Music critique is back baby! Luckily, no one tried to steal my idea of reviewing music in the meantime. Like todays subject. Former Critics.
Detroit band Former Critics have been making “sinister/graveyard punk” music since 2016 with their debut EP “Sleeper.” 2022 marked the release of their debut album “Ring of Salt” and a heavier, more metal leaning sound.
“Can You Feel It?” Has a wonderful blend of metal and punk ethos as well as clear and more fuzzed out tones that’s satisfyingly heavy without being muddy. This song is incredibly clean, admittedly to a point where I do miss some of the grit that showed up on 2022’s “Ring Of Salt,” but it’s hard to deny how full and realized this song sounds.
There’s a throughline riff in this song that presents itself differently in the verse vs the chorus, and I like how strong the melody is while still allowing the song to dynamically and musically shift. That being said, I do which we got a bit more complexity/lead work out of the guitar, as I enjoyed the faster playing at the beginning, and wish it could have implemented a bit more throughout. The vocals help with this dynamic shifts, with more aggressive delivery later in the song elevating the energy levels. That aggression is certainly prevalent throughout, with lyrics that are angry, defiant, and downright catchy. What else could you want from punk rock?
I never know how to wrap these things up. I don’t like giving scores, and I’d hope if you read this far you’ll know I like the song. For this one, I guess “Can You Feel It?” Asks a pretty simple question, so I should give a simple answer. Yes I can.
“Can You Feel It?” Releases Friday, April 11
Upcoming Former Critics Shows:
April 20, Orchid Theatre – Ferndale MI
May 8, Orchid Theatre – Ferndale MI
Jun 27, Pug Fest III – Ferndale MI
Former Critics Socials:
My Socials:
Dirt Witch Records 
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