Heavy rock and the Cart and Horses are the perfect combination: after all, the historic East London bar is well known as the birthplace of Iron Maiden. So, when dirty LA rockers Crymwav (crime wave) roll into town, you know that the basement of an iconic rock bar is going to give just the right atmosphere to maximise their kick-ass, hard hitting rock.
Crymwav @ Cart & Horses, London - 2025.03.29, by Pauline Di Silvestro
There’s a hell of a lot to love about Crymwav, with their tough-guy, old-school styling and shredding. Frontman Roger Derring’s neon green lightning bolt his strap illuminates the darkness amid opener Loup Garou’s timeless grimy tones, throwing their Thin Lizzy influence to the forefront of our imagination before the power bass buildups and motoring energy of Mars Fever.“We’ve only played this one time before…the original title was ‘hurry the fuck up’,” jokes Deering as he unleashed Chop Chop’s swirling opening bars, ripe with a hint of menace before enough cowbell to satisfy even Spinal Tap on the catchy chorus. “This is for those who are not here tonight”, whispers the vocalist, full of Alice Cooper theatricality. There’s so much poise and prettiness in the dark guitar lines of latest single Sense Of Adventure, layering harmonies and feedback fade outs for maximum drama.“We’re gonna get down and greasy and heavy on this one,” he promises, his throat growl adding to 101 Damnations’s desert energy.
Crymwav @ Cart & Horses, London - 2025.03.29, by Pauline Di Silvestro
There’s so much grit and realism in Crymwav’s take on the classic rock sound, a speed and distance that comes from a lifetime devoted to rock. Whether its in the lurid, airbrushed American Carnage , which sees Deering ditching the rhythm guitar before a break into the solo, which grows supernaturally through choral backing, or the moody close to their set in the form of Move Like A Panther, the LA streets permeate their music in the best possible way. At turns sophisticated and expansive, all while retaining a dark realism, Crymwav offer a dose of classic, vibrant American rock. It’s enough to make this basement bar shake and send shockwaves out through the hay music scene.
Review of Crymwav at the Cart and Horses, Stratford, on 28th March 2025 by Kate Allvey. photography by Pauline Di Silvestro.
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