The Crawling's Stuart Gets Stumped with Hard Questions

The Crawling have spent some quality time writing and recording for what will be their first ever debut full-length album, called "Anatomy Of Loss". Before it saw it's release though, the band would go on to release a couple of singles turned videos, as well as get the word out about everything altogether. Bassist/backing vocalist Stuart discusses this album, and it's accompanying singles, videos, and future plans!


1.What role do you play in the band?

Hi, I’m Stuart. I play bass and do some shouting in the background for The Crawling.

2. Why go with a name like The Crawling? Does it have a meaning to it?

I loved it as soon as I heard it. To me it sounds like the title of a horror movie. It kind of fits the sound of our music as well.

3. What has influenced your sound and style?

I think primarily we all have a love of slow crushingly heavy music. Over the past few years its grown into what it is today from a period of really trying to find The Crawling’s style. We as a band and as individuals go through the same trials as everyone else and to me, its these experiences that are reflected in what we do.

4. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

The main themes are loss, regret, solitude and peoples ability to cope with these things. Its something that everyone has to deal with throughout their lives and its arguably the most devastating thing you'll be faced with. Its something that everyone can identify with, either from experience or from the knowledge that its coming, and when it does it brings your own mortality sharply into focus. To me that fits in with the dark sound we create.

5. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yeah all of our songs are our own. Andy (Clarke - Guitar and lead vocals) is the creative driving force behind the band. He will write the main structure and lyrics of the songs before myself and Gary (Beattie- Drums) even get to hear them. Generally Andy will send them to us digitally and we’ll have the majority of our parts written before we turn up to our next rehearsal. Then the process of seeing how it all fits together begins. We’ll change things around until we’re happy with the overall sound and then start to fine tune it. Once its gig ready we’ll introduce it into our set.

6. How do you describe your music to people?

That depends who I'm talking to. If its a metal fan its much easier for them to “get it”. Its slow doomy death metal with a few hooks thrown in normally suffices. To the uninitiated, its very heavy and dark with deep growling vocals.

7. You went ahead releasing two singles turned videos off your debut album "Anatomy Of Loss". The first was "An Immaculate Deception" and then was "The Right To Crawl". Why were these picked out to be the singles and videos of choice for this album?

An Immaculate Deception was chosen first because I think its pretty immediate. It hits you straight away with our intentions for the album, and it was a good taster for the rest of the tracks . We hoped it would spike enough interest in people to get them to want to hear more. The Right to Crawl was chosen as its a live favorite and one that we all love playing. Andrew Pennington from Full Scope Films also thought that it would fit well with his vision for our next video.

8. Will we be seeing anymore songs be turned or made into singles and or videos or are these ones it for this album?

Yeah we have plans for a few more. We’re already at the pre-production stage for the next one. We’ll be shooting the video soon after returning from MetalDays in Slovenia. I'm really excited  about them, there are some great ideas forming for them. Im delighted to say that they'll be done by Exposing Shadows Photography again, who did the Anatomy of Loss video.

9. Your debut album "Anatomy Of Loss" saw its release this year. What comes to mind just thinking that this is your guys first debut album ever for you?

I think any band getting to the point of releasing their first album is a great achievement. I’m really proud of everything to do with it. The music, the production, the reviews and most of all the reaction of our fans. There haven't been very many negatives which is of course pleasing. Also, getting Travis Smith to do the cover artwork was a dream come true.

9. Does "Anatomy Of Loss" have a concept behind it? Why did you go the concept album route on the new album?

Not so much a concept, just a general theme to the feel and atmosphere of the album. Misery is as close as I would get to describing this in one word.

10. How did you challenge yourself sound wise to fit this concept?

We wanted the album to sound bleak, threatening and dark but keeping that heavy sound we enjoy when we play live. Andy recorded, mixed and mastered the whole thing in his own studio and he's a complete perfectionist. He drove himself to the edge on this one, but I think its been completely worth it. Its unmistakably our sound.

11. Did you get the album you wanted? Is everything on there or were there some things that were just impossible to pull off?

We definitely got the album we wanted!! As I said, Andy pushed himself to the limit and left nothing behind. He literally didn't quit until everything we wanted to say sonically with the album was there.

12. What is one thing that can be said about "Anatomy Of Loss", that has not already been said about it?

That's a hard question to answer. We’ve had a lot of great reviews and there been a lot said about it online. I think its better to let people form their own opinions about it. Hopefully they’ll continue in the same vein that they have been.

13. How would you say you differ from other bands and artists on the scene?

Again that's a hard question to answer without sounding critical. We like to concentrate on our own thing. Constantly putting out what we believe to be quality output, engaging with our fans and to play live as far and wide as we can. We've been very lucky so far and hope that will continue.

14. What does the rest of 2017 have in-store for The Crawling?

We have a lot of shows booked, MetalDays being the big one. We also have our first London show booked for August, along with a show in wales. We will of course continue to spread the misery the length and breadth of Ireland with some great shows coming up soon in Galway, Cork, Belfast and Dublin. As mentioned, we have a few more videos in the pipeline and we've started writing for the next album.

15. Is that your final answer?

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. We are forever appreciative of all the coverage and support we get from the media and fans alike. Stay miserable!!!!