The Judgement Of The Crows (Album 2023)

Heckel & Jeckel

Rock Stoner Punk Grunge

It is 2018 in the southwest of France, as the crows fly deep and even go deeper underground. Because two of the birds share their darkness in heavy Sludge and Grunge, a raw aesthetic like Phal:Angst or Pogo Records fellows behind „Dés Astres“. After several EPs and two albums here comes number three, out via the very label and La Tanière Records. 

Looking at the cover of Heckel & Jeckel and the title „The Judgement Of The Crows“, quickly the 1994 movie might come up. Their visual art, they use aquarelle or Paint, as they show on their socials. Maybe also for their new logo, and their music videos have a certain DIY charm too. 

In the clip of the opening title track, the microphone is held against a tape recorder. Brick-built walls can be seen behind the two musicians, similar to the tunnel in the found footage they use like Indus Valley Kings. So for example the ufos from „Earth vs. The Flying Saucers“ come in, while they fancy the Melvins of whom they recorded a cover of a cover with their sound. 

How they mute the guitar in the middle part reminds of the break in „A Place For My Head“, before it gets to the climax. A little bit later, Dr. Opin comes up as well, but attention! The following recording could be disturbing, as „Alice“ features scary screams, making think of Annihilator, „Cereal Killer“ or the creepy story of „Jeanny“, while the video includes drawings by Sorhots Bagera. 

Reading the title „Fuck You“, Rap tunes from Pharoahe Monch or Ja Rule might come up, but here we have Grunge again, feeling like Kurt Cobain is about to yell at us, or Fred Durst or Josey Scott, thinking more Crossover. The final highlight is the choir in the last song „Tyrone“, again with interesting guitar work and slow pace. And according to the label, a book of a hundred pages is on its way, to accompany this raw and heavy trip..