The Creepy Crawlers Bring The Blood Review

The Creepy Crawlers

Bring The Blood

Horrorshock Records

2026

Dayton, Ohio’s resident Horror rockers The Creepy Crawlers have only been stalking the underground since 2022, but for me it feels like they’ve been here forever. That’s largely because I’m so familiar with the work of main instigator Rev. Chad Wells - his musical fingerprints are burned into my brain, so The Creepy Crawlers already felt like an old friend from day one. Which made it more shocking when their first full-length landed in my inbox for review.

My immediate reaction? Wait… this is the full-length debut?!

Cue the sudden realization of how ignorant that made me feel. But some bands just have that rare quality where their music feels so natural, so lived-in, that it gives the illusion of longevity. The Creepy Crawlers are one of those bands.

They’ve only been active for a few short years, but they haven’t wasted a single second. In that time, they’ve unleashed two EPs, two live DVDs, a live album, and multiple singles. In other words, from the moment this band came to life, they’ve been relentless, right in your face, kicking your ass at every opportunity. If you’re an up-and-coming band sitting around asking “what if?”, here’s your answer: start now and don’t stop. The Creepy Crawlers are living proof that if you build it, they will come.

Now, enough of the BS let’s talk about the new full-length, “Bring The Blood”, due out January 2nd. I’ve already heard a solid chunk of releases slated for the coming year, and I can say this without hesitation: this is the best one so far. That’s not favoritism, that’s fact.

One of the most common pitfalls for bands is getting lost in their own identity. Not here. The Creepy Crawlers know exactly who they are: a Punk band that flirts with Horror while full-on French-kissing Sleaze Metal. Sounds weird? Not from where I’m standing. I hear The Misfits, New York Dolls, BulletBoys, and 45 Grave all bleeding together. Toss that mix into a rusty gas can, drop in a tab of acid, shake it violently, and congratulations, you’ve got The Creepy Crawlers.

On “Bring The Blood”, the band sounds tighter, sharper, and far more unified. Previous EPs occasionally felt like Rev. Wells fronting a fresh backing band, but here? This is a full-band statement. The biggest leap forward comes from the vocals, specifically Scarika, whose presence is dominant this time around. Her vocals sit higher in the mix, her harmonies add layers of texture and atmosphere, and her influence bleeds into every corner of the record. She’s always been part of the band, but here she doesn’t just participate, she haunts the album. While she isn’t a carbon copy of Dinah Cancer, the spirit is unmistakable, evoking 45 Grave and Dinah’s other project Penis Flytrap. Honestly, I could curl up and live inside Scarika’s voice, it feels like home.

Rev. Wells, of course, is no slouch either. His performance here is more dynamic than anything we’ve heard from TCC so far. He croons, snarls, screams, and stacks his own backing harmonies with deadly precision. The man simply understands songwriting, the rules, the exceptions, and when to break both.

Clocking in at a lean 25 minutes, “Bring The Blood” wastes nothing. Every track earns its place. As an unapologetic ’80s kid, I’m absolutely smitten with the band’s cover of Fastway’s “Trick or Treat.” I’ve heard plenty of versions over the years and nearly all of them miss the mark, not this one. The Creepy Crawlers’ take flat-out kills, with Scarika’s vocals stealing the show and injecting new life into those familiar riffs.

“The Teeth” feels like a darkwave séance, Sisters of Mercy meeting The Misfits in a fog-soaked graveyard before heading off to rob graves. “Black Goat’s Lament” lives in a similar space but ups the intensity with a chorus that hits hard. The title track, “Bring The Blood,” is pure Horror Punk bliss, candy-coated in cyanide, razor blades, and rot, and worth the price of admission alone.

But the real gut-punch comes at the end with “The Curse.” Full disclosure: I’m a sucker for ballads, and a lifelong Rockabilly degenerate. This isn’t some syrupy ’50s slow-dance number; think late-’70s, 4/4 balladry with teeth. Rev. Wells channels Conway Twitty by way of Glenn Danzig, and the result is surprisingly emotional. Every lyric lands. Every nuance hits.

I can already picture hearing this live feeling like the band is playing directly to me, like no one else exists in the room. We’ve all lived this song in one form or another. I wasn’t expecting to catch feelings on this record, but here we are. Fucking outstanding.

It doesn’t take much digging to see that The Creepy Crawlers are built on family, friendship, fun, and a genuine love of music. For a full-length debut, “Bring The Blood” is wildly confident, deeply personal, and dangerously addictive. Here’s hoping this is only the beginning.

The album will be available on CD/Vinyl and drops everywhere on January 2nd, 2026. Don’t sleep on it, this one demands to be played loud.

~Black Angel