Inhale/Exhale

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He continues: “How we respond is sometimes more important than how we react in unpredictable scenarios. We can all breathe, but how we breathe and the manner in which we inhale, exhale can literally change how we feel in that moment.” Not long after, guitarist Winchurch’s mother died, followed by Wood’s. For the bassist in particular, whose mum loved the band, the song was a real help.

Exploding uncontrollably out of Pontypridd, self-proclaimed as “South Wales’ loudest’, this is a band that straightforwardly does what it states upon the tin. With a Stooges swagger the growling punk fury of latest single ‘Chewing Glass’ navigates the Arena onto an unexpected course from the very off. Even with having opened for the Crows at the Chepstow Castle gig last summer the collective freneticism has taken more than a few by surprise from what I can see. On 5th July 2023 the band were the support act for The Hollywood Vampires at Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Hammer, Ali Cooper2018-11-05T11:30:10Z Metal (5 November 2018). "New Band Of The Week: Those Damn Crows". Metal Hammer Magazinen . Retrieved 4 July 2019. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( link) The production on “Inhale Exhale” is nothing short of spectacular. The album sounds like it was recorded in a thunderstorm, with every crash of the cymbals and growl of the guitar perfectly captured. The mix and mastering is flawless, with each instrument and vocal perfectly balanced to create a rich, full-bodied sound that will transport you to another world. You need to listen to this on headphones to fully appreciate the production. Conclusion

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Maybe it is a Welsh thing. Either way, the story of Those Damn Crows begins in Bridgend – and continues there today. A small, former mining town in South Wales, its staggering natural beauty has been offset by social turbulence. It’s a place of extremes. Success stories and grim tragedy. Surrounding forests, valleys and dramatic coastline offer the sort of living situation that would cost a fortune almost anywhere else.

The hard freeway driving of ‘Man On Fire’ follows with a delicious blend of light and dark shades lovingly whisked together. If ever affirmation of peoples’ belief in these five Welshmen was required, then herein the walls of Swansea’s Arena is all the evidence one could ever require. The rip-roaring start and the full-on artillery of the set-opener lays waste as TDC reach even the far-flung parts of the Arena with consummate ease. Whilst the themes, both musically and emotionally, are at times cinematic, there’s a strong thread of humanity that runs through ‘Inhale/Exhale’, the band never losing sight of their roots whilst able to take things up several levels. The final tandem of Inhale/Exhale feel very much like the act of breathing. Find A Way ’s tale of toxicity speaks to actions and people we should be excluding from our sanctuary. The chugging guitars light up the amygdala and leave us longing for more within the album’s dying moments. “ Chasing shadows left you with a life on your own ” oozes a venom many of us wish we could carry toward someone who has wronged us, although THOSE DAMN CROWS are more magnanimous than that as they reach out to the person who has wronged them and asks to “ help us find a way ”. Musically, Find A Way is a treat to listen to as the solo shows no element of showboating or ‘look at me’ attitude. Carrying through into Waiting For Me ’s rampant bassline, this is an album for musicians rather than ‘virtuosos’. What comes in the closer is an energy more of us should embrace: that desire to break a cycle of misery so we can become better. There is an argument that this should have opened the record but what came first? Inhale or exhale?

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Breathe in… and out… notice a sense of calm wander into the subconscious? Moments like that let us gauge situations and responses. Without it, we react to something on emotional impulse rather than allow rationale to answer. It’s this notion which drives THOSE DAMN CROWS ’ latest album Inhale/Exhale . Releasing this Friday, this is the third record for the Welsh quintet and a (pardon the pun) breath of fresh air. While following on from the mood of Point Of No Return (2020), we’re finally given answers to the questions their sophomore effort left us with. THOSE DAMN CROWS ’ strengths lie within their darker or heavier material. I Am ’s protestation against “ all the lunatics in power ” is as infectious as it is in your face. It is an anthem sure to do well within the live arena as shows are usually the place we realise we are the architects of our own lives. This proclamation of self-acceptance and encouragement to take on the world is more than welcome. There are times however where this strength leaves us which is where songs such as Lay It All On Me come in. A low and slow number with heavy bass tones, THOSE DAMN CROWS show a hint of NIRVANA with their murky guitars slithering throughout. Greenhall ’s velveteen vocals as he declares his willingness to support a loved one are joyous to indulge in. As the middle-eight flows seamlessly into the solo it is clear a lot of time and effort went into honing this record into the solid effort it is. That’s the other side of Those Damn Crows: the humour and down-to-earthness that binds them to their audience in a very genuine way. This in itself doesn’t make them unique. Ever since proliferating social media channels started to erase the barriers between celebrities and private individuals, many bands and artists have built closer relationships with their fans. Goods that are faulty or sent in error must be returned to Crash Records Limited, 35 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PU within 7 working days of the item being received by the customer. Shane discusses the secret behind the success of 'Inhale/Exhale'': “'Inhale/Exhale' is a real combination of both Crows albums to date, but with a real sense of production elevating and evolving what we’ve done on past Crows records. No matter what song you decide to play, whether it's one of the many hard hitting songs or a softer piano-based song, there’s something there in the distance, lingering, a sonic sense of connection, if you will. I'm not sure that we’ve had that on our other records.”

Every time I go on tour, it doesn’t matter how bad it gets, I always want to come home,” he says. “I crave it. I crave the coast, I crave the beach, I crave the sea, the walks we can have around here. You can’t do that in a lot of places in the UK.” Whilst the listeners ear is drawn to that powerful voice of Greenhall, it’s the music upon which his vocals sit that really grab your attention. Catchy riff upon catchy riff have you nodding your head as Ronnie Huxford’s drum battery pummels your eardrums.

On The Go

As he said earlier, Bridgend is a place of highs and lows. Of scenic, stunning, devastating extremes, while life goes on. Everyday stories that have drawn so many to the Crows’ music – and to the Crows as people. Shane summarises the concept from which the album grew: “The album is talking openly and honestly about how we react as individuals to our life's surroundings and experiences. Have you ever noticed when you experience an emotion that your breath changes? We all must learn how to breathe in certain scenarios.”

Alongside the announcement of the new album, THOSE DAMN CROWS have released a new music video for a new song lifted from the upcoming; Wake Up (Sleepwalker). Speaking about the new song, Greenhall says, “it’s meant to be upfront and personal. It’s supposed to make you sit up and think about how we are all living in today’s society, where the rich are getting richer, and where tech giants are moulding us into whatever and however THEY see fit via technology and social media. Get your heads out of your phones. Look up, WAKE UP!”With an alloying of Elastica and Iggy Pop ‘It’s Mutual’ couples together with the punked up kinetics of ‘Long Way Home’ sees the crowd engaging; responding well as the venue reaches roughly 75% capacity. “The whole set goes out to my nan who couldn’t be here.” Joseph announces. It’s been that sort of night thus far. The self-help quote goes something along the lines of ‘Life is about the journey, not the destination.’ It’s been quite some trek for this evening’s headline act to this juncture. The breathless potency of ‘Lay it all on Me’ with its intense musical structures, a brave, soaring and bruising ‘Find a Way’ and the made-for-Marvel heroism of the dark ‘Waiting for Me’ close the album in a It’s been no secret that the Bridgend boys Those Damn Crows have been rising fast but ‘Inhale/Exhale’ is likely to see the quintet reach the stadium filling heights that fellow countrymen Stereophonics have achieved, such is its power, class and scope.