Northern Irish death/doom trio THE CRAWLING have announced plans for new single, “Sparrow“, due for release on April 2nd, 2021 via Grindscene Records.
“Sparrow” was recorded over the lockdown period, produced, mixed and mastered by vocalist/guitarist Andy Clarke. The song is a haunting tale of isolation, misery, and the emotional outcome of living a pointless life; amplified by the fact so many ‘spectate’ a chain of events, without offering support. Additionally the single features a surprising B-Side cover; a version of Bjork’s “Play Dead.”
The artwork was created by Irish artist Kelvin Doran from Serpent Tusk; a fantastic piece, uniquely designed for THE CRAWLING, inspired by the lyrics and demo tracks. You can see it below.
Vocalist / guitarist Andy Clarke commented;
“I became so frustrated over the last year; i felt like our whole existence had come to an end; the endless cycle of nothingness was overwhelming. We began writing Sparrow, a tale of not fitting in and the purposeless of being, early 2020; all of a sudden it became clear we had to release it. We got work, and recorded our parts individually, It was a challenging process, but it worked. The Bjork cover was decided by drummer Gary; the lyrics and vibe fitted perfectly, and it was an enjoyable experiment to translate a pop song into doom death metal!”
Formed in the winter of 2014 in Lisburn city, Northern Ireland, THE CRAWLING use a guttural vocal to combine melancholy with weight, churning out a heavy, doom/death ensemble.
With live music on hold, and gatherings being kept to a minimum, and rehearsals being limited; The Crawling concentrated efforts on their most depressive track to date – “Sparrow”, coupled with an interpretation of the Bjork track “Play Dead.”
The band recently stated on their Facebook page: “A year has passed since our last live show. In Northern Ireland we are unable to rehearse. We are unable to be in the same room. Sitting together, having a beer, is a distant memory. Long gone are the six hour journeys from show to show. It hangs heavy … a chain noose that anchors us. Still, we try to create and find a way; add a sense of purpose to the repetition that has become existing over living. In this world of ours, the sparrow must live like a hawk if he is to fly at all. We hope you are well.“
