Cruel Unveil New Single, "Demeanor," & Announce EP Release Show
Today, Chicago quartet Cruel unveil their new single, “Demeanor,” from their forthcoming debut EP, Common Rituals, out October 31st on Fire Talk / Angel Tapes. “Demeanor” bursts into existence with a primal scream, exploding into a propulsive and anthemic rumination on complicity. “Follow him, yea // Follow your leader,” lead singer Michael Schrieber lets out in his distinct intonationan, “They got you on a leash like a fucking parking meter.” Of the track, bassist Jen Ashley says, “This song kind of came to life out of nowhere—we were practicing and getting about ready to pack up when Michael and [guitarist] Jack [Kelsey] came up with the opening riff. I remember everyone perking up, and we sat down and figured out the song the same day. I love the energy of ‘Demeanor,’ and every time we play it I get hyped up. I hope listeners can pick up on that energy too!”
“Demeanor” follows lead single “Gutter,” which was released to a wealth of praise from Chicago press including HVNLY, The Deli, and No Expectations, who praised the track as an “unbeatable new track from Q3 2023.” Alongside today’s single, Cruel also announce their EP release show at Chicago’s Empty Bottle on Thursday, November 11th, alongside fellow scene staples Joyfriend and Footballhead. Tickets are on sale now and available here.
Common Rituals — the debut EP from Cruel — emerges from Chicago’s rich DIY scene. Band members Michael Schrieber (vocals/lyrics/guitar), Jen Ashley (bass), Jack Kelsey (guitar), and Brent Favata (drums) each have their own trail of projects, but together Cruel strikes an electric alchemy. Cruel have built a reputation in Chicago for raucous performances, and Common Rituals is a testament to the band’s ability to craft stirring rock.
The four tracks on Common Rituals inject confident melodies into the city’s long tradition of fuzzed-out indie rock; intuitive riffs are nuzzled in each track, begging to be left on repeat. To help achieve their fully-formed sound, Cruel enlisted studio stalwarts Jack Henry (Friko, Free Range, Horsegirl) to record/mix and Greg Obis (Stuck, Lifeguard, Deeper) to master. The resulting EP is one of Chicago’s most assured debuts to materialize in recent memory.
Angel Tapes is the new Chicago-based imprint of Fire Talk Records
