Strange Creatures (album)

Strange Creatures is the third studio album by British rock band, Drenge. The album was released on 22 February 2019 through Infectious Records.

Strange Creatures
Studio album by
Drenge
Released22 February 2019
Recorded2018
Genre
Length38:04
Label
Drenge chronology
Autonomy
(2018)		 Strange Creatures
(2019)
Singles from Strange Creatures
  1. "This Dance"
    Released: 4 May 2018[4]
  2. "Autonomy"
    Released: 5 October 2018[5]
  3. "Bonfire of the City Boys"
    Released: 5 November 2018[6]
  4. "Never See the Signs"
    Released: 15 January 2019[7]

Background

The album was first announced on 29 October 2018 following the release of a four track EP titled, Autonomy.[8]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Bonfire of the City Boys"4:10
2."This Dance"2:31
3."Autonomy"3:26
4."Teenage Love"3:44
5."Strange Creatures"4:24
6."Prom Night"4:04
7."No Flesh Road"4:31
8."Never See The Signs"2:59
9."Avalanches"3:59
10."When I Look Into Your Eyes"4:16
Total length:38:04

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AOTY70/100[9]
Metacritic67/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
DIY[1]
Dork[2]
NME[11]
Q[10]
The Independent[12]
The Quietus[13]
Uncut[10]

Strange Creatures was received mixed to positive reviews by most contemporary music critics. On review aggregator website, Metacritic, which normalizes music ratings, Strange Creatures received an average score of 67 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews based on six critics".[10]

Rhian Daly, writing for New Musical Express gave the album four out of five stars saying, that Strange Creatures is "a trip through a dark, weird, small town where outsiders stick out like sore thumbs. It's a daring record that bristles with ideas".[11] Ciaran Steward also gave the album four stars out of five. In Steward's review for Dork magazine, Steward said that "Drenge have an unbridled ability to curate grunge with an anthemic tilt, and there are few bands able to conjure the atmospheres they regularly produce. This is surely the next step forward though as they’ve produced a deeply psychological release that takes no prisoners".[2]

In a mixed review, the editorial staff for Q said "If Strange Creatures show a grander musical approach, then lyrically they're still fascinated by the bleak detail of everyday life, even if lads-night-out-gone-wrong vignette "Bonfire Of the City Boys" and sax-peppered deadpan horror story "Prom Night" flip the mundane into something more twisted". Q magazine ultimately gave the album three out of five stars.[10]

Ellie Desborough, writing for The Quietus praised the expansive sound of instrumentation on the album saying that it helped the record feel more full. Desborough said that "This record is perhaps the first time we see Drenge exploiting the additions that were initially made to their live band, and exploring the expanded instrumentation to its full potential." Desborough gave the album four stars out of five.[13]

Personnel

Drenge

  • Eoin Loveless – lead vocals, guitar
  • Rory Loveless – drums
  • Rob Graham – bass guitar

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] 52
UK Albums (OCC)[15] 52

References
  1. Michalik, Timmy (22 February 2019). "Drenge - Strange Creatures". Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  2. Steward, Ciaran (22 February 2019). "Drenge - Strange Creatures". Dork. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  3. "Drenge - Strange Creatures". Rough Trade. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  4. Staff article (4 May 2018). "Drenge channel Royal Blood and aim for wedding dances on comeback bop 'This Dance'". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. Murray, Robin (18 July 2018). "Drenge Announce New EP 'Autonomy'". Clash. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  6. Murray, Robin (5 November 2018). "Drenge Toast November 5th With 'Bonfire Of The City Boys'". Clash. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  7. "Drenge preview 'Strange Creatures' with 'Never See the Signs'". DIY. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  8. "Drenge announce new album 'Strange Creatures'". DIY. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  9. "Drenge - Strange Creatures - Reviews". Album of the Year. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  10. "Strange Creatures by Drenge Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. CBS. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  11. Daly, Rhian (21 February 2019). "Drenge – 'Strange Creatures' review". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  12. Bray, Elisa (22 February 2019). "Album reviews: Drenge – Strange Creatures, and Sleaford Mods – Eton Alive". The Independent. DMGT Media. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  13. Desborough, Ellie (11 February 2019). "Drenge - Strange Creatures: On the Loveless brothers' third album, the supernatural looms large". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  14. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  15. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
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