Review
The Creepy Crawlers
Attack!

We Are Horror Records (2023) — Sarah Jane

The Creepy Crawlers – Attack! cover artwork
The Creepy Crawlers – Attack! — We Are Horror Records, 2023

Ohio based trio The Creepy Crawlers formed in October 2022. The brainchild of vocalist/guitarist Rev. Chad Wells (The Jackalopes/Cricketbows) and features band mates Scarika Watson and P.J Wells, also from psychedelic rock band Cricketbows. The Creepy Crawlers blend shock-rock and horror-rock, incorporating songs inspired by true crime, the occult and 80s horror movies.

This five track EP was lovingly created by the band who took matters into their own hands and used the back room at the tattooists they work at as a recording studio, doing it all themselves so they could capture the raw energy and horror inspired madness that showcases who The Creepy Crawlers really are.

If you have ever checked The Creepy Crawlers out on YouTube or Instagram you will notice that they have a great sense of humour about them as well as being incredibly sinister which is a great combination and their music is a continuation of this. Attack! starts off with a very creepy narration warning us to check our windows are locked then kicks off with "Crawl". The narrative introduction into the intro of the song reminds me of a combination of a random selection of quirky bands like Stolen Babies, Dog Fashion Disco/Polkadot Cadaver and even Peeping Tom before The Creepy Crawlers unique brand of rumbling horrorpunk meets rock n roll soon takes over. Dripping with great horror content the dual male and female vocals really give the track an added depth and sense of creeping dread. "I Arise" is an upbeat punky number more vocally driven by the Rev but features some great screaming from Scarika and a very rock n roll style solo. "The Power and the Fury (Of Rock N Roll)" is a biblical experience of horrific beats and screams! Attack! at this point has been a great listen yet so far kept a fairly steady backline and pace. This soon changes as title track "Attack!" is faster paced, rifftastic and has some great growling vocals. The song has a real killer instinct with a choppy guitar style that really howls! Triumphantly ending the EP with a tribute to an 80s horror classic with "a soundtrack that doesn't suck" (lets face it alot of 80s soundtracks totally smashed it) and this one is one of THE greats... it's "Night Of The Demons".

The Creepy Crawlers are all about those VHS video nasties which I really love! Everything from their look, sense of humour, music and artwork screams horror movies, fake blood, practical FX and good times.

Attack! is available via The Creepy Crawlers and We Are Horror Records bandcamp pages:
https://wearehorrorrecords.bandcamp.com/community
https://thecreepycrawlers.bandcamp.com/

The Creepy Crawlers – Attack! cover artwork
The Creepy Crawlers – Attack! — We Are Horror Records, 2023

Recently-posted album reviews

Sweeping Promises

You Say I Romanticize
Sub Pop (2026)

What strikes me foremost about this record are the vocals. As the father of a 13 y.o. daughter I feel qualified to say that this person could be a pop singer. I mean I don’t really know what it takes to be one, although I’m sure that it’s more than a voice good enough to win a game show, I’ve … Read more

Moonraker

Me and the Bells
Punkerton Records (2026)

I have probably talked about this before, I knew of Moonraker through split EPs and things like that, but they didn't fully pop into my consciousness until The Forest. Me and the Bells, four years later, is their follow-up full-length and it continues the trajectory from that record while still capturing its own distinct vibe. Musically the band is heavily … Read more

Dreamwell

Hymns for the Denial of God
Prosthetic (2026)

Some records make their intentions obvious from the very beginning. They use the same structure that countless bands have for decades: verse, chorus, breakdown, payoff, and the blunt force of explaining what you are supposed to feel. Hymns for the Denial of God does something much more complex. It’s a series of difficult questions no one wants to answer, proposed … Read more