Let There Be Rock's Best Album of 2025
- Let There Be Rock
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
🏆 Best Album of 2025
Those Damn Crows - 'God Shaped Hole'
This years pick for the best album was among the contenders for best of the year ever since the singles were teased prior to its release in April. Welsh rockers Those Damn Crows have grown massively in popularity over their relatively short career. Now on album number four, the band released ‘God Shaped Hole’ on the 11th April 2025 via Earache Records. A label who, in recent years, have snapped up the very best in rising UK based talent. Led by their charismatic front man Shane Greenhall, Those Damn Crows were finally rewarded for all their talents with their first ever Official UK number 1 charting album, jumping straight to the top spot upon its release.
With each album release comes increased popularity, and what makes the band stand out amongst their peers is the emotional depth within their song writing, exploring topics such as mental health, and overcoming adversity, yet delivering such songs as sing-along arena ready anthems and instant rock radio favourites. ‘God Shaped Hole’ is an album fuelled by powerful lyrics, hard hitting riffs, and passionate performances. A combination that seems increasingly rare across a full album these days. Their music has evolved in this latest release, incorporating a richer sound and a more cinematic arrangement, yet still maintaining the bands classic feel. The prime example is “Glass Heart’, the first single released from the album. For a good few months it was constantly my go to track, one not to be played quietly, yet a track with deep and honest lyrics underneath a glossy pop-rock exterior.
Frontman Shane Greenhall said of the track “I don’t know how to write any way other than being completely honest. Maybe I’m a little too honest and reveal a bit too much of myself. But I think that’s what people connect with.”
The album opens with a gentle introduction, the track ‘Dancing With The Enemy’ perfectly eases you in with catchy lyrics and a singable chorus, a widely appealing track even to those unaccustomed to the Those Damn Crows sound. The subtle transition across the first few tracks leaves you unknowingly ready to take on the more aggressively toned ‘Let’s Go Psycho!’ track. If you haven’t turned the volume up at this point, you’re doing it wrong. Perfectly curated, the album ebbs and flows between mellow and heavy, ending on the intimate and emotional acoustic ballad ‘Still’. If you listen to the album in the order it was intended, you will come to appreciate why this track is the perfect ending. Lyrically reflective of the deep and emotional rollercoaster the music has taken us on throughout the album, this track leaves you in anticipation of what has come before it. Those big guitar riffs and bigger drum hits never come though, yet this is somehow a perfect ending. A winding down if you will, the journey has concluded.
Favourite tracks from the album include the second single released, ‘Dreaming’, the title says it all really, pop-rock and perfect, another brilliant anthem for the masses and a catchy radio friendly number. ‘Glass Heart’ and ‘Let’s Go Psycho!’ hit hard as favourites too, but in all honesty each listen through brings another track into contention for best of the album, it really is that good.
It’s been clear for some time that Those Damn Crows are a generational talent. Ever since the early days of playing local festivals and supporting acts on the smaller venue circuit, they have always stolen the show. Their live performances have been stuff of legend amongst the rock and metal community, and now with a back catalogue of their own hits across four albums, tours have been selling out fast in the larger venues due to the high demand.
At a time when rock music constantly finds itself down the pecking order in popularity, Those Damn Crows are a shining light amongst todays musical talent. Leading by example, ‘God Shaped Hole’ is an album that proves rock music is still alive, and has set the benchmark high for not only those following in their footsteps, but also for the band themselves. They will no doubt continue to build on their success, and as fans we look forward to more albums and more tours in the near future.
Album: God Shaped Hole
Released: 11th April 2025
Label: Earache Records
Website: https://thosedamncrows.com
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