Crutches strike again by doing what they do best. Playing d-takt, mangel or crust or whatever you want to call it. 2015 saw the release of FörlOrAD getting praised for its rawness whilst not forgetting to write actual songs. After that Eddie joined the band on guitar, but this didn’t really change the sound. Never change a winning team they must have thought, and I tend to agree with them.
This is the kind of music that leaves no room for nuance. It’s all full blast ahead all of the time. Mind you, about half the album has that classic d-beat rhythm, so don’t expect grindcore blasting on here. This rhythm doubles the impact of these songs, so it’s well applied. Såld is a 22 minute assault on the ears, but after it’s finished I can’t help myself and push play again. The 11 tracks are written smart enough to remain interesting and there’s a little bit of diversity offered. An example are the extra vocalists that appear on the album. The production is fitting for the style. It's a little rough around the edges, but hits hard. Very hard. And that's just how it should be.
I’ve struggled to work on a much, much longer review, but decided not to write too much about Såld. The message is short like the album: if you’re into this type of music, check this out, you’ll love it. Crutches are at the top of their game and deserve your attention. Trust me on this one!
