CRASHDïET - ‘Automaton’

To reassure longer-term fans, the Motley Crue and Skid Row influences which dominated their earlier albums are still there, but through time Crashdïet have gone much further than repeating what has gone before and have added a melodic edge to their work and created a sound which is unmistakably Crashdïet - Scandinavian in nature, but with much wider appeal. 

Having had four singers over six albums it was always going to be difficult to maintain continuity and develop their own sound. As a band they are respectful of their past with the opening track ‘Automaton’ featuring a ghost from the past in the form of a “Right, motherf*ckers” live soundbite greeting from Dave Lepard, their first singer who tragically committed suicide in 2006. But, swiftly followed by second single ‘Together Whatever’ (released this week), Crashdïet bring their sound right up to date with a high tempo slice of melodic sleaze metal complete with melodic gang background vocals which provides a great advert for the album and what is about to follow. The towering ‘Shine On’ follows and it is clear that ‘Automaton’ is going to be a very self-assured outing from a band who know they have hit a vein of form.  

Maintaining the quality, the galloping, intense and melodically and vocally intricate ‘No Man’s Land’ follows. Recognising the need to drop the tempo, the made for stadiums semi-ballad ‘Darker Minds’ pulls off the no small achievement of sounding both brooding and soaring at the same time. As the album approaches it’s mid-point Crashdïet turn on their heavier side with ‘Dead Crusade’, but even on the heavier tracks they can’t keep the melody down with an anthemic gang chorus.  

The exceptional ‘Powerline’ opens with the song title sung melodically before lapsing into a playful half-spoken, half-sung verse providing one of the most memorable rock melodies I have heard in a long time and on which Gabriel Keyes is joined on lead vocals by Steel Panther’s Michael Starr. As fans of Steel Panther will be aware, behind their novelty front lies a group of talented musicians and this couldn’t be clearer hearing Michael’s vocals in a different context and setting. Great stuff. The muscular ‘Resurrection of the Damned’ follows before leading into another outstanding track, ‘We Die Hard’, sung over a rumbling bass line and complete with soaring melodic chorus.  

‘Shell Shock’ returns to their early-era Motley Crue influences followed by ‘Unbroken’ and the album closing ballad ‘I Can’t Move on (Without You)’. 

As an album, ‘Automaton’ builds on 2019’s ‘Rust’ and is of the highest quality, never dropping throughout it’s 45+ minutes. The sound is big (guitars, drums, vocals, melodies and in intent). It is also defiant and demonstrates that as a band Crashdïet are still here, going from strength to strength and can more than match the best the 80’s had to offer and compete on their own terms.  

As a band, Crashdïet have never sounded better. Gabriel Keyes’ vocal performance is of the highest order and he is emerging as their strongest singer to date; Martin Sweet’s guitar playing is top quality – particularly conjuring up melodic solos where others may have been more tempted to shred; and Peter London (on bass) and Eric Young (on drums) provide a tight and immense rhythm section throughout. 

Crashdïet also have a strong image which their fans love, but to those less familiar with their music (and outwith sleaze metal circles) could imply they are more about the image than the music. Let’s be very clear, ‘Automaton’ is all about the music and if you haven’t listened to Crashdïet before, it’s time to change that.  

As with many bands, Crashdïet’s touring plans have been interrupted by the pandemic, but it’s great to see that their European Tour is on and that they’ll be bringing their music to the U.K. in May at the following venues – 

17 May – Leeds, Key Club 

19 May – Wolverhampton, Robin 2 

20 May – Machynlleth, Lion 

21 May – Call of the Wild Festival, Lincoln 

22 May – Edinburgh, Bannerman’s 

My ticket is already bought for seeing Crashdïet play Bannerman’s on the last night of their UK tour with Shiraz Lane and Velvet Insane – a very tantalising 3-band line-up.  

‘Automaton’ will be released on Crusader Records on 29 April 2022. 

GMcA