrors the emotional volatility of the lyrics.

Glass Heart adopts a slightly more shimmering fusion of pop-rock and emotional heft. Sparkling guitars and a melodic brightness once again contrast with the song’s lyrical depth, where raw admissions of instability and heartbreak unfold. I hear the rattle of broken pieces in my chest / Reminds me where I've been, confirms that I'm a mess / Next thing you know, you'd take the fate no more / Without warning, warning, warning, warning. A polished production lets each sonic layer breathe - clean guitar lines drift over insistent bass undercurrents gradually building tension. The track glows with emotive energy while remaining musically precise and refined. "The whole premise of that song is, 'I'm going to tell it like it is, flaws and all,'" says vocalist Shane Greenhall. "I can be anxious, I can be unstable when sometimes It looks like I got my shit together, and have all the answers. I've been hurt and broken – who hasn't got a glass heart? But it's OK, because we're still here, we're still fighting."

Third track Fake brings something new to the album and the band. A bold almost symphonic opening takes us in a completely different direction. It is a damning attack on the emptiness and self-deception caused by society’s obsession with superficiality. Why don’t you look at yourself ? / Instead of me / Chasing down the next fatality / Scrolling through the lives you thrive to be / Filters has become your life it’s fake! Among the heaviest tracks the band have ever produced, they show that they are not willing to endlessly reproduce the same style of music across the album. Three songs in and each has their own individual personality while very much sharing the DNA that makes Those Damn Crows such a listenable band. Blending elements of grunge and alternative rock, the layers of abrasive riffs from guitarists Ian Thomas and David Winchurch add a sense of urgency and emphasise the need for change.

Throughout God Shaped Hole, vocalist Shane Greenhall gives a masterclass in emotional range and raw honesty. He effortlessly navigates between soaring highs and gritty lows, showcasing a versatile style that can be both vociferous – as on Fake - or controlled and nuanced with Dreaming being such an example. Said as a complement, Dreaming has many of the hallmarks of a modern but classic-rock-influenced power ballad. Again bringing variety to the album, it offers a breath of melancholic nostalgia in its gentler verses. Lyrically, it also adopts an introspective and reflective moment but one which offers hope when seeking clarity amidst the confusion of life’s crossroads.

Let’s Go Psycho! ignites the album once more. With lyrics by Greenhall born from a trip on DMT, it is based on the idea of a three-way conversation between a human, God and AI and the question of whether God lost control of the humans he created and if, in time, we will lose control of AI. A topical subject, there is a sense of existential chaos and a questioning of the direction of humanity. The spoken word segment again signifies the band’s willingness to experiment and their refusal to stand still. A relentless banger, Let’s Go Psycho! delivers a more hectic sonic attack with pounding drums from Ronnie Huxford retaining its high energy throughout. No Surrender continues the barrage of sound with some truly crunching riffs during its introduction and bridge. However, the band bring down the dynamics and tempo during the verses, drawing the listener closer.

The Night Train adopts a more folky aura. With acoustic guitars, softer percussion and subtle atmospheric elements, the song is almost hypnotic in rhythm, mirroring the themes of longing and the passage of time, creating a dreamlike mood. Exploring themes of grief and remembering those who have departed, it evokes a sense of liminality, a space between worlds, which we can explore to bring us comfort but also reinforces the ephemeral nature of this connection. Turn It Around – another song that sounds built to fill arenas - and Spit & Choke – rammed with punk like aggression on the shortest song on the album - keep the momentum flowing, bassist Lloyd Wood attacking at every opportunity.

After such vehement angst, closing track Still poignantly explores the emotional turmoil of Shane Greenhall – who is always open and transparent about his lyrics – and his real life contemplation of suicide. The final sun goes down / The useless feeling, the tide is my only sound / I'll let the night decide / When I'm cold. Devastatingly gut-wrenching and contemplative, Still leaves listeners shell shocked at the lyrical honesty and beautifully exquisite song structure. Soft, deliberate instrumentation underscores the sombre fragility with subtle, lingering notes that emphasise the feeling of isolation and numbness. A cathartic conclusion, it provides a haunting resolution to the themes of loss and vulnerability that inhabit the album.

God Shaped Hole encapsulates everything that Those Damn Crows have produced so far but also represents a continuing evolution in both musical style and lyrical maturity. This record transcends traditional hard rock by incorporating deeply emotional and existential themes. While the songs might cry out for audience participation in the live arena, each one offers a different perspective on human frailties.  "I don't know how to write any way other than being completely honest," says Shane Greenhall. "Maybe I'm a little too honest and reveal a bit too much of myself. But I think that's what people connect with." Clearly, the band are brimming with confidence, and this shines through in their songwriting. Every track could be a single and with such a formidable album propelling them forward – to add to an already strong back catalogue – the upward trajectory of Those Damn Crows will surely continue. This is their moment to fly…

God Shaped Hole is released on 11th April 2025.