Cran

Reviews

Cran Rejet EP

Parisian punkers CRAN return with a three-song EP that straddles surf, Oi!, and post-punk.  The band doubles down on the chant/shout/group vocal delivery on each song with a unique blended reverb guitar splashing away behind it.  “Rejet” in particular delivers this mechanical repetitiveness that has the obvious METAL URBAIN connotation fused with early KILLING JOKE, a combination mostly pushed out of context with what sounds like Carl FIsher screaming harmonies beneath it all. Hard not to listen to this over a few times, it grows on you, the esprit rings out.

Cran Natë LP

CRAN is a Parisian punk band that infuses their sound with a heap of Oi! and a little bit of post-punk. The resulting sound is reminiscent of a dark VICE SQUAD, or more similarly, contemporary fellow countrymen COLLISION. The song “Ad Vitam” has a slow opening that quickly jumps into overdrive only to close out with a slow, vicious beating. The gang vocals on “L’Amour” invite a communal feel while delivering a scathing treatise on the realities of love. This album is as equally strong on instrumental technique as it is on thematic content, making it easy to play on repeat.

Cran Samedi Minuit EP

CRAN is a French band that, at best, is trying to do some sort of melodic, more thoughtful Oi!, but ends up sounding like a confused up-tempo goth band with shouted vocals. The artwork is bland, two of the three songs drag on forever, and I don’t think the drummer plays a single fill. In CRAN’s defense, I’m not cosplaying as some wanna-be skinhead who could somehow conceive this as good. Giving it multiple listens for the sake of a fair review was one of the more arduous parts of my day.