Fire Talk Announces New Imprint | Introducing Cruel
Today, Fire Talk Records announce their new imprint Angel Tapes, and its inaugural release, Common Rituals, the debut EP from Chicago quartet Cruel, out October 31st. Lead single “Gutter” is an irresistible introduction to Cruel’s distinctive take on post-punk, blending immediate yet nuanced guitar work, distorted tones, and a pummeling rhythm section. The accompanying “Gutter” video — directed by Cade Dublin — is a tongue-in-cheek romp, with members of Cruel as burglars stealing gear for a gig, culminating in a collage of footage from their beloved live shows. Cruel have built a reputation in Chicago for raucous performances, and “Gutter” — an eagerly anticipated live staple — is a testament to the band’s ability to craft stirring rock.
“This is the first song we wrote that I feel encapsulates our sound as a band,” bassist Jen Ashley says. “Our voice and energy shines through on this track, and it’s always been one of my favorites. I remember showing up to a practice and the guys had begun writing ‘Gutter.’ It was earlier on in the days of us being a band, and I was blown away at the raw energy of this song. I could really feel the direction we were taking with our sound, and I remember being just thrilled to be a part of a group that was going for this sort of sound.”
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. 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.
Tomorrow, Cruel will perform a single release show at Schubas Tavern alongside fellow Chicago scene-stapes Fruitleather and Minivan.
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