Two years after their last release, Crawlers are returning with their new EP TURN OFF THE TV. They describe the process of writing the EP as “patiently rebuilding everything around us and taking time to write music that felt healing in a time of hopelessness which then became our hope.” With endless teasing of tracks on their social media accounts, anticipation around the EP has been building since the announcement of its release.
The instant punchy guitar intro of opening track and lead single AFRAID TO DIE sets the tone for the EP well. Completely vulnerable lyrics such as “Dreaming of waking up in a hospital bed/To affirm that anybody would care” fit Crawlers’ history of openness in their lyrics perfectly, proving that this return is authentic. Loud music with a focus on the drum line adds an extra layer of drama to the track, making for a climatic anthem for fans.
After the lead single is the first previously unheard track from the album, STAY ALIVE, which plummets into the chorus before you can fully process the opening verse. The immediacy of yet another track with themes of mortality makes this a very raw record so far, exactly the return Crawlers seemed to want to make. STAY ALIVE’s bridge is certainly one of the most memorable moments on the EP, swiftly listing areas of trouble (“the working class”, “parents’ divorce”, “art is dead”) atop one of the softest pieces of music we’ve heard so far.
COOL opens with a groovy bassline and vocals more akin to rapping than singing, widening the range of TURN OFF THE TV massively. Guitar is less of a focus point than on the previous tracks, but remains apparent in the mix. The contrast between monotone, unbothered vocals proclaiming things to be “cool” and the compromising moments of emotion leaking from Holly Minto’s vocals communicate the message of the song strikingly.
ALL WE HAVE IS US closes the EP with a track focusing on human connection and friendship. This comes across as much a comment on the band as the point about the state of disconnect in the world they are making. Crawlers’ heavy style finds its way into ALL WE HAVE IS US, although not as much as in previous tracks, focusing the energy of blaring guitars and the slamming of drums mostly on the chorus. The track ends, only to be followed by a ringing sound slowly increasing in volume. It almost sounds as if it’s leading us onto something else.
Crawlers have already proven to be one of the most solid new rock acts around, and TURN OFF THE TV only cements this into place. The altogether optimistic nature of this release and its contents is enough to have you wanting to explore the band’s back catalogue with enthusiasm.
Crawlers: TURN OFF THE TV — 14th August 2026 (Nettwerk Music Group)
