The House Flies return with a heavier sense of purpose on ‘Derelict Crawl’, the first glimpse of their forthcoming second album Lions and Ore. Built on a relentless post-punk rhythm and thick, churning guitars, the single feels immediate without sacrificing the bleak atmosphere that has become central to the band’s sound.
The repeated refrain of “We don’t belong” gives the track its anchor, but the real tension comes from everything surrounding it. Dial tones, worn leather, heat and physical exhaustion create a world that feels frayed around the edges, while the arrangement keeps pressing forward with little interest in offering relief.
The gothic influence remains obvious, but ‘Derelict Crawl’ is more grounded and abrasive than its genre’s more noticeable elements. There’s a rural, almost industrial quality to the imagery, making the song feel as though it has been dragged through dust, heat and decay before reaching us all.
The addition of Burnie Eckhardt on second guitar also gives the track more weight. Alongside Alex Riggen, Ozzie Woods and Nick Pompou, the expanded four-piece lineup creates a denser wall of sound that feels broader than the band’s earlier material while still retaining its sense of control.
As a first single, ‘Derelict Crawl’ does a good job of suggesting where Lions and Ore might be heading without revealing too much. The heavier transitions hint at a more patient, immersive record that appears willing to let unease build instead of simply chasing an immediate release.
Dark, physical and deliberately claustrophobic, ‘Derelict Crawl’ finds The House Flies pushing their post-punk foundations into something more expansive and even more unsettling.