Released on: 19th July 2024
Crocodile Promises is the latest album from Leeds band The March Violets. It is a nice collection of darkly lit pop songs that is resplendent with memorable choruses, filled with J’Accuse vitriol. The album, understandably, has that very quaint English Gothic sound– All About Eve meets the Sisters of Mercy. In a world too commercialised to post-punk, the Gothic contingency are painting the remnants of English punk black on track.
The March Violets have a long history in the music industry. Dating back to the early nineteen eighties. With a few shifts in line-up along the way. The mood has largely remained. Of which Crocodile Promises carries the torch of bat-shit post punk accurately.
There are some good chants here. Tracks that will have you grooving when you do as you does while listening. With nothing outlandish on the technological front. Crocodile Promises delivers a straight up Goth Rock album. A cinematic Goth Rock album. As there are riffs that have that staring at the sun rhythm; hypnotic. A kind of inducer to a fugue state.
Moreover the sentiment of the lyrics hold a nice assertion of the alternative lifestyle. A positive affirmation of participation and contribution into the Goth sub-culture. It is a political message of belonging and it is easy to get behind. If anything can be deeply criticised it would be that it is not loud enough– the mix is perfect though. Crisp and clear. It is an inoffensively enjoyable experience allover, best played on repeat.
8/10
