Illinois-based band The House Flies first made their debut back in 2023 with their Glimmer EP, an earth-shattering display of their dark alt-rock and post-punk sensibilities. With more tracks and an album already under their belt, the Moline four-piece are back with their first single of the year, ‘Derelict Crawl’. As song titles go, this one couldn’t be more accurate for the soundscape of this track as it pulses forward on a bed of percussive cycles and visceral determinism.
Listening to ‘Derelict Crawl’, with its tightly-wound tension and relentless musicianship, you might be surprised to hear it’s actually a slower, more atmospheric take on their sound. It’s a potent insight into their forthcoming second album, Lions and Ore, which has another gripping title that evokes power, strength and the natural world.
The House Flies really makes use of repetition throughout this track, with dense guitars and dogged drums working together to steadily build pressure. Over this, lead singer Alex Riggen’s prowling vocals deliver shadowy imagery that culminates in the unmissable chorus: “all dial tone, one two, now gone, we don’t belong, leather stains the bone.” This statement reveals the crux of ‘Derelict Crawl’, that is the idea of finding your identity in sub-culture. It’s that idea of not belonging and yet not feeling alone, because you become a “we” when you find your people.
As we reach the end of this track, all those abrasive post-punk textures drop away for the last thirty seconds; what’s left is a sparse guitar, analog crackles and a raw, fragile vocal. This last show of vulnerability is bound to leave a mark on the listener, as it has on us. Look out for the release of The House Flies‘ album Lions and Ore, due out on 6th November.
You can also find ‘Derelict Crawl’ in our Indie Rockers playlist.
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