Crop - S.S.R.I

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Crop is a metal band from Lexington, Kentucky that formed in 2020.  Their latest release is the full-length album “S.S.R.I.”  This is their debut full-length but they also released a demo in 2021.  Their sound is definitely doomed based but their press release says they have a grunge influence and their Metallum page says they are stoner doom.  I think all these tags are true—the band’s sound is an amalgamation of everything that’s moody and depressing. For doom fans, such as myself, this is something that is absolutely wanted.  

And Crop give to us in spades.  I’m not a grunge fan; with the exception of Alice In Chains, I can’t stand any band from the so called ‘grunge’ scene of the 90s.  But Crop mix the style so well into their extremely abrasive sound that it doesn’t bother me.  

“S.S.R.I.” is the audio equivalent of bathing with a steel wool.  This is a 34 minute journey of pain, emotion, and the torture of human existence presented in the form of terrifying unrelenting doom.

“Flatline” is just an intro but it also serves as a descent into madness.  Its archaic, ambient noises serve as a foreboding vision of what is to come.  

What arrives is “Formaldehyde.”  The opening riffs are crushing—both from the guitars and the bass.  The pulse of the song threatens to break it apart as screaming vocals rip through the current of devastation.  The drums are incredible:  deep, loud, and hard as fuck.   Despite their tendencies to play music that could sear meat from bones, the band isn’t afraid to be darkly melodic.  The mid-section is depressingly beautiful and the cleans have a southern charm that adds just enough character to such a bleak song.  Love it. 

“10-56,” opens with drums that sound a little tribal but quickly open the floodgates to DEEP riffs, made of static density that is nearly inconceivable in their heaviness.   The drums add groove to this punishment so it all flows very well even though it’s a rock slide.  I like the very, very slight use of melody that peaks over so quietly behind the oppression. 

The last song, “Break,” is probably my favorite on the album.  I like the rolling riffs in the beginning and a lot of the vocals remind me of Acid Bath.  The general atmosphere of the song is dirty and broken, perfect ending for the album.  The middle portion is pretty damn epic, what with the massive drums and clever riffing.  

All in all, Crop’s “S.S.R.I” is a fantastic surprise for me as the year dives well into its second half.  Fans of abrasive doom, or metal in general, will definitely find much to enjoy here but the other aspects of their sound will certainly grab the interests of others who might not be into the more heavy side of the genre. 

Rating: Excellent 





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