Crooks (often referred to as Crooks UK to distinguish from other entities) was a pivotal band in the mid-2010s British post-hardcore scene. Emerging from Cheltenham, they quickly gained a cult following by subverting the expectations of the UKHC scene.
Their sound identity is built on the juxtaposition of technical, driving percussion and ethereal, reverb-drenched guitar melodies. The central pillar of their identity is vocalist Josh Rogers, whose high-register, breathy delivery and confessional lyricism provided a softer, more vulnerable alternative to the hyper-masculine tropes of hardcore. Their career reached its zenith with the 2015 release of 'Are We All The Same Distance Apart' on Equal Vision Records, an album that received critical acclaim for its production quality and emotional depth. They are often cited alongside bands like Climates and Landscapes as part of a wave of 'melodic' or 'emotional' hardcore that prioritized atmosphere and melody over mosh-pit utility. Despite a relatively short active period, their influence persists in the way modern 'emo-revival' and post-hardcore bands integrate clean, textured vocals with heavy instrumentation.
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); melancholic, intense, vulnerable (moods)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, studio_polished (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, studio_polished (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); melancholic, intense, vulnerable (moods)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, studio_polished (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, dynamic_range (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); layered_dense, reverb_heavy, dynamic_range (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); melancholic, intense, vulnerable (moods)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); reverb_heavy, layered_dense, studio_polished (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); studio_polished, dynamic_range, layered_dense (production style)
Shares emo, post-hardcore, dynamic_range, vulnerable (subgenre)
Shares emo, post-hardcore, dynamic_range, vulnerable (subgenre)
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