If you’ve spent more than a few minutes online over the last few weeks, in amongst the all-too-familiar horrors unfolding around us, you may have noticed a growing swell of praise for an entity going by the moniker of Crippling Alcoholism. If this is your first exposure to them, they may seem like they’ve slithered out of nowhere, but in fact they’ve been building their foundations for a few years now; their latest release, Camgirl is their third full length.
Hailing from Boston, MA, Crippling Alcoholism are a gothic post-punk ensemble that know how to make the most of a shimmering synth and have hooks for days. Their hearts and minds seem to be inextricably in the gutter, which is the neon-lit worldview they share through their recorded output. Drenched in an inescapable melancholy, the 15 tracks that make up Camgirl piece together a grotesque, sweat-drenched nightmare of sordid regret, power, and barely concealed emotion dressed up in a silky bow of darkly danceable tunes.
“We are beyond thrilled to be joining the lineup for this year’s Roadburn Festival,” the band says. “As a weird, experimental goth band from New England, Roadburn feels like the pinnacle of expression for the music we live and breathe. The festival has long been a home to some of the most visionary and boundary-pushing artists in the world, and we’re honored to be a part of that tradition. Sharing space with so many incredible acts is as exciting as it is intimidating. We’re just so grateful to be able to bring our sound to Tilburg. It feels like a crazy dream.”
Whilst it might be better for some of their dreams to remain in the realm of fantasy, this is one that we’re on board with making a reality.
– Becky Laverty
