Indie alternative rockers Krooked Tongue have been building a following since releasing their debut EP, No Vacancy Hotel, in 2022. The brash, energetic sounds of the EP garnered critical acclaim and amassed more than 160,000 Spotify streams, putting the Bristol-based act on many rock fans’ radars.
The band’s new EP, Deathproof, is due on May 5, 2023, and the three-piece alt-rock unit has a solid year of live shows booked. Singles ‘When the Beaches Bleed’ and ‘Lupines’ have topped the Dutch indie singles charts, and Krooked Tongue appears to be gaining steam.
So, what’s all the fuss about? After listening to the new EP, Deathproof, we can tell you that you’ll want to hear this one. The four tracks are all influenced by the modern alt-rock sound we’ve come to know and love. Fans of bands like Highly Suspect, Royal Blood and Death From Above will likely eat this record up and play more streams via Krooked Tongue’s back catalog.
None of the tracks are long, with the opener – ‘Backseat Therapy,’ – clocking in at under three minutes. But they say brevity is the soul of wit, and all the tracks on Deathproof pack a punch in a short runtime. ‘Backseat Therapy’ has an anthemic chorus you’ll want to sing along with and plenty of guitar pyrotechnics that reminded me of grunge-era bands.
‘Velociraptor’ is catchy and bursts with energy, with a galloping pace and sugary hook. It’s one of the singles off the EP, but not one of my favorites, reminding me too much of forgettable alt-rockers of the past like Jet. Next is ‘Lupines,’ the single mentioned above that topped the Dutch indie charts. ‘Lupines’ was more up my alley, showcasing a more experimental songwriting approach. The title track, ‘Deathproof,’ closes the EP, bringing touches of funk with a slinking bass line and more rocking energy.
Overall, Deathproof is a solid follow-up effort from a band that should see their stock rise. The only thing I didn’t like was the shortness of the songs. Given the short runtimes, I felt most of them were nurtured and polished for commercial radio airplay. Nevertheless, Krooked Tongue delivers brute force and enough style to catch many fans’ attention. Their songwriting may not be at the level of their major influences, like Queens of the Stone Age, but they’ve laid a sturdy foundation to build from.
Words by Nick P