Crushing Low’s debut album This Is How We Die may be only twelve minutes long, but in that brief window, the London-based five-piece punk band delivers an adrenaline-fueled, chaotic exploration of mortality. With each track offering a rapid-fire reflection on the various ways a person could meet an untimely demise, the album is a raw, fast-paced journey through the absurdities and anxieties that come with being alive.
What sets Crushing Low apart is their refreshing approach to songwriting. There are no grand metaphors or cryptic lyrics to sift through. Instead, they focus on the primal fears and grim possibilities that hover over daily life. This “paranoia punk” ethos is evident from the get-go, as the band tackles death in its most blunt and unfiltered forms, from accidental falls to bizarre accidents. It’s this unflinching directness that gives This Is How We Die a unique edge, setting them apart from other punk acts trying to make sense of the human condition in more abstract ways.
The band draws from pop-punk, Epifat skate-punk, and hardcore and blends these influences into a sound that’s both high-energy and tightly packed. Each track moves with blistering speed, bouncing between catchy, shout-along choruses, and frenzied instrumentation that demands your attention. Tracks like “I Feel Down the Stairs” and “I Slipped on a Banana Peel” are standout examples of how they balance humour and existential dread, as if they’re inviting one to laugh at life’s absurdities while also acknowledging the very real terror of it all.
At its core, This Is How We Die feels like a cathartic release, an expression of fear wrapped in breakneck riffs and relentless drum beats. It’s a short and sharp burst of punk rock that doesn’t waste a single second, making it one of the most entertaining and unexpectedly thought-provoking releases of the year. Crushing Low might be newcomers, but with an album this sharp, they’re bound to make waves in the punk scene.
