Since introducing themselves to the world with ‘Walk Away’ in 2018, Cry Club have continually proved to listeners that they are one of Australia’s most exciting, and unique, newcomers with angsty pop-rock full of important representation.
As a gay 26 year old, I wish I had a band like Cry Club when I was growing up. The closest I had was the glam rock Semi Precious Weapons, which saw lead singer Justin Tranter (who is now one of pop music’s leading songwriters) breaking stereotypes and gender norms on stages worldwide wile opening for Lady Gaga, and beginning the conversation about gender non-conformity in media.
But locally there was no one I felt like was representing what I felt, that I could truly relate to on a deeper level. In the pop-rock-punk scene in particular, they were all straight white males trying to be the next All Time Low with boundless dick jokes and songs about stealing girls, which was personally hard to connect with. But it’s so amazing seeing how far we’ve come as a community and as a society with bands like Cry Cub now being able to have a platform to talk about sexuality, identity, anxiety, depression, consent and more through their music, and able to create a safe space for listeners to feel understood. It’s super important and thoroughly exciting to see.
Their debut album ‘God I’m Such A Mess’ will finally be released on November 13 in all of it’s shiny punk-pop-glam rock realness. And to coincide with the exciting announcement, the electric Melbourne duo have also released their new single ‘Nine Of Swords’ which is an anthem all about overcoming anxieties.
Reflecting on feeling like your uncontrollably slipping with your anxieties, lead singer Heather Riley opens up about knowing that they want to get better, and need to do something about it. Intertwining this thought with presence of tarot card readings, they search to the stars and the cards to tell them something that will help them get on the right path.
“Maybe if I draw the right card, I’ll have the chance to get better” they sing during the chorus before proclaiming “all I want is to get better”. But the reality of the situation comes back as they confess, “I don’t know why I always draw the nine of swords” which is a card that represent being plagued by fear, guilt, doubt, and worries that are unfounded.
Sonically this song caters to the heavier punk-rock side of their artistry that drove the production behind ‘Walk Away’ and ‘Robert Smith’. With big grungy guitars and shouty vocals, this song will have you ready to open up the pit and run around shouting along with them. But with that being said, there is still a strong pop sensibility shining through the chorus. It’s punchy, catchy and ultimately relatable.
‘Nine Of Swords’ is a song that has been in Cry Club’s live set for a little while now, and has always stood out as a song that’s deserved it’s own moment, and now it has got just that.